FAI to look at return to winter football

**Buile Shuibhne** · 10/01/2009, 9:14 PM

Originally Posted by atfconline

It was Paddy McCaul, FAI Vice President.

I saw the clip - my impression was he was speaking in a personal capacity, not on behalf of the FAI

**jinxy lilywhite** · 10/01/2009, 9:53 PM

Personally my preference is winter football. Something about games in the freezing cold or rain under floodlights in a semi tribal atmosphere does it for me. night games seem to be better games and more entertaining than a game in mid may or june.
Summer football doesn't really offer that to me.

**Maroon 7** · 10/01/2009, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by BulmersKid

Did anybody else see during the week on TV3 news, a little piece tagged onto the end of a piece about Drogs problems, an official from the FAI saying that maybe in 2 years time they will review the whole Summer Football idea.

Can't remember who the official was, but high ranking. Said that summer football didn't improve crowd numbers in some clubs.

Aside from that, does anybody have a link to who is on the board of management of the FAi? Can't find it on their website. Can't find any officials names on it

I wouldn't have fancied going to a game in the past week or two to be honest. It was bloody Baltic out.

**prince20** · 10/01/2009, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Fintan Cassidy

I saw the clip - my impression was he was speaking in a personal capacity, not on behalf of the FAI

I would have to concur with this.
In my own opinion it is the general feeling amongst clubs outside the pale that we should revert to winter football but Mr. McCaul merely said that that if this is what clubs want it cant happen until the current agreement with the FAI ends(im open to correction though!)

**Magicme** · 10/01/2009, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by Inside Man

I am 100% behind winter football. And i think 90% of regional teams fans would back this. [Longford, Athlone, Galway, Harps, Sligo Rovers, Monaghan, Limrick, Cork Waterford]

Monaghan United wouldnt be behind the change back to winter. Much better travel conditions in summer and also less games cancelled.

**blackholesun** · 10/01/2009, 11:09 PM

Going back to winter football is going back to the stoneage. If you want to get new fans along to games, summer football and the work of the club promo officers is the way forward. It will take time but surely its the only way forward. Winter football offers nothing.

bhs

**Mr Maroon** · 10/01/2009, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by Inside Man

I am 100% behind winter football. And i think 90% of regional teams fans would back this. [Longford, Athlone, Galway, Harps, Sligo Rovers, Monaghan, Limrick, Cork Waterford]

I don't think so

**oriel** · 10/01/2009, 11:30 PM

I would hate to see winter football return, best thing about after xmas is looking forward to the spring, longer evenings and the return of the football season.

Although I will admit, July just doesnt do it for me, something about playing at night and hardly needing floodlights until mid way through the second half just doesnt seem right.

But overall, I think we should stick to March - Nov

**Candystripe** · 11/01/2009, 12:26 AM

Summer football for me.

I love travelling back from games when it's nice and warm and it being almost bright when I get back to the house having stopped for 4 hrs plus in Ardee!

I also dont like long sleeved jerseys so I can get a nice tan with summer football when we travel down to the warmer climate of the south.

**Jicked** · 11/01/2009, 12:45 AM

A return to summer football would be a disaster.

I am 100% behind winter football. And i think 90% of regional teams fans would back this. [Longford, Athlone, Galway, Harps, Sligo Rovers, Monaghan, Limrick, Cork Waterford]

Somehow I think the continual progression of the league in Europe, and the fact that most seem to think that attending league game's is more enjoyable in summer than in winter, is more important than us hoping some of the above clubs get 750 instead of 700 in attendance. Or do you seriously think Sligo would be bringing in fans in their thousands to watch a league game against Bray, in freezing, wet and windy January day? All because there isn't a gah game on that day, or even more laughable the idea that fecking harvest season plays a part in attendances?!? Pathetic stuff.

Winter football would be a terrible regression.

**oriel** · 11/01/2009, 9:07 AM

Although I`m still 100% behind summer football, one other flaw is the cup final. It just doesnt seem right having this in Nov/Dec.

We played in the last April cup final, and I have great memories of that day out, ok we won, but it was played in glorious sunshine, much more appealing to fans than the grey and dark days of Nov/Dec

We should look at having this much earlier in the year, maybe having the final in the week in between the two all irelands for eg.

There should be no rules to say the final must be played at the end of a season.

**Terry** · 11/01/2009, 9:34 AM

summer football all the way for me. Plenty of surface water in galway this weekend with loads of junior fixtures cancelled as has been the way with the freezing cold in the previous weeks. All GUFC would need now is a massive hike in the electricity bill on top of everything else thats going wrong.

**blackholesun** · 11/01/2009, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Jicked

Somehow I think the continual progression of the league in Europe, and the fact that most seem to think that attending league game's is more enjoyable in summer than in winter, is more important than us hoping some of the above clubs get 750 instead of 700 in attendance.

You hit the nail on the head there. Summer football is here to stay.

Yer man McCaul is just flying a kite on this thinking he might get a few more votes in the upcoming EL chairman vote!

bhs

**BulmersKid** · 11/01/2009, 11:08 AM

Can an admin put a poll on this thread just to see which way members of foot.ie would vote on this issse of Summer vs Winter football

**prince20** · 11/01/2009, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by blackholesun

Yer man McCaul is just flying a kite on this thinking he might get a few more votes in the upcoming EL chairman vote!

bhs

Try knowing your facts before posting bull.

McCaul is the vice president of the FAI and will be the next President of the FAI. He was previously EL Chairman

**LeixlipRed** · 11/01/2009, 1:06 PM

Summer football for me. Improved pitches, improved football. Less expensive cancellations, etc. Ok, we all love games under floodlights but you get this for half the season anyway.

**thischarmingman** · 11/01/2009, 3:06 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Although I`m still 100% behind summer football, one other flaw is the cup final. It just doesnt seem right having this in Nov/Dec.

We played in the last April cup final, and I have great memories of that day out, ok we won, but it was played in glorious sunshine, much more appealing to fans than the grey and dark days of Nov/Dec

Can't say the lack of sunshine was top of my mind last year or 2006, cup final is a cup final and always generates it's own buzz regardless of the time of year. It would be interesting to check out how many of the last 10 or 15 'summer football' cup finals were played in sunshine.

I much prefer summer football, mainly for the European results and for the fact that we do have a chance, if the right work was put in as regards advertising and marketing, to attract new fans during EPL off-season. Also summer football or not, I can't remember a single game I've been to this season where it was warm enough to wear short-sleeves! Even if it's warmer in July and August it's bloody cold in Feb, March, April, October and November anyway. I can understand the nostalgia factor behind wanting a return to winter football but if we want the league to ever progress then there's no question of going back to it.

**citybone** · 12/01/2009, 8:55 AM

Originally Posted by thischarmingman

Can't say the lack of sunshine was top of my mind last year or 2006, cup final is a cup final and always generates it's own buzz regardless of the time of year. It would be interesting to check out how many of the last 10 or 15 'summer football' cup finals were played in sunshine.

I much prefer summer football, mainly for the European results and for the fact that we do have a chance, if the right work was put in as regards advertising and marketing, to attract new fans during EPL off-season. Also summer football or not, I can't remember a single game I've been to this season where it was warm enough to wear short-sleeves! Even if it's warmer in July and August it's bloody cold in Feb, March, April, October and November anyway. I can understand the nostalgia factor behind wanting a return to winter football but if we want the league to ever progress then there's no question of going back to it.

Pats vs Cork City june bank holiday weekend
Derry vs Cork City june 3-2

FC Haka vs Cork City July
Bohs vs Cork City July
there was prob a few home games too.

**Macy** · 12/01/2009, 9:37 AM

I think summer football was based on some extremely flawed assumptions. Any possible move back must be accompanied by some proper research. Summer football hasn't worked, but winter football (just like messing with the number of teams and format) won't be the silver bullet either.

I'd much prefer winter football, and I as (now) one of the supposed targets (families) of the move to summer football, there's less competition for time in the winter than the summer.

On pitches, we managed before and we'd manage again. It's not like with the season as is we're imune from postponements.

**Sheridan** · 12/01/2009, 10:08 AM

Under the winter schedule, crowds were poor. They're still poor. Results in Europe were poor, now they're markedly improved. Weather postponements were relatively rare, now they're rarer still. Overall, the net outcome is a subtly positive one. I don't see any overarching benefit of reverting to winter football which would compensate for the slight disadvantages it would incur.