Waterford United switching to Saturday nights

**Tis-smeee** · 13/02/2009, 11:14 PM

This season the blues games will be on on 7 o clock saturdays , will certainly make it easier for mervue and harps fans to travel , are any other clubs changing? What do people think of this experiment of sorts?

**dannydundalk** · 13/02/2009, 11:22 PM

well dundalk used to play home games on thursdays but they will now be on fridays

**Rovers Maniac** · 13/02/2009, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by Tis-smeee

This season the blues games will be on on 7 o clock saturdays , will certainly make it easier for mervue and harps fans to travel , are any other clubs changing? What do people think of this experiment of sorts?

Great to hear i hope it works out as it is better for away fans, good luck with the move.

**Darkglasses** · 14/02/2009, 12:53 AM

I'd be in favour of Saturday games also, travelling support would almost certainly increase, or fail that made alot easier for the travelling support. The first division has become a fair bit more spread out geographically, there's Dublin teams , Waterford/Wexford, Cobh, Mervue, Finn Harps, Athlone...

**SPXcyan** · 14/02/2009, 1:42 AM

Love it

doubt the fai would do anything.. isnt it the clubs decision to make anyways?

**mypost** · 14/02/2009, 1:53 AM

We are moving to Saturdays in Tallaght. As things stand, games will only be moved should there be clashes with international dates, tv coverage, and should we be at home on the last night of the season.

We are the only club in Dublin to play on Saturday nights.

**Town Legend** · 14/02/2009, 2:48 AM

Yeah would prefer Saturday night games as well. As stated in above messages it would mean a lot more away fans can travel to the game and wouldn't have to look for time off work to make games on a Friday night.

**The Lep** · 14/02/2009, 4:31 AM

Saturdays 3pm is the easiest for away matches, train down in morning with a few beers and train back after match with more beer. car or supporters bus if train not an option.
Teams up North seem to get a decent crowds for a 3pm sat kick off so why cant we? forget the excuse of people training or going to old trafford etc cos it wont affect the attendences much.

**SMorgan** · 14/02/2009, 5:44 AM

Originally Posted by The Lep

Teams up North seem to get a decent crowds for a 3pm sat kick off so why cant we?

What??? The Irish League attendances are the best argument against playing games on saturday afternoons. Check out the IL attendances in the IL section of this forum.

**oldyouth** · 14/02/2009, 8:28 AM

For me, any night will do, it doesn't matter. However, I think all clubs should decide on a night and stick to it. I think local distractions have to be considered. Let's face it, LOI football will nearly always come second when clashing with a high profile event

**gufc2000** · 14/02/2009, 9:46 AM

We had to play on a Saturday night last year against Shamrock Rovers. I think it was the fourth game of the season and it was Tony Cousins last in charge. We got a crowd of 1600 which was dissapointing considering we had great attendances the year before it was a big let down. Our attendances never really recovered after that. Friday nights are the only option in Galway for us

**gael353** · 14/02/2009, 10:49 AM

we suggested this weeks ago on our forum and we were lambasted. The suggetion came out of a miss quote in a local paper, result....all out war in the off season. Fair play to the blues, its an amateur to semi pro league and friday games can be expensive for players and clubs

**Battery Rover** · 14/02/2009, 10:55 AM

We will play our games on a Saturday night at 8pm

**Youths4Ever** · 14/02/2009, 11:05 AM

I wish Waterford the best with this but I am not convinced it will work for attendances.

Everybody saying that travel for away fans would be easier not necessarily true a lot of younger fans have to work on Saturdays to fund college school etc or have games of their own to play if then don't work.

Lot of people have more family based plans on Saturdays a lot of people partners may not be to impressed with "oh by the way every second Saturday or so for the next few months I wont be here"

When we clash we premiership season people with passing interest are not going to miss a big premiership game with 5.15 KO for the LOI. Don't come back with don't want these supporters the LOI needs as may people through gates as possible.

**brianw82** · 14/02/2009, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Youths4Ever

Everybody saying that travel for away fans would be easier not necessarily true a lot of younger fans have to work on Saturdays to fund college school etc or have games of their own to play if then don't work.

Very true, although a businessman might say that 'nobody ever made money from young people, except pubs'

Originally Posted by Youths4Ever

Lot of people have more family based plans on Saturdays a lot of people partners may not be to impressed with "oh by the way every second Saturday or so for the next few months I wont be here"

On the positive side, there'd be a lot less half days to be taken with Friday night games.

**Tis-smeee** · 14/02/2009, 11:56 AM

Same goes for people on shiftwork , will be alot more available on saturdays

**Dunny** · 14/02/2009, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by CelticTiger

Maybe someone should email the fai asking for consideration on this?

Whu don't you then.

**stann** · 14/02/2009, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Town Legend

As stated in above messages it would mean a lot more away fans can travel to the game and wouldn't have to look for time off work to make games on a Friday night.

Recent talk of Saturdays prompted a re-think at the Blues, and in the current climate this seems to have been the main reason behind the decision, but for the players and staff as much as anyone. Half the squad having to take half days for all home games as well as full days for the Friday away matches was seen as a bit much on them, particularly with the reduced wage bill.

It is hoped that the same will apply to fans, though there is the problem than more people do things on Saturday nights than Friday nights, and I don't mean the young lads with no attachments heading out for a bottle at the weekend (a demographic this site is skewed towards

), I'm talking about the majority of fans, who have spouses/significant others/families and a life away from football that has to be looked after too.
Remains to be seen if it will improve attendances or not, but is well worth a try anyway.

While it will certainly be handier for away fans, I can't see it making much difference in terms of attendance, for ourselves I mean. Bar a couple of notable exceptions, even if away support doubled you wouldn't be talking about an appreciable rise in numbers.

**Youths4Ever** · 14/02/2009, 12:23 PM

meant to say there where rumors last night that Wexford looking at Saturday night's as well for reasons Stann gave about players and time off work etc

**Battery Rover** · 14/02/2009, 1:42 PM

Completed my first ever 100% home and away attendance last season and going to try repeat again this season so starting to sort my travel plans already.

have all teams finalised their nights

Athlone Town - Saturday 8pm
Finn Harps - ??????
Waterford Utd - Saturday 7pm
Wexford Youths - ?????
Limerick FC - My shortest trip of the season. Will it still be Friday nights 7.45pm until the Markets Field is ready
Longford Town - Saturday 7.30pm
Shelbourne - Friday 8pm ???
Sporting Fingal - ?????
UCD - ?????
Cobh - ?????
Kildare County - ?????
Monaghan United - ?????
Mervue - ?????