What Role Does the League of Ireland Play in Irish Football?

[pineapple stu]

I've tried searching but it's like looking into a bush. Can you just let me know, in your opinion, what is the single most important thing that needs to be done to improve the League of Ireland? Just one sentence please?

Get involved with your local club. Nonsense about "We should have more media exposure" or "We need an AIL" or "Let's change the number of teams" or anything like that is the internet equivalent of ringing Joe Duffy.

[Soccer Mom]

If you are implying that the Genesis Report is poor then I couldn't agree more. It is one of the worst, most lightweight reports of its' type that I have ever seen. As I said in an earlier post I, and I would suggest the majority of people in Ireland, could not relate to the extract in my original post and I couldn't agree with it. As the basis of a meaningful discussion I believe it performed admirably. I am better informed now than when I started the post and while I can't speak for other posters the quality of other posts suggest to me it was largely a worthtwhile exercise.

Get involved with your local club. Nonsense about "We should have more media exposure" or "We need an AIL" or "Let's change the number of teams" or anything like that is the internet equivalent of ringing Joe Duffy.

Thanks for that. I think that's coming at it from the wrong end. Someone will only get involved with their local club if they are already one of the converted. One of the problems for the League is that most people don't feel a connection to any club. Therefore it is up to the FAI / LoI /clubs to reach out to the public and make that connection.

[pineapple stu]

Couldn't disagree more. You asked for the single most important thing, and there it is. Your post merely seeks to use the age-old Irish problem of blaming someone else for the state the league is in (or whatever it is we're looking to moan about).

[Soccer Mom]

I agree that what you suggest would help solve the problem - but it's just not happening and it hasn't happened in sufficient numbers for more than 50 years.

I'm not blaming others - I'm blaming the FAI / LoI & the clubs

[pineapple stu]

I'm not blaming others - I'm blaming the FAI / LoI & the clubs

LOL!!

"Others" means "people other than you". You're clearly blaming people other than you. It's partly your fault why the LoI is seen as it is. So the single most important question is - what are you going to do about it?

Otherwise, this whole thread is just you moaning and coming out of it feeling good without having actually changed a single thing.

[Soccer Mom]

Sorry pineapple stu but I think you're missing the point. You seem to think that it is a responsibility of people that do not actively support the LoI to do so. But clearly most Irish people that are interested in football do not attend League matches. Simply stating that 'they should' changes nothing. The fact is that 'they don't' - and the question is 'how do the FAI, LoI and the clubs attract people to games?'

[pineapple stu]

I'm not missing the point; you asked me for the "single most important thing that needs to be done to improve the League of Ireland", and I gave it to you. Throughout this thread, you seem to not like what you don't want to hear.

The general attitude in this country of "I'd support the LoI if it were better and if a club got into the group stages of the CL" is one of the main things holding the league back.

Macro talk sounds good but is irrelevant because you've no input; you may as well start an internet petition. You, however, have input into what you do, so you go down to the micro level - what can you do? Answer - get involved in your local club.

[danthesaint]

Sorry pineapple stu but I think you're missing the point. You seem to think that it is a responsibility of people that do not actively support the LoI to do so. But clearly most Irish people that are interested in football do not attend League matches. Simply stating that 'they should' changes nothing. The fact is that 'they don't' - and the question is 'how do the FAI, LoI and the clubs attract people to games?'

what in your opinion attracts people to fly to england to watch a game??

[marinobohs]

Sorry pineapple stu but I think you're missing the point. You seem to think that it is a responsibility of people that do not actively support the LoI to do so. But clearly most Irish people that are interested in football do not attend League matches. Simply stating that 'they should' changes nothing. The fact is that 'they don't' - and the question is 'how do the FAI, LoI and the clubs attract people to games?'

Sorry to wade in but what defines "interested in football" ? wearing a man u/ liverpool/Arsneal top down the pub ? Watching your offspring play schoolboy football ? Kicking ten shades out of someone from different town/county/part of city ? Supporting your local club through thick and (mainly) thin ?

Many of what you may class as "having an interest in football" will never take an interest in the LOI because the interest is too narrow based. Many more are social fans (something to talk about over a pint). Personally I know fans who go to most Ireland away games but don't go to the home matches - hardly likely to go to LOI games anytime soon.
The people who get involved in thier local clubs as PS has indicated are people I would see as "interested in football" and unfortunately there are far too few of them. Clubs have made progress in broadening the appeal of the LOI but in my opinion the potential market is not as great as people sometimes think.

[Soccer Mom]

what in your opinion attracts people to fly to england to watch a game??

Well there is no question that the quality of football is higher but the best players in the world will always gravitate to where the money is. People are suckers for hype and gloss. The majority of people that travel over have grown up thinking of UK teams as 'their team'. The mindset is now deeply ingrained and that's why I don't agree with pineapple stu that it's simply up to people to decide to support LoI clubs. They won't because they don't feel any affinity for them. For a whole variety of reasons generations of fans in Ireland now have a blind spot for the LoI. That's the fact and wishing that it wasn't won't change anything. It's going to take concerted action by those that are committed to the League to undo the current mindset.

[pineapple stu]

that's why I don't agree with pineapple stu that it's simply up to people to decide to support LoI clubs.

That's not what I said on two counts. One, I said I was giving the single most important thing - which is what you asked for. Of course there's other things that can be done. Two, you're mixing up supporting a club and getting involved with a club.

[dahamsta]

Soccer Mom, one more time: http://foot.ie/threads/132005-What-R...=1#post1324982

I'm not merging any more of your posts, I'll be deleting from this point forward.

[Soccer Mom]

Sorry to wade in but what defines "interested in football" ? wearing a man u/ liverpool/Arsneal top down the pub ? Watching your offspring play schoolboy football ? Kicking ten shades out of someone from different town/county/part of city ? Supporting your local club through thick and (mainly) thin ?

Delighted to have you wade in I'll try to put this as delicately as I can - I get the sense from many contributers here that if you don't go to LoI matches then you can't be a real Irish football fan. It comes across to me as a type of intolerance and - to be frank - snobbishness. People that go to international matches have an interest in football. People that watch English football on TV have an interest in football. The fact that I will be up at 9am on Sunday putting up nets with my fingers freezing to the bone for my sons schoolboy match displays an interest in football. It's a broad church so let's be inclusive and tolerant.

Many of what you may class as "having an interest in football" will never take an interest in the LOI because the interest is too narrow based. Many more are social fans (something to talk about over a pint). Personally I know fans who go to most Ireland away games but don't go to the home matches - hardly likely to go to LOI games anytime soon.

Sometimes it's easier to get tickets for away matches and in my experience the atmosphere can be better for away matches.

The people who get involved in thier local clubs as PS has indicated are people I would see as "interested in football" and unfortunately there are far too few of them. Clubs have made progress in broadening the appeal of the LOI but in my opinion the potential market is not as great as people sometimes think.

I agree with you that progress is being made - Shamrock Rovers is a case in point. My son is an ardent Manchester United fan but I've taken him to Tallaght Stadium a few times and he is now a Rovers fan with a 2010 season ticket. He goes to matches now with his mates - so that IS progress. However I do agree that the Irish market is limited and that puts a limit on what can be achieved - but I still think the the principals in the sport can do more to generate greater interest.

[Soccer Mom]

Soccer Mom, one more time: http://foot.ie/threads/132005-What-R...=1#post1324982

I'm not merging any more of your posts, I'll be deleting from this point forward.

Apologies but I don't understand what you're asking me to do. Can you please explain?

[OneForTheFuture]

Well there is no question that the quality of football is higher but the best players in the world will always gravitate to where the money is. People are suckers for hype and gloss. The majority of people that travel over have grown up thinking of UK teams as 'their team'. The mindset is now deeply ingrained and that's why I don't agree with pineapple stu that it's simply up to people to decide to support LoI clubs. They won't because they don't feel any affinity for them. For a whole variety of reasons generations of fans in Ireland now have a blind spot for the LoI. That's the fact and wishing that it wasn't won't change anything. It's going to take concerted action by those that are committed to the League to undo the current mindset.

I take that point, as long as you are refferring to Frank and Irene.

[passinginterest]

Apologies but I don't understand what you're asking me to do. Can you please explain?

The button at the bottom right beside the "reply with quote" button is the multi quote button, if you click this on each post you wish to reply to then go to post your reply it should incorporate all of those posts, rather than making an individual reply to each.

[marinobohs]

Delighted to have you wade in I'll try to put this as delicately as I can - I get the sense from many contributers here that if you don't go to LoI matches then you can't be a real Irish football fan. It comes across to me as a type of intolerance and - to be frank - snobbishness. People that go to international matches have an interest in football. People that watch English football on TV have an interest in football. The fact that I will be up at 9am on Sunday putting up nets with my fingers freezing to the bone for my sons schoolboy match displays an interest in football. It's a broad church so let's be inclusive and tolerant.

I was not trying to be intolerent/snobbish or exclude anyone (quite the opposite) I was simply making the point that someone "having an interest" is a very broad church and need not indicate any predisposition to ever attending LOI games irrespective of what is done. i would argue that sitting in a pub with a replica jersey constitutes an interest in anything other than socialising/drink



Sometimes it's easier to get tickets for away matches and in my experience the atmosphere can be better for away matches.

usually easier to get tickets for home games (especially since Croker) but that is not and never was a factor with anyone I know, much more the social side of the "trip".



I agree with you that progress is being made - Shamrock Rovers is a case in point. My son is an ardent Manchester United fan but I've taken him to Tallaght Stadium a few times and he is now a Rovers fan with a 2010 season ticket. He goes to matches now with his mates - so that IS progress. However I do agree that the Irish market is limited and that puts a limit on what can be achieved - but I still think the the principals in the sport can do more to generate greater interest.

Man ure and now Shams ? somebody call the ISPCC seriously , some great work done over the last couple of years in Tallaght (even before they moved out there) and among other clubs as well. it is people like yourself developing an interest in LOI among younger people that is the greatest hope (although it is a slow process). Speak to most regular fans and they will talk of going as "a young fellow" and becoming "hooked"on the LOI.
Again nobody would argue that greater promotion of the LOI is a way forward but with limited resources it is less than apparent how to make that a reality. the genesis report was big on aspiration (some good a lot bad) but not great on the practicalities
my own view would be that the LOI cannot cmplete with the EPL and should be marketed as complimentary ( have your fave EPL team AND your LOI team ) I agree that asking people to choose is not helpful to the LOI (although it is beyond doubt that LOI fans are better )

[Soccer Mom]

The button at the bottom right beside the "reply with quote" button is the multi quote button, if you click this on each post you wish to reply to then go to post your reply it should incorporate all of those posts, rather than making an individual reply to each.

Thanks for the help passinginterest. Obviously I'm not too good with computers

my own view would be that the LOI cannot cmplete with the EPL and should be marketed as complimentary ( have your fave EPL team AND your LOI team ) [B][I]I agree that asking people to choose is not helpful to the LOI

I couldn't agree more. Try to compete head to head is not on. Many football supporters go to GAA matches and rugby matches. There is absolutely no reason why people can't have an interest in different areas of football. Others have made the point here that one doesn't have to exclude the other and if people can afford to go to Old Trafford for a match then a season ticket for Rovers or whoever is not beyond reason.

(although it is beyond doubt that LOI fans are better )

Well in term of commitment to the cause and pure passion that would be hard to disagree with

[osarusan]

The general attitude in this country of "I'd support the LoI if it were better and if a club got into the group stages of the CL" is one of the main things holding the league back.

This is true, but I think the point being made is that for the LOI to improve, the onus is on LOI clubs to make themselves attractive to those who are not currently attracted to it.

It is easy, and to a certain extent correct, to say that it is just as much their (the uninterested people's) fault the LOI is the way it is as it is the LOI's fault, but the fact remains that for us to improve, we need them, in a way they do not need us. We can criticize them for not wanting to come along to games until the clubs reach a certain level of success, and we'd have a valid reason to criticize, but that valid reason doesn't bring any money into the club.

[pineapple stu]

I still think what I posted is the single most important thing that needs to be done. There are other factors too, of course, including what you posted.