During the euro's when we got knocked out, it was the selection policy and tactics. When England got knocked out the RTE panel go into how it reflects the player development structures of the English game, and how these have to improve etc etc. Nothing wrong with their analysis of the english problem, just the fact they are incapable of making the same connection between our national team and player development, and how that is our issue.
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
I can confirm that Ming's not bluffing about having been a Rovers fan - used to bump into himself and the bro at home and away matches back in the day, before he got into politics (and while he was still Luke, sans beard). Didn't actually know it was his brother until I met him in a pub a few months ago and talked about those days.
"Even if the wind stops to blow
Even if the sea ceases to flow
Even if the sun ceases to rise
The name of Sligo Rovers will shine and shine forever like the morning star glittering in the sky."
The SFAI are the governing body for grassroots football in Ireland, not the FAI. Its success or the lack of is all down to them.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...325578421.html
Irish soccer fans spent €100m in UK
CONOR POPE Consumer Affairs Correspondent
IRISH SOCCER fans are proving to be remarkably resilient in the face of recession. While the numbers travelling to Britain to watch football are down from the height of the boom, almost 200,000 people still spent close to €100 million cheering on their favourite teams in the English Premier League last year, according to figures from the British tourism authority.
VisitBritain, the UK’s state tourism agency, said the number of visits made by Irish fans to English soccer stadiums increased in 2011, with 174,000 fans crossing the Irish Sea to cheer on their team compared with 164,000 the previous year.
The Irish are the most likely overseas visitors to be found in English soccer grounds when Saturday comes, although a similar survey at the height of the boom in 2008 found 267,000 Irish fans attended at least one soccer match in Britain.
All told, the Irish accounted for one in five soccer fans who visited an English Premier League ground from overseas last year.
VisitBritain said the 900,000 foreign football tourists spent £706 million (€865 million), an average of about £785 (€962) per fan per visit.
The averages are high because of the number of visitors from the United States and Asia but even if the typical Irish spend is half that average, the total outlay from Irish soccer fans ran to €78 million in 2011.
Unsurprisingly, Old Trafford remained the top choice of international football fans last year, followed by Anfield, the Emirates Stadium and Stamford Bridge. White Hart Lane, Wembley, Goodison Park, the Etihad Stadium, Upton Park and Villa Park were the other stadiums in order of popularity.
Soccer is not the only draw for Irish sports fans. VisitBritain also identified rugby union and horse racing as being almost the preserve of the Irish.
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Pretty shocking amounts of money when you consider what one tenth of that could do for the LoI.
Last edited by noddy102; 23/10/2012 at 12:43 AM.
looking forward to my next trip to London the week after the LOI season ends
Was it a politician who wrote that article? 174,000 people is not close to 200,000(thats like give or take the population of Navan to make that figure!) and saying 78 mill euro is close to 100 mill euro? nearly a third higher than it really is.I'd also add, that most people I know wouldn't be spending anywhere near that figure on a trip over. Between flights/buses/trains/food+drink you could do it for around 200 euro or less, add in match ticket and a stay in Premier Inn and you'd be still well short of Eu962.
For once maybe someone will call me "sir" without adding "you're making a scene."
I think I read once that Man Utd budget for each visitor to spend £100 in their megastore. Can't find link to back this up though.
Even if the figure is rounded down to €50 million, its still a phenomenal amount of money leaving the Irish economy. Far, far more than is spent on cross border shopping and that lead to Government statements etc
54,321 sold - wws will never die - ***
---
New blog if anyone's interested - http://loihistory.wordpress.com/
LOI section on balls.ie - http://balls.ie/league-of-ireland/
"VisitBritain, the UK’s state tourism agency, said the number of visits made by Irish fans to English soccer stadiums increased in 2011, with 174,000 fans crossing the Irish Sea to cheer on their team compared with 164,000 the previous year".
174,000.
How many go to League of Ireland matches? Anybody know?
About 12,000 a week.
Anyway, why is the UK state tourism agency only measuring the foreign fans who visit English stadiums?
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
Total(ish) Premier Division attendance for 2012*: 266,850
Total(ish) First Division attendance for 2012: 41,706
Total attendance for league games for 2012*: 308,556
*All figures from 2012 Attendance thread, Monaghan home games not included, not certain if Monaghan away games were excluded or not.
Not entirely sure where your figures have come exactly, but what I have on my spreadsheet is:
Total Attendance for Premier Division: 260,353
Total Attendance for First Division: 44,696
Total Overall Attendance: 305,049
EDIT: Just checked, I have every game filled in. Unless I've been given some incorrect figures (which is probable) then, el-pietro is bad at counting.
Last edited by nigel-harps1954; 24/10/2012 at 3:22 PM.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
Thanks for the info.
More people go to LOI games, then.
Phew.
Not all teams in the premier have played their 15 games yet?
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
The SFAI are the governing body for grassroots football in Ireland, not the FAI. Its success or the lack of is all down to them.
54,321 sold - wws will never die - ***
---
New blog if anyone's interested - http://loihistory.wordpress.com/
LOI section on balls.ie - http://balls.ie/league-of-ireland/
There are teams who will have 16 home games, and others with only 14. It's a bit of injustice for those teams, but sure what can you do.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
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