Licences 2011

**Ezeikial** · 18/02/2011, 6:44 PM

Originally Posted by bluemovie

So after 378 matches in the regular season, 8 play-off games and three months of off-field wranglings, the only change is Derry up and Fingal out? Which is ironic as last year, Fingal went up and Derry went out. Gotta love this league.

I tend to find a sadness creeping into my soul at this time of year.

It's probably just a lament that the excitment of the close season is soon to come to an end. I'll shed a tear or two on the evening of 3 March and just try to find some way to comfort myself over the next 240 days 'till the real action starts again in November.

**gufc2000** · 18/02/2011, 6:59 PM

Fantastic news, justice has been done. For those fans of other clubs who were dancing on our graves last Monday, take a good long hard look at yourselves. To those who gave messages of support, thank you...good to see that there is a great amount of decency and respect out there amongst the LOI fraternity.

Such a contrast of emotion between today and last Monday, but thankfully everything has been resolved. This pre-season has been far too uncertain from a United point of view. Lets hope we never have to endure such an arduous winter period again.

Well done to all at GUST for the tremendous work they have done, Galway United is now well and truly in the hands of the fans.

Gut-wrenching for Monaghan though no doubt, completely wrong of the FAI to give them the impression that they were up. Monaghan should have been given preference over Drogheda imo. Best of Luck to all at Gortakeegan for 2011, hope ye get promotion this year, ye no doubt deserve it

**oriel** · 18/02/2011, 9:16 PM

People love a bad news story, and I`m sure a lot on here were excited with Galway's demotion to the 'A'. As it works out, their appeal was based on sound information and documents backing up they have things in order, so in this case, justice appears to have been done. And their place in the PD had to be restored.

Its tough on Mons, but also tough on all the other clubs in the FD awarded the 'Premier Licence' but with no invite. For me the main gripe for Mons should be with the FAI awarding a club like Drogs, who are reportably on their knees and also from reports totally incapable of performing in the PD next season a place instead of them (or even Waterford) or Cork, or Shels etc.

**John83** · 18/02/2011, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Steveoc

Somewhat different situation with Galway though as their "shortfall" in the documentation was outside their control. 'Twas the fault of our outdated red tape in the Revenue Commissioners where, when someone was out sick, no one else could sign a piece of paper. Thought such outdated practice had disappeared years ago.

I'm inclined to be cynical and say that it's a clear sign of the truth about the efficiencies we were supposed to get from the civil service in return for the massive pay hikes over the past twenty years. Probably someone will eat my head off for it though.

**Mr_Parker** · 18/02/2011, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by SMorgan

Sorry if Galway didn't have the documentation in on time then tough, they shouldn't have got their licence. In Northern Ireland Portadown were relegated to the First Division because there were traffic delays on the motorway and they didn't get their application for Premier Division membership in until 10 minutes after the time that they should have had their application in for.

Portadown were not relegated. It was not a membership application, it was an application to be scored in a ranking system to gain admittance to the new league. Slightly pedantic I know, but it should not be confused with the Licencing process.

P.s It was not a traffic problem and they were 29 minutes late.

**apo11o** · 19/02/2011, 9:17 AM

Originally Posted by Lim till i die

I reckon we'd have a fairly good tilt at winning the A League.

Maybe not, Sligo Rovers have signed players that can't get a game in junior football

**ped_ped** · 19/02/2011, 12:29 PM

So every weekthis year will see one Firt Division team not playing . . . right up to the final week, whereby one team will not be playing, and any promotion / play-off / relagtion play-off that club is involved in, rival teams may know exactly what they need out of the game while that club watches on with bated breath? Fair

**Mr A** · 19/02/2011, 12:30 PM

Unless Limerick don't get in. Then we're grand.

**born2bwild** · 19/02/2011, 2:40 PM

So, am I getting this right? There will be only 11 teams in D1 this year? Is this real? 'The FAI: employing people with special needs since 1921'

**sheao** · 19/02/2011, 3:34 PM

Originally Posted by born2bwild

So, am I getting this right? There will be only 11 teams in D1 this year? Is this real? 'The FAI: employing people with special needs since 1921'

I know nobody from the A Championship got a licence , why don't they bring up somebody from that divsion .
Ramblers failed to get a 1st divison licence, but Im sure they and any other club that would come up would benefit more finanically .

**legendz** · 19/02/2011, 4:24 PM

Originally Posted by ped_ped

So every weekthis year will see one Firt Division team not playing . . . right up to the final week, whereby one team will not be playing, and any promotion / play-off / relagtion play-off that club is involved in, rival teams may know exactly what they need out of the game while that club watches on with bated breath? Fair

It's not fair but the only way to bring some bit of fairness is that the lowest ranked club from last season will not be playing on the last day. With the FAI though can't see fairness happening. I think Limerick under the original fixture list were going to play 16 home games again this season, not 17 as it is supposed to be every second season.

**Jofspring** · 19/02/2011, 4:49 PM

Ya they never reversed the fixtures for the coming season which was very strange. As it stands Limerick and a few more will only have 15 home games.

**Sam_Heggy** · 19/02/2011, 5:38 PM

Originally Posted by Jofspring

Ya they never reversed the fixtures for the coming season which was very strange. As it stands Limerick and a few more will only have 15 home games.

Harps will only have 14 home games and 16 away. I think anyone with 15 are in a pretty fair situation, having 15 home and 15 away. We also have no home game in the first month of the season with 3 away games (2 the other end of the country).
Hopefully there will be a re-draft of the fixtures early next week.

**Jofspring** · 19/02/2011, 6:05 PM

Ya there will be a redraft with everyone getting 15 and 15 I would think with one team having a free weekends during the season.

**legendz** · 19/02/2011, 6:18 PM

It's very sloppy work by the FAI if they are to reverse to fixtures every season. I still think the Danes have the better way of working the 33 games. The advantage of finishing in the top 6 is the extra home game for the following season. Good luck to Copenhagen next week by the way!

I'm sure there will be a re-draft, anything else will be ridiculous.

**colinf** · 19/02/2011, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by apo11o

Maybe not, Sligo Rovers have signed players that can't get a game in junior football

who's that exactly?

**total hoofball** · 20/02/2011, 2:40 PM

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

Harps will only have 14 home games and 16 away. I think anyone with 15 are in a pretty fair situation, having 15 home and 15 away. We also have no home game in the first month of the season with 3 away games (2 the other end of the country).
Hopefully there will be a re-draft of the fixtures early next week.

Did a quick tally of home/away fixtures with the Drogheda fixtures excluded

Cork, Limerick, Mervue, Monaghan, Salthill, Waterford and Wexford all have 15 home, 15 away. No problems there.

Harps and Longford have 14 home, 16 away while Athlone and Shels have 16 home, 14 away.

All that would have to be done is to simply swtich the venues of a batch of fixtures involving these 4 sides. Harps, Longford to gain a home match, Shels, Athlone to lose a home match. For example

Athlone home to Finn Harps on 30 April becomes Finn Harps home to Athlone
Finn Harps home to Athlone on 15 July becomes Athlone home to Finn Harps
Athlone home to Finn Harps on 15 October becomes Finn Harps home to Athlone

and the same reversal for the Shels/Longford matches

all the work done for the FAI administators right there

**legendz** · 20/02/2011, 3:21 PM

Good stuff! Foot.ie should get the contract for drafting the fixtures!

**Sam_Heggy** · 20/02/2011, 6:34 PM

Originally Posted by total hoofball

Did a quick tally of home/away fixtures with the Drogheda fixtures excluded

Cork, Limerick, Mervue, Monaghan, Salthill, Waterford and Wexford all have 15 home, 15 away. No problems there.

Harps and Longford have 14 home, 16 away while Athlone and Shels have 16 home, 14 away.

All that would have to be done is to simply swtich the venues of a batch of fixtures involving these 4 sides. Harps, Longford to gain a home match, Shels, Athlone to lose a home match. For example

Athlone home to Finn Harps on 30 April becomes Finn Harps home to Athlone
Finn Harps home to Athlone on 15 July becomes Athlone home to Finn Harps
Athlone home to Finn Harps on 15 October becomes Finn Harps home to Athlone

and the same reversal for the Shels/Longford matches

all the work done for the FAI administators right there

Nah, Switch ours and Shels games, that way we would have a home game in the first month. Otherwise your spot on.