FAI Cup Draw

**drummerboy** · 07/07/2004, 8:37 AM

Originally Posted by LFC in Exile

Tough. You can hardly slag off the FAI for that. In any event these teams finished their season a month ago, had the first round of this competition and knew they were in this draw so if they are only starting totrain for it now then that's their look out. Why don't the junior, intermediate leagues switch to the summer as well.

Most non league teams play football as a hobby. Duriing the season from July to May they train 2 or 3 times a week and play at weekend. They also have jobs to hold down, so they neeed a break during the summer. Summer football has not exactly beeg a huge success. It certainly hasn't improved gates dramaticaly and some clubs are reporting smaller crowds this season. Another main reason for not changing to summer soccer is the fact that most injuries occur on hard grounds during drier periods. Check out your local ER and see the amount of players which increases dramatically during the summer months. Junior clubs have'nt got the facilities to water their pitches daily like most EL clubs.

**LFC in Exile** · 07/07/2004, 8:47 AM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

Most non league teams play football as a hobby. Duriing the season from July to May they train 2 or 3 times a week and play at weekend. They also have jobs to hold down, so they neeed a break during the summer. Summer football has not exactly beeg a huge success. It certainly hasn't improved gates dramaticaly and some clubs are reporting smaller crowds this season. Another main reason for not changing to summer soccer is the fact that most injuries occur on hard grounds during drier periods. Check out your local ER and see the amount of players which increases dramatically during the summer months. Junior clubs have'nt got the facilities to water their pitches daily like most EL clubs.

I agree - but the eL shouldn't consider the junior clubs and how they will perform in the FAI Cup when deciding on summer soccer. I know what junior football involves - I've played enough of it (the top junior clubs train more that twice a week). A lot of the eL players also work and don't get a break in the summer.

The point I'm trying to make (badly) is that the junior clubs may be at a disadvantage with regards to the FAI Cup (apart from the difference in ability) but there is nothing the FAI can do about that and there is nothing teh FAI should do about that.