Presidents Cup

[poster]

How can you make a mockery of a trophy that has never been played for before?

You make my point in the second part of your post.

Playing it in Lansdowne or RDS would be ridiculous due to the size of the crowd it would attract.

[redobit]

I think its worth trying. There is always good interest in the start of the season and it could be a good curtain raiser. Have it in Lansdowne but make it really cheap to get in, say 4 quid for adults and 2 for kids. It would hopefully get a good crowd then and should still cover costs even with low ticket prices.

[avvenalaf]

Maximumcrowd for a game like this - 2000

[oriel]

How can you make a mockery of a trophy that has never been played for before? This being different to the old LFA trophy?

Play the game at the home of the champions each year. No need for nuetral grounds. It'll be treated as a preseason friendly by players and fans. No need for the likes of Aviva, Tallaght etc

But is has been played before, I remember games in the early 80's in oriel park, it was the cup winners v the league winners, and I'm sure it was confined to teams in Leinster. Athlone won the league in 81 & 83 and played in it, would have played us in pre season 81/82 as we were the cup winners. From memory it was a one off game, toss of a coin for home advantage. Not sure when it was last played though.

I also remember a game in pre season 82/83 as we were league winners and played Bohs who took the cup slot, as Limerick who won the cup were not entitled to take part as they were obviously outside Leinster.

[NeverFeltBetter]

St Pats Twitter announced they're playing Sligo on March 2nd in Richmond.

More info: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2014/...medium=twitter

PSO if a draw after 90, 4 PM KO.

[nigel-harps1954]

The inaugural President’s Cup match between 2013 Airtricity League Premier Division champions St Patrick’s Athletic and 2013 FAI Ford Cup winners Sligo Rovers will take place on Sunday, March 2, at Richmond Park with a 4pm kick-off.
In the event of the scores being level after 90 minutes of play, the winners of the Cup will be decided on a penalty-shoot out. Please note that extra-time will not be played.
Uachtaráin na hÉireann, President Michael D Higgins, has presented the trophy that the teams will be playing for on the day and his gesture has been warmly welcomed by the Chairman of the National League Executive Committee, Eamon Naughton.

“President Higgins support for the Airtricity League and Irish soccer is deeply appreciated and the introduction of the President’s Cup will provide us with an exciting game between the league champions and cup winners to start each new season,” said Mr Naughton.

The Director of the Airtricity League Fran Gavin said: “President Higgins is a huge supporter of our game and takes the time out from his busy schedule to go to games and meet players, officials and supporters. He is really behind this idea and the game will also have a charitable aspect to it.”

[seand]

The previous "President's Cup" was the LFA President's Cup. This is the Republic of Ireland's President's Cup, so a completely different thing! I believe the suggestions to play a glorfied pre-season friendly in the Aviva are somewhat misguided.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ireland-Serbia is on Wednesday the 5th. Would there not be an argument for bundling the two games together in the Aviva?

[Trainee]

Ireland-Serbia is on Wednesday the 5th. Would there not be an argument for bundling the two games together in the Aviva?

Kick off would be to early for most fans eg something 4pm. It wouldn't get a big crowd at that time.


Hopefully it will be close to a sellout in Richmond Park

[avvenalaf]

No chance. Lucky to get 2000.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Yes, you mentioned that already.

[legendz]

How can you make a mockery of a trophy that has never been played for before? This being different to the old LFA trophy?

Play the game at the home of the champions each year. No need for nuetral grounds. It'll be treated as a preseason friendly by players and fans. No need for the likes of Aviva, Tallaght etc

Playing the game at the home of the league champions seems to be what they've gone with. These games in other countries usually herald the start of the new season. It's a good idea for signalling the start of the season, which is all this sort of game does elsewhere. Any possibility of the game being on tv?

[NeverFeltBetter]

I think its a great idea and I'll probably head to Richmond myself.

[Charlie Darwin]

Yes, you mentioned that already.

Mention it again, avvenalaf. He'll hate that.

[avvenalaf]

Your wish is my command. Lucky to get 2000. That's 1999 and neverfeltbetter, if he shows.

[Dodge]

The previous "President's Cup" was the LFA President's Cup. This is the Republic of Ireland's President's Cup, so a completely different thing! I believe the suggestions to play a glorfied pre-season friendly in the Aviva are somewhat misguided.

No such thing as the Republic of Ireland's president. Tut tut tut

Lads this is a pre-season friendly. If it reaches 4 figures I'll be astonished. Look at what the Setanta cup, league cup early rounds, Leinster senior cup games get and what the old presidents cup and FAI super cup games got.

I honestly think somehere have never watched LOI football before. The Aviva? Jesus....

[NeverFeltBetter]

Yeah, there's no way using the Aviva could be justified (unless it was something like Charlie Darwin suggested above). League champions ground will do just fine. How many do Pats usually get for pre-season games?

[Dodge]

200-400

[littlebray]

The previous "President's Cup" was the LFA President's Cup.

Can anyone point me to a source on the LFA PC, please? I know it was played at least as early as 1930s, and as late as 1980s, but can't find any proper details on line (forget the Leinster FA site, of course!).

[NeverFeltBetter]

200-400

Well, here's hoping the novelty value might draw in a few more.