Football Pyramid

**donnrua** · 24/05/2014, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

How many (if any) non-Donegal clubs are in it? Or does it represent a province in the same way that the Munster Senior League does?

The MSL is in bad need of a name change - the not-so-senior Cork junior player merry-go-round would be my suggestion!

**Mr A** · 24/05/2014, 11:04 AM

Derry are the only non Donegal club and they play their games in Buncrana!

**nigel-harps1954** · 24/05/2014, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

How many (if any) non-Donegal clubs are in it? Or does it represent a province in the same way that the Munster Senior League does?

There was talk of Sligo Rovers being invited to include a reserve team in it this season.

With Cavan/Monaghan being the only others who could be included, aside from the distance between games, football there is pretty weak. There's only seven teams in the Cavan/Monaghan League, most of which play their FAI Junior Cup games in the Donegal/Inishowen section, and truthfully, none of them ever get very far. You could possibly state a case for something like a Cavan Town and Monaghan united team to join the Ulster Senior League, but it wouldn't go down well here really.

**gufcfan** · 24/05/2014, 12:32 PM

Derry City Reserves are the only non-Donegal team.

**legendz** · 24/05/2014, 12:38 PM

How are Fanad Utd getting on these days? They made a late run to be part of the final edition of the abandoned tier.

**nigel-harps1954** · 24/05/2014, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

How are Fanad Utd getting on these days? They made a late run to be part of the final edition of the abandoned tier.

Not so good these days really. They're concentrating much more on youth now, but they're not half as successful as they were in previous years. Don't think they'd add anything to League of Ireland football the more I think about it. I'd have considered it in the past, but really, they're just too far away from anywhere to have any sort of impact.

**Sam_Heggy** · 24/05/2014, 1:07 PM

The USL may not be flourishing but they didn't win the Inter-pro's last season at a canter.

Cavan/Monaghan league was asked if they wanted to enter sides but they turned it down. Otherwise it'd be tough to add in any other areas as they would be IFA clubs.

**Green** · 27/05/2014, 11:42 PM

So the concensus here then seems to be that people are happy the way things are....

**Charlie Darwin** · 28/05/2014, 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by Green

So the concensus here then seems to be that people are happy the way things are....

I think the consensus is that the people who matter are happy the way things are.

**Green** · 28/05/2014, 4:07 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I think the consensus is that the people who matter are happy the way things are.

That is what I meant. Should have phrased it better.

**Dodge** · 28/05/2014, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Green

So the concensus here then seems to be that people are happy the way things are....

The consensus is that there isn't a realistic, viable option elsewhere

**Charlie Darwin** · 30/05/2014, 2:21 PM

http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/ne...first-division

**nigel-harps1954** · 30/05/2014, 3:26 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/ne...first-division

They're early with it this year. Would be nice to see a few interested clubs come into the frame.

**luiz** · 30/05/2014, 7:20 PM

In the link:

"All necessary documentation including a club licensing manual and application pack will be forwarded, on request, to all interested parties."

I feel like coming up with a bogus team just to see the list of documents and requirements needed and what the so called licensing manual is made of.

**gufcfan** · 30/05/2014, 7:50 PM

Originally Posted by luiz

In the link:

"All necessary documentation including a club licensing manual and application pack will be forwarded, on request, to all interested parties."

I feel like coming up with a bogus team just to see the list of documents and requirements needed and what the so called licensing manual is made of.

Good luck with that. They refused to give GUST the required application pack, never mind actually consider them.

**sligoman** · 30/05/2014, 9:10 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

There was talk of Sligo Rovers being invited to include a reserve team in it this season.

We were but turned it down.

**disgruntled** · 01/06/2014, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

The FAI need to grab football by the balls in this country and start it all from scratch again. Leave the various junior and intermediate leagues to run their own leagues if they want, but provide them with no funding. Instead, extend an offer to every single club in the country to join into the new pyramid system.
With promotion and relegation from each division, each club must meet certain criteria before gaining entry to the next division. Affiliation fees would reduce with each drop in division.

1. Premier Division (12 teams)
2. First Division (12 teams)
3. Second Division North (10 teams)
3. Second Division South (10 teams)
4. Ulster Senior League (10 teams)
4. Leinster Senior League (10 teams)
4. Connaught Senior League (10 teams)
4. Munster Senior League (10 teams)
5. Regional Lower Leagues (Based on current junior system, incorporating current intermediate clubs who don't make their respective divisions)

As we all know, however, the FAI won't ever do this, or anything similar to help growth of football in Ireland.

I would largely agree with the above.
Any physical objections like different seasons etc can be overcome but the main change needed would be one of mindset.
Mindset is the main problem to be overcome & I can't see this changing anytime soon.
There are too many administrators happy in their own little kingdoms.

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

How many (if any) non-Donegal clubs are in it? Or does it represent a province in the same way that the Munster Senior League does?

This should be renamed Cork Senior League & I use the word Senior with extreme caution.
The problem with this is the people who run it namely the MFA who are still back in the dark ages with no willingness for change & even less ambition.
I suppose in reality than sums up Irish Soccer in general.

**Pablo Escobar** · 01/06/2014, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by disgruntled

This should be renamed Cork Senior League & I use the word Senior with extreme caution.
The problem with this is the people who run it namely the MFA who are still back in the dark ages with no willingness for change & even less ambition.
I suppose in reality than sums up Irish Soccer in general.

34 clubs, all from Cork. It's ridiculous.

**disgruntled** · 02/06/2014, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Pablo Escobar

34 clubs, all from Cork. It's ridiculous.

It could have been 35 but they wouldn't let City in even after two clubs pulled out.
"It would not be in the interest of the other clubs" was their decision ?

**citybone** · 04/06/2014, 2:00 AM

Skibbereen AFC were looking into joining the league but being 50 miles from the city they decided not to bother as the travel and costs were too high, didnt want to travel as far as youghal lol. West Cork League is good enough.