2005 season details announced

**A face** · 10/12/2004, 1:19 AM

2005 season details announced

The eircom League have announced details of the structure and details of the 2005 season.
The season will begin on the weekend of 20th March and run through to the weekend of November 20th. There will be no mid-season break.
The Premier division will see 12 teams playing each other three times. In addition, there will be three scheduled weekends of FAI Cup games, leaving 36 weekends and interestingly no scheduled midweek games.
The first division will see ten teams play each other four times, with three FAI Cup weekends there will be a need for three rounds of midweek games.

Read more at www.irishfootballonline.com

**Risteard** · 10/12/2004, 8:29 AM

Very disappointed that only one team might be going down every year.
Won't be very competitive between 10th, 11th and 12th come the last few games of the season i reckon.

**patsh** · 10/12/2004, 9:02 AM

Can't see why they can't get the fixtures organised within a week or two, now that they have decided on the number of games etc. They also more or less know the dates for the Euro competitions, so the only thing stopping them from drawing up the fixture list is bloody-mindedness and incompetence....

**holidaysong** · 10/12/2004, 11:30 AM

I don't like the lack of relegation from the Premier Divison - could just have one going down from 12 is not enough in my opinion, but at least we have the PD 11th vs. FD 2th playoff... Although having to win the First Division outright to be sure of promotion is a bit balls if you ask me. Anyway I think Dundalk for the Playoff spot in 2005!

**pineapple stu** · 10/12/2004, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by patsh

The only thing stopping them from drawing up the fixture list is bloody-mindedness and incompetence....

Or laziness...apathy...Man Utd game on RT�...

**NY Hoop** · 10/12/2004, 5:45 PM

Ridiculous.

Why not start the league first weekend in march and finish second last sunday in october? The Cup Final being the last game of the season.

Anyone have the league's email address?

KOH

**TheCultOfDino** · 10/12/2004, 6:52 PM

The fact that every team plays eash other 3 times is stupid.if1 team gets 2 homes games against a weak team and if there rivals get 2 aways games against the same team it isn't too fair is it.what if said team is on the other side of the country?play eash othe twice of four times it is fairest.

**crc** · 10/12/2004, 8:37 PM

I think I remember hearing that in the mid 90s when we played 33 games, the team that won the league played whoever came second, at home twice and away once - the extra home game being the difference between the sides.

I used to be against it, but now I'm in favour of a 16 team Premier Division, and bringing in a few more regional sides to make a 10 team first div.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 11/12/2004, 12:00 AM

There are no midweek fixtures next season which is a good thing.
Over two seasons with 33 fixtures each team will have 33 home games and 33 away games ;another point recent information released by the EL in connection with attendances revealed that they dropped significantly in July and August. Perhaps Summer soccer in light of these findings has not been the success on the attendances front that we had hoped.

**BohDiddley** · 11/12/2004, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Risteard

Very disappointed that only one team might be going down every year.
Won't be very competitive between 10th, 11th and 12th come the last few games of the season i reckon.

They had to work out some way to keep the Hoops up!

**A face** · 11/12/2004, 1:59 PM

Originally Posted by BohDiddley

They had to work out some way to keep the Hoops up!

[SIZE=1]10 characters[/SIZE]

**A face** · 11/12/2004, 2:39 PM

League Management agrees League structure

At this evening's (Dec 9th) Special Management Information Meeting, the following was agreed:

Read more at www.fai.ie

**EireBadBoy** · 12/12/2004, 5:18 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Or laziness...apathy...Man Utd game on RT�...

Christmas is always busy, maybe they can't book an entire function room to fit all the ego's into.

You people can be so thoughtless at times.

We might get word on the fixtures/stupid rules 2005 in the New Year - something I look forward to complaining about.

**ShelsTim** · 12/12/2004, 6:10 PM

I hate to find something positive amidst your rants, but the no midweek fixture thing is great. It leaves plenty of room for European/Setanta/FAI Cup/Postponed games to take place without completely ****ing up league. Hooray.

**mypost** · 14/12/2004, 5:33 AM

Originally Posted by patsh

Can't see why they can't get the fixtures organised within a week or two, now that they have decided on the number of games etc. They also more or less know the dates for the Euro competitions, so the only thing stopping them from drawing up the fixture list is bloody-mindedness and incompetence....

...or the UEFA Licences? Sorting out who qualifies and who doesn't for the A Licence?

Isn't that the reason why the fixtures for last season came out so late?