New crossborder tournament: Unite the Union Champions Cup

**osarusan** · 09/05/2019, 2:25 PM

https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/n...s-cup-/id-2602

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and Irish Football Association (IFA) have announced the creation of a new cross-border tournament - the Unite the Union Champions Cup.

Sponsored by the trade union Unite, the competition will see the SSE Airtricity League Champions play the winners of the Danske Bank Premiership in a two-legged final.

The first edition of the competition will take place in November 2019 and will be formally launched at the Unite union’s Fifth Irish Policy Conference in Malahide on Monday May 13.

Unite have signed a three-year deal to sponsor the cross-border tournament with €50,000 set to go to the winners, €25,000 for the runners-up and a further €25,000 ring-fenced for community-based projects in the competing team’s local areas.

A kind of Setanta-lite I suppose. Weird name for it, and weird sponsor for it. I wonder how long it will last.

Not bad prize money for a one off tie though.

**El-Pietro** · 09/05/2019, 2:40 PM

That is the worst name for a tournament I've ever heard. What Union?

**brendy_éire** · 09/05/2019, 2:46 PM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

That is the worst name for a tournament I've ever heard. What Union?

Sponsored by trade union Unite.
Dreadful name and horrible, amateurish branding.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 09/05/2019, 3:00 PM

Awkward name - why not just the "Unite Cup"? - but good to see some kind of cross-border competition return. Hopefully it becomes a solid tradition, and doesn't mutate out of control like the Setanta Sports Cup did. Maybe include the primary cup winners if it's an initial success, but let's avoid a return to the days when half the Premier Division was involved.

**Dalymountrower** · 09/05/2019, 3:05 PM

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

Awkward name - why not just the "Unite Cup"? - but good to see some kind of cross-border competition return. Hopefully it becomes a solid tradition, and doesn't mutate out of control like the Setanta Sports Cup did. Maybe include the primary cup winners if it's an initial success, but let's avoid a return to the days when half the Premier Division was involved.

Bizarre branding, using the words " Union" and "Unite" in a north/south context is beyond Waterford Whisper.
Pity that the Setanta model hasn`t been kept.

**ToberonaTornado** · 09/05/2019, 8:09 PM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Bizarre branding, using the words " Union" and "Unite" in a north/south context is beyond Waterford Whisper.
Pity that the Setanta model hasn`t been kept.

What part of the Setanta would you keep?
Teams playing 4/5/6 games for frigg all.
It's a poorly named comp is all.

**Nah Nah Nah Nah** · 09/05/2019, 10:01 PM

The rich get richer

**Dalymountrower** · 09/05/2019, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by ToberonaTornado

What part of the Setanta would you keep?
Teams playing 4/5/6 games for frigg all.
It's a poorly named comp is all.

The building up relationships with northern clubs part. If they at least had top two in both leagues and then a final, it would give more opportunities for contact..

**Nesta99** · 09/05/2019, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah

The rich get richer

Meh! 50k would barely pay for branded seats at some club with millionaire owners...

**EatYerGreens** · 09/05/2019, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Bizarre branding, using the words " Union" and "Unite" in a north/south context is beyond Waterford Whisper.
Pity that the Setanta model hasn`t been kept.

It is a terrible name for a tournament. But the problem is that Unite's name is 'Unite - The Union'.

**ger121** · 10/05/2019, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Meh! 50k would barely pay for branded seats at some club with millionaire owners...

Might pay for wet gear under seats in the away end?

**Nesta99** · 10/05/2019, 3:37 AM

Originally Posted by ger121

Might pay for wet gear under seats in the away end?

Oh the home end! or bring yer own ;p

**pineapple stu** · 10/05/2019, 6:28 AM

Bit strange for a union to be engaged in sponsorship? What's in it for them and their members?

**NeverFeltBetter** · 10/05/2019, 9:12 AM

I'm struggling to think of one beyond "Good PR". Has Unite ever expressed a position on Irish reunification? Sponsoring cross-border competitions might be part of that.

**redarmyfaction** · 10/05/2019, 9:41 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Bit strange for a union to be engaged in sponsorship? What's in it for them and their members?

They are a UK Union but are organised in the ROI too, like any other business they are looking for customers and this allows them to emphasise their cross border nature.

The organisation is called Unite the Union not Unite so that is why the cup is called the name it is

**Park_Lane** · 10/05/2019, 9:44 AM

Mickey Mouse time of year to have it, season be over and all LOI players want to do is head off on holidays.

**Fester** · 10/05/2019, 10:44 AM

Nice money earner for whomever wins the league, terrible name for it...

**Nesta99** · 10/05/2019, 1:33 PM

Originally Posted by Park_Lane

Mickey Mouse time of year to have it, season be over and all LOI players want to do is head off on holidays.

Have you already forgotten playing in the group stages in Europe? Assuming thats a real ambition for clubs that get in to Europe this could be a handy fixture to have before the final group game.

**pineapple stu** · 10/05/2019, 2:07 PM

Originally Posted by redarmyfaction

They are a UK Union but are organised in the ROI too, like any other business they are looking for customers and this allows them to emphasise their cross border nature.

Trade unions don't really advertise as such though - so they're not quite like any other business.

I know this is a bigger/more general union than most, but generally TU membership tends to be related to the sector you're in, and the shop steward sorts you out if you want. So advertising on this scale would be a bit of a waste I would have thought.

**marinobohs** · 10/05/2019, 2:33 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Trade unions don't really advertise as such though - so they're not quite like any other business.

I know this is a bigger/more general union than most, but generally TU membership tends to be related to the sector you're in, and the shop steward sorts you out if you want. So advertising on this scale would be a bit of a waste I would have thought.

UNITE the Union (the name was introduced when a couple of unions joined together some years back) is a UK union that also operates an Irish division (Irish division organizes north and south).The union has tended to be involved in a number of community (sometimes political) issues beyond the usual union activities.
Good to see any additional revenue coming into the game so credit where it is due, I believe the Irish head of UNITE may have a personal interest in LOI and one team in particular

Fair dues (no pun intended) to them for the investment but certainly needs a rethink on the name !