From my understanding, Rovers ii have been told if any teams apply, their membership might be in trouble, if they have a viable other option, but at the moment we have nothing to worry about because there isn't a viable option, this could change before the start of the season, but who knows
At the moment to add "B" teams seems the only option to increase the number of clubs and thats the only way to go to improve the league and the football scene in the country. If we could just get enough teams to regionalize the second division 16? 8-8 it would be great to go on the way for a third tier, which is very necessary and would help to get smaller towns in. Moreover a regionalized league could be more interesting for Leinster and Munster sides
LEAGUE of IRELAND FIRST DIVISION TABLE- 2025
1. Shamrock Rovers.
2. Shamrock Rovers Reserves
3. Shamrock Rovers B
4. Shamrock Rovers II
5. Shamrock Rovers 2nd XI.
6. Shamrock Rangers.
7. Shamrock Rioters.
8. Ruagirí na Seamroigé.
9. Tallaght Shamrocks.
10.Irish Sea Saint Home Farm Everton Treaty Yola FC*
* (Deducted 22pts for not having the correct colour of corner flags. Not re-elected)
Last edited by EatYerGreens; 20/11/2020 at 12:49 PM.
I agree, the current 10 + 6 more between new applicants and B teams and we have the makings of a decent size first division or a regionalized version of it.
The B teams are needed for clubs who are properly investing in their academies as otherwise having developed kids from 12 or 13 (or earlier) you lose them to a lower Premier or first division team who offer them "senior football" before they are ready to play in the First team for their original club.
Premier
Shamrock Rovers
Bohemians
Dundalk
Sligo Rovers
Waterford
St. Patrick's Athletic
Derry City
Finn Harps
Drogheda United
Longford Town
First Division
Cork
Shels
Bray Wanderers
UCD
Galway United
Cobh Ramblers
Cabinteely
Athlone
2nd Division
Wexford
Treaty Utd
St Francis
Shamrock Rovers B
Dundalk B
Bohemians B
North Sea FC
A third tier would add a bit of extra competition to the first division atleast.
i would start with a 15 or 16 team first division next year if possible and let it be known that the top 8 will qualify for the new division 1 the following year with the bottom 7/8 + any new teams making up the division 2.
Maximum of 1 b team in the first division in year two (so the b teams would have their own mini league) as you dont want a first division of 8 teams with 3 of them b teams.
I know that doesnt regionalize things but i think a better standard first division is better then 2 medicore regionalized varients.
I don't know a lot about intermediate football, but from having a look on wikipedia it seems that the Munster league is heavily weighted towards Cork. As is Ulster to Donegal and Leinster to Dublin.
Maybe this level needs to be reformed as-well? Three regional leagues for West, East & South. Clubs that show potential at this level could then make the jump to a properly maintained first division. I still think our goal as a league should be a semi-pro first division and a full pro premier.
oh boy I'm not good at football forums
All comes down to money again really. Travel cost would be high for that. Would need to be backed by the FAI. Standard wise would be a massive difference between senior clubs and 1st division clubs but i think would be a big step. Your correct in what you are calling for but it needs to be separate form msl/lsl/usl. Needs to be run by the fai. Like an a league type set up based geography. Maybe try rob few clubs from the Irish league too 😂
I really think FAI should be looking to tap into the 3rd level soccer and try get a few more teams like with UCD, great for young players be in a professional set up while studying for a degree.
Ucc
Carlow it
Uuj
Maynooth
Dcu
Tralee
Sligo
Galway
UL
Add in the 3/4 b teams plus likes a Mayo/ Monaghan, Kilkenny, limerick, Kerry.
Would have lots of option for larger leagues or maybe regional lower division etc
That'd be an awful idea in fairness. Irish people have no personal affinity with the educational institutions that just happen to be in their area, and even those who currently or previously attended them have limited emotional ties to them as well. Most spend every weekend getting away from their university town and back to their village in the arse end of nowhere to see the same faces they've seen all their lives and so their mammy can wash their socks for them. So these teams would be pretty much guaranteed to have no support.
Football is supposed to be all about the fans. And Irish football already has enough teams who don't really have any fans.
I am not suggesting that people are forced into the league but surely the objective at the top of the FAI should be to encourage the spread of the game and create conditions that allows and promoites teams to enter the league. Why not have a complete merit based league so that the best team can be proimoted from whatever league they are in as in Germany. I agree that you would need your head examined if you were to put a team in the league unless you had a large fortune that you wanted to make into a small fortune
The FAI has to get serious about the League of Ireland and that means proper sponsors, prizemoney etc. Winning the Premier gets a club pocket money. The only incentive is to get into Europe. The League title should have real value on its own.
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