Originally Posted by
EalingGreen
Indeed it is hard to underestimate how important the pyramid is for all this. For example, when Newry Town (Est.1918) went bust (I think) due to an incompetent Board, the supporters still controlled the stadium, and so were able to form a phoenix club in 2012, which started at the bottom of the pyramid and worked their way back up. During their absence, neighbouring Warrenpoint (Est.1987) were able to take advantage by signing their players, coaches etc, and gained promotion to the IL Prem in their place! Curiously enough, the Point were relegated to the Championship after last season, with their place being taken by Newry City AFC! AFC's average crowds this season are just under 1k, but they drew over 2k for their first game back in the Prem, a Sunday game at home to Linfield! And seeing as they own their own stadium, like the great majority of Senior clubs in NI, they ought, just, to be able to stay sustainable at that level.
Another good example are Bangor FC. Formed in 1914, they were always a member of the single tier Irish League (no promotion or relegation), with a conspicuous lack of success, often bumping along the bottom in front of paltry crowds etc.. They enjoyed a "Golden Age" in the early 1980's however, winning the Irish Cup and playing in Europe etc, but overreached themselves financially, getting relegated to the newly introduced lower divisions for a spell. Eventually, when back in the top division, they realised that they could no longer compete financially at that level. But instead of going bust, they voluntarily resigned from Senior football after first fulfilling their fixtures and have played Intermediate football instead for the last decade, even down to the fourth tier. The good news, however, is that they have now got their finances in order, are improving the stadium and are challenging at the top of the Premier Intermediate League (3rd tier), from where it is now their stated ambition to get back into Senior football.
Had it not been for the pyramid, which allowed them to regroup, they would almost certainly have disappeared entirely, with their ground sold off for housing etc. Which for a provincial town of over 60k people would have represented a severe loss to domestic football in NI.
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