Kerry, Mayo, Meath, Kildare... well if you cant beat GAA to funding become them. I know you cant have a senior club in every town but does a county klubreally get buy in across a county? Its reasonable to hope so when you already have a county based sporting model that can fill one of the biggest stadiums in Europe a couple of times a year but honestly isnt a county team more a political thing to prevent very big ego noses being knocked out of joint if not in the picture somehow; It has less to do with supporter appeal and more to do with appeal to multiple clubs' officers (eg Galway 'United' FC circa 2010-13?!).
Maybe its the Louth experience that has influenced my thinking, thats its small size has made it particularly parochial and why Louth FC suggestions have been laughed away and that LoI fans in Dundalk and Drogheda would just quit rather than bother with such rubbish. But does a large county like Kerry really pull in significant support from beyond the home ground/town catchment. Cork is an example where a club representing the county town/city draws support from the county (sorry Cobh fans) but that was profile driven from the periods when Cork city clubs werent popping like a pan of popcorn. Would it not be better trying to appeal to a denser populated centre like Navan, called Navan and focus efforts rather than attempt a one size fits all, it still represents the county, might get the likes of Trim to look at things in a new pyramid system (Happy Christmas Legendz). We really are suffering from the lack of merit based incremental upward movement of clubs outside the senior game, that grow support organically as part of success - the only way to grow a multi generation support base in this country imo, and where historical success sustains things during barren spells - when a clubs resilience and tradition is truly tested. Parachuting in one size fits all county sides are as likely to work in the long run as an American sport investment firm in Dundalk - Kildare County gone, Kerry in its infancy so too soon to tell etc.
The only potential difference from the current state of play from past abortive attempts is that there may be some more solid ground to build on with national underage leagues. Wexford Youths can be deemed a countywide club success story probably, but were founded first and foremost to give local youths a route to senior football and where maybe the bigger picture was seen, though maybe Mick Wallace was just a formidible force and Wexford clubs rowed in behind his vanity project as it was described disparagingly at the time by some?
Last edited by Nesta99; 23/12/2023 at 3:28 PM.
With Kerry, the main incentive for going down the county route was financial, in that sponsors, chambers of commerce, investors etc were going to be more attracted to an entity using the "Kerry" branding, rather than if either Dynamos or Killarney Celtic had done so on a standalone basis. It also helped to get the KDL onside to ensure there were no turf wars between junior and senior levels for the LoI underage leagues, which has been an issue for clubs around the country in the past, and ties in with the youth pathway, which regardless of player recruitment, will continue to be a priority.
Ok I can accept that as start up LoI club revenue needs to be generated fairly quickly and hence picking a larger 'brand' to promote to sponsors and investors is one way tp try. Beyond that the fear is that sombody will feel left out and take the hump - its not a box that should need ticking when plans are being drawn up. Id hope that discussions with a KDL are on strategic parterships to develop elite talent and not to prevent turf war. The conversation on both may be similar but obviously the reason should differ.
It was/is a reoccuring theme in a lot of places nationally, in the past junior and youth football were enboldened by their role in propping up the former regime in the FAI, I hope by the time some of thee clubs join senior football that ths FAI will turn a deaf ear to those sabotaging the games and player development.
Kerry League and Mayo League competed in the League Cup for many years. It just seems to suit both regions to have one club. There is no one size that fits all.
Mullingar and Athlone would possibly be a good rivalry? Two urban areas on opposite sides.
Carlow and Kilkenny is a good partnership. Possibly the template for Laois and Offaly?
If LoI clubs can have the local district league(s) on board, they will be better placed for attaining professionalism.
Treaty United has 4 district leagues to form partnerships with. The midwest is currently underperforming.
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...362480465.html
Potentially big news from FAI. As well as the implementation of the incoming third tier LOI, they're finally looking like taking control of all football in the country with 8 regional administrative centres and a pyramid system across the country, all running the calendar season.
Glad to finally see someone tackle this. Remains to be seen what sort of push back there'll be on it, but with upcoming consultations, I'm sure we won't be long finding out.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republ..._league_system
If this is accurate, there are 4 district leagues in Connacht, 12 in Munster, 14 in Leinster and 3 in Ulster. 8 regional administrative centres might work out as 1 in Connacht, 3 in Munster, 3 in Leinster and 1 in Ulster.
MUNSTER
West Munster - Clare, Limerick Desmond, Limerick & District and Kerry
Cork - all district leagues in Cork.
East Munster - Tipperary North, Tipperary South, Waterford & District and West Waterford/East Cork.
LEINSTER
North Leinster leagues, Dublin leagues and South Leinster leagues.
I wonder will they move away from the provincial divides.Originally Posted by legendz
A South-East League with the best from Tipp, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow & Carlow could make sense.
I phoned the speaking clock to hear a voice speak, it said - "At the tone you will be very much alone"
Fantastic to see this. The FAI will need to bulldoze the "consultation process" as most of these particuler Turkeys have consistently voted against anything that impinges on their own particular fiefdoms.
The DDSL in particuler needs to be cleared out. They swapped back to "winter football" in the middle of the who;e Delaney fallout when the FAI were distracted and we now have the scenerio that most kids are "theoretically playing football in Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb when in reality with pitch closures they hardly play at all , particularly the lower division clubs who tend not to get access to clubs astro pitches.
I'd leave Tipp out of that group TBH, travelling from WX & most of Wicklow to Tipp is a pain...plus I wouldn't consider the vast majority of Tipp as being in the south-east.
If ignoring provincial divides, which they should do if it makes sense, then Tipp would make more sense to be mixed in with Offlay & Laois as at least you have the M7 & M8 to make travel easier.
South-East league would be a very interesting prospect as there's a sense in some of the counties especially Kilkenny and Carlow that certain teams like Evergreen, Freebooters and New Oak have outgrown their current leagues. A combined South-East league with those teams and the like if North End, Gorey Rangers and St Michael’s would be great for local soccer imo.
Clare was traditionally the poor relation of the Munster counties, but Newmarket winning the FAI Junior Cup last season has shown the improvement in that league. Clare, Kerry and Limerick might make a natural Mid-West League, but in terms of both standards and geographic completeness, you'd need to add the Cork clubs into the mix.
As with everything FAI related I'll believe it when I see it but I'm actually so happy that at least it seems they are at least trying to implement the right things post D***ney.
I've always thought the biggest issue within Irish football is the misaligned seasons making any pyramid impossible.
The 8 regions sounds like a good number to me. In theory at least should massively improve the standard of junior football and give young players and managers a place to improve before making the step up through the levels.
If I live to see a pyramid structure to football in Ireland I'll die a happy man.
21 leagues and 25 cups.
As others have mentioned, my reaction to the news was cautious optimism.
Personally, when I heard about the 8 regions, I assumed it would involve only breaking up Leinster into 5 regions and leaving the other provinces the same. Bigger task to break up the rest of the provinces but hopefully they're up to the task!
If Ulster and Connacht are 1 region each, Munster is at least 2. North Tipperary, North Cork and West Cork might align with Kerry, Clare and Limerick. Cork City, East Cork, South Tipperary and Waterford the other region. Leinster then might be 4. North Dublin, South Dublin, North Leinster and South Leinster.
Agree with you there. And your point above, that Munster could arguably be three regions. The number of clubs, district leagues and sheer size of the province surely warrants it.
It'll be a difficult balancing act considering distances, number of clubs to consider and historical rivalries, not to mention those fierce defenders of their own patch, but I'm excited this is getting serious attention, even if it all ends in the usual disappointment.
But I thought the same about the national underage leagues and they still haven't been canned yet!
I seen on OrielWeb that reserve teams are to be included in the new third tier but on a voluntary basis. I remember when we had the A Championship that Premier Division clubs had to enter a team, so this is a good approach.
I'd be interested in the thoughts of Shamrock Rovers fans on how their B team in the First Division was seen. Was there obvious benefits in developing future players or seen more as a waste of resources?
I don't think there should be any provincial regions. It should be based on geography, number of leagues, distances of travel, and number of registered players.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
Eight regions for a third tier sounds excessive - am I picking that up right? You'd surely have big gaps in the divisions between top and bottom
Obviously great to see it's being properly considered at least
My reading of the sitatuation was a third tier North/South, and regional associations below that.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
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