The phrase that pays !!

**dublinred** · 25/07/2005, 5:59 PM

Real , Live and Irish, support your local team instead of Malcom Glazier.

**sligoman** · 25/07/2005, 6:48 PM

The Premiership=Foreign Players, Foreign Managers, Foreign Clubs and Foreign Fans.

The Eircom League=IRISH players, IRISH Managers, IRISH Clubs and IRISH Fans.

Which one do you want to support?

,

.

**R�iteoir** · 26/07/2005, 9:54 AM

A play on the promotion from the 1970's / 1980's

The eircom League - Guaranteed Irish

**dublinred** · 26/07/2005, 10:09 AM

Its a great time to market the Eircom league now , the messiah has left ****** and is replaced by a ginger nut , Keane is about to get booted out of United there is a lot of discrunted United fans over the glazier affair and the Irish teams are flying in Europe.

**Drumcondra Red** · 26/07/2005, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by sligoman

The Eircom League=IRISH players, IRISH Managers, IRISH Clubs and IRISH Fans.

Thats not exactly true now is it???

**fosterdollar** · 26/07/2005, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Drumcondra Red

Thats not exactly true now is it???

Should get those lovely xenophobes in though.

**Drumcondra Red** · 26/07/2005, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Magoo

Should get those lovely xenophobes in though.

Hahaha!!! What would they think when they heard Joey Ndo's name being called out?

**crc** · 26/07/2005, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Bosco

Anyone remember the add cocacola did for the championship in england?It showed first div fans travelling to games with drums,flags etc and then at the end said "real fans"...

...How about a clip with some decent music in the background of the lead up to a game from a fans point of view. Putting on the jersey,gathering flares,flags,drum,getting on a supporters bus,the journey to the game,singing before the game,singing during the game,celebrating a goal/win,being miserable after losing and then at the end "Real fans" coming across the screen.

I think you need to sell the positives of the eL without alienating / criticising the barstoolers (no matter how much fun that would be!!).

My idea would be to start with an ad of a guy at work watching the clock on a friday, maybe sneakily reading the sports section. Then follow him as he gets on a bus / car home, then as he puts on his shirt, then meets up with his mates. They get to the ground, he buys his ticket before the game (this is important - to show people that don't know about the league that you can buy tickets on the night), guy looks at his watch again, which shows 7:45. It could finish off with a big roar from the crowd after a goal (maybe zooming out from our 'guy').

The idea of this ad would be to show the ritual of going to a game, the building sense of anticipation as the ad progresses, finished off with the buzz of the goal.

**sligoman** · 26/07/2005, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Drumcondra Red

Thats not exactly true now is it???

No but it mostly is. I never said all the players were Irish

**�anna** · 26/07/2005, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by crc

I think you need to sell the positives of the eL without alienating / criticising the barstoolers (no matter how much fun that would be!!).

My idea would be to start with an ad of a guy at work watching the clock on a friday, maybe sneakily reading the sports section. Then follow him as he gets on a bus / car home, then as he puts on his shirt, then meets up with his mates. They get to the ground, he buys his ticket before the game (this is important - to show people that don't know about the league that you can buy tickets on the night), guy looks at his watch again, which shows 7:45. It could finish off with a big roar from the crowd after a goal (maybe zooming out from our 'guy').

The idea of this ad would be to show the ritual of going to a game, the building sense of anticipation as the ad progresses, finished off with the buzz of the goal.

excellent idea

**fosterdollar** · 26/07/2005, 12:47 PM

Yeah I like crc's one. It has potential to look good as a tv ad.

**dublinred** · 26/07/2005, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by crc

I think you need to sell the positives of the eL without alienating / criticising the barstoolers (no matter how much fun that would be!!).

My idea would be to start with an ad of a guy at work watching the clock on a friday, maybe sneakily reading the sports section. Then follow him as he gets on a bus / car home, then as he puts on his shirt, then meets up with his mates. They get to the ground, he buys his ticket before the game (this is important - to show people that don't know about the league that you can buy tickets on the night), guy looks at his watch again, which shows 7:45. It could finish off with a big roar from the crowd after a goal (maybe zooming out from our 'guy').

The idea of this ad would be to show the ritual of going to a game, the building sense of anticipation as the ad progresses, finished off with the buzz of the goal.

Showing him having a few scoops before and after the game and one of the drinks companys would sponsor it , how about " Carlsberg don't do real football but if they did................

**fosterdollar** · 26/07/2005, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by londonred

Showing him having a few scoops before and after the game and one of the drinks companys would sponsor it , how about " Carlsberg don't do real football but if they did................

You'd get (eh) hammered by the anti-drink-in-sports campaigners. Rightly so imo.

**dublinred** · 26/07/2005, 1:00 PM

Originally Posted by fosterdollar

You'd get (eh) hammered by the anti-drink-in-sports campaigners. Rightly so imo.

It would have to be Kaliber, I suppose the PC brigade would also want birds and kids in the ad and it couldn't be a stereotypial white male.

**tiktok** · 26/07/2005, 1:11 PM

You should have kids in the add anyway, attracting kids and families is the most likely way crowds will increase. There are very few 35 year old Manchester United fans who are suddenly going to have their heads turned by UCD.

**garykelly** · 26/07/2005, 1:30 PM

All excellent ideas and i'm a firm believer that supporters are the ones to improve the Eircom League and football in general throughout Ireland. The establishment of an all emcompassing organisation, representing the thought's/opinions/ of the supporters of the 22 league clubs. Sort of a professional pressure group with the aim of improving and changing the face of Irish soccer. Supporters have everything to offer plus they have a passion for what they do. A bigger version of a trust I suppose would be the job, pooling all supporters skills together. It's the only way to make a real difference.

Also another idea for an ad

A lad sits on the couch with beer around him, watching the TV. In comes his housemate with an Eircom League Club jersey on him.

Guy on couch "Ah your just in time. You watching the match ? "
Other dude "Man, it's Saturday night. I'm going to the match".

Picture cut's to the guy meeting friends and going into the match, while yer man sits at home on his own bored.

Up appears : Eircom League, be a part of it

It would have to subtly hint yer man was planning to watch a foreign league game on TV. so maybe a liverpool/man u scarf would be a good indicator.

**EnDai** · 26/07/2005, 1:39 PM

Nice idea there garykelly.

Also, in regards to some form of "professional pressure group", could it be pulled off? If it was to get going I think it would be fantastic, and could drastically help to change our league for the better. I'm willing now to lend as much time possible to such a project.

The ads contrasting barstoolers to real fans really would make a big impact, IMO.

**Slash/ED** · 26/07/2005, 1:42 PM

I dunno, it could simply serve to p�ss them off and create an us and them attitude, we want them to come out and support the league. I don't think that's the way to go about it, we need to make the league look like it's something worth supporting rather than say they're lesser people for not supporting it, that makes it sound like the league is crap and we just support it because we feel we have to.

**garykelly** · 26/07/2005, 1:59 PM

Ah the poor bar stoolers

Seriously though I agree with Slash E/D, we want to them support the league. I think the way to do this is not to alienate anyone but give the impression and feeling that if your not at an Eircom league game then your missing out on something. Which could be anybody, not just barstoolers.

EnDai - yeah i think such a project is possible. The perfect situation would be to create an organising body that all supporters clubs/trust's would affiliate to. would have to have a name to be all encompassing. This way each club/trust could sent their reps to the meeting's, report back and work on action points if needed. Meeting's could be held regionally between supporters

e.g. North West/West Regions The Bit O'Red Supporters Trust (Sligo Rovers), GUST (Galway), Derry Supporters Club, Finn Harps Supporters Club & Monaghan Supporters Club (or monaghan cud join dundalk, drogs or whatever was handier)
could meet onece a month in rotating locations. This group then could appoint a person from each supporter body to travel to a national meeting and report back. The people travelling from each region would also rotate.

It would be a massive job, setting up our trust is alot of work so a national one would be a big effort. But an effort that would be worth it in my opinion. I wonder if many other supporters groups would be interested in the creation of what would be national body representing all supporters groups ?

This model is nothing new and would be a slight variation on supporters direct who are the representative body of all supporters trusts in the UK,Scotland and Wales. Differenet regions meet up, help each other, progress ideas and then everyone meets up annually or bi-annually at the supporters direct conference. Instead of piddling about for scraps for each club, a united front would give supporters power they never thought possible and make a real difference.