It's a short dart journey. Almost as bad as people going on about the unbelievable away support at Dublin derbies.Originally Posted by nr637
Shels must have had over 1,500 at Bray for their FAI Cup game on Sunday. It was probably Bray's biggest home crowd for awhile with about 2,500 in attendance.
Little Old Shels have no problems bringing crowds to the Carlisle Grounds!
Fair point Cork v Dundalk but even during Dundalk's haydays of 2016, the league as a whole wasn't as popular as it is now and those finals between cork and Dundalk were all stinkers. It became boringI will admit it's entirely possible that I am underestimating how large an event it is for regional clubs when they make it but we also have 4 years of final attendances from 2 regional clubs (Cork v Dundalk). A very heated rivalry between, at the time, the 2 best teams in the country and 2 of the then best managers. Only 1 final got over 30 thousand attendees and even Shels poorly attended final had over 32 thousand. I think with Shels current success they wouldn't have an issue shifting extra tickets compared to their last outing, they might still punch the head off each other but they'd be in the stadium and still count towards attendance figures
There were 150, or thereabouts, Cliftonville supporters in Finn Park for our recent friendly. They remarked about how long the journey was, it was longer than their longest away trip of the upcoming NIFL season.
Same journey was shorter than Harps shortest journey of the season away to Longford. They were sure to add it's just another reason against the all-island league.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
Agreed on the boring count but I suppose I fall on the side of thinking a lot of finals are quite poor games. It's a one off event that in a lot of cases can define a season. There's a nervous element and if it doesn't settle into an attacking game quickly it can become a bit of a stalemate. All that said it was actually the last game between the 2 that had over 30,000. So the neutrals may have been bored of it but the locals weren't
Why don't Harps apply to join the IL?
Though the LOI can keep them Derry wans
To be serious though, in my experience football fans are creatures of habit and who value tradition etc. So that the novelty of a trip to somewhere new soon wears off - esp if it involves a long or difficult trek - see eg the Setanta Cup.
Anyhow, until or unless the Summer vs Winter season calendar issue was resolved, then an All-Ireland league is off the table. (And that's only the most pressing issue which would need to be addressed - there are others)
Anyhow as you were, back to the FAI Cup.
You can't compare anything in the pre-Covid era with the current league. The big increasses in support right across the LOI over the last few years has been well documented. We are literally in a different league nowI will admit it's entirely possible that I am underestimating how large an event it is for regional clubs when they make it but we also have 4 years of final attendances from 2 regional clubs (Cork v Dundalk). A very heated rivalry between, at the time, the 2 best teams in the country and 2 of the then best managers. Only 1 final got over 30 thousand attendees and even Shels poorly attended final had over 32 thousand. I think with Shels current success they wouldn't have an issue shifting extra tickets compared to their last outing, they might still punch the head off each other but they'd be in the stadium and still count towards attendance figures
Have Cliftonville fans really only just realised that Donegal is further from Belfast than anywhere they'd be going for a football game in NI?They're obviously not the Nordys who can afford the holiday homes in West Donegal then anyway.
The same Cliftonville fans, by the way. who will also tell you how big they are on the whole nationalism/republicanism thing
IL fans always wang on about the distances that would be involved in an All-Island League. They've been spoiled by having what has more often than not been essentially a three-county league. It's such a mediocre mindset. Let them join local amateur competitions if travelling is their big concern
Last edited by EatYerGreens; 25/07/2024 at 1:11 PM.
Curiously enough, when Gerard Lawlor was the boss (Chairman?) at Cliftonville, he/his club were the most vocal of the bigger teams in opposing an all-Ireland league, while Linfield (and Glentoran?) were more amenable.The same Cliftonville fans, by the way. who will also tell you how big they are on the whole nationalism/republicanism thing
While since he has become CEO of the NIFL, Lawlor has been trying to push a Summer football agenda, which would appear to be a necessary prerequisite to any such league.
Meanwhile in a personal capacity, Lawlor was happy to be seen publicly endorsing his local SF candidate at last months election.
Anyhow, sorry for derailing this thread further off-topic - Mods may move/excise/delete this post as they see fit.
Most LOI threads get derailed by the nordy junior league for some reason.
It's just blatannt self-interest and protectionism from Cliftonville. They struggle to be a big fish In the IL, so would struggle even more in the LOI. Glentoran and Linfield presumably see big potential for themselves from playing in a bigger pond. Cliftonville just see risk/danger.
https://m.independent.ie/sport/socce...253494059.html
I mean, this feels a bit desperate. The FAI cleared him to play, so that should be that.
This made me smile
Couldn't care less if it's overturned or not,but delighted Rovers are arguing their case.
You can be damn sure if the roles were reversed we'd see that spanner bohs CEO out on hunger strike or a dirty protest on the phibsboro road, proclaiming the injustice of it all.
He’s our COO, that is he’s responsible for financial incomings and the day to day running.This made me smile
Couldn't care less if it's overturned or not,but delighted Rovers are arguing their case.
You can be damn sure if the roles were reversed we'd see that spanner bohs CEO out on hunger strike or a dirty protest on the phibsboro road, proclaiming the injustice of it all.
**** all to do with him what the football side does that’s down to our DOF, Fenlon.
As someone mentioned , he was cleared to play so he played. No one had an inkling you could carry a red from the Mickey Mouse trophy four or five months ago into a game in another country, after you’ve been here six weeks or whatever, mental stuff.
If you’re that desperate and petty, go on ahead
and appeal it. Would expect nothing else from that ****ty club tbh
I couldn't care less about the cup but if we knocked bohs out in the stewards room I would **** myself laughing.
If bohs win the cup there will always be an *
Clearly, the carrot of a game in Mounthawk Park just proved too irresistible for Rovers!
Definitely!
If the shoe was on the other foot 100% Bohs would have appealed.
given FAI have signed off it’ll be like a yellow card appeal (I.e.no chance!) but we did get punished in 2006 with Oaul `shields I think after FAI clearance?!
but I can’t think of a sweeter cup win if they did throw Bohs out….. wining the cup having been knocked out by them ????
It’s a weird situation, his suspension came in a league cup competition, he then played 15(?) games for another club on loan. Moved here , played in the cup .
Surely if his card came in a league cup then he should serve a ban, however unfair, in a league competition and not an open cup competition? As we do not have a league cup like?
Nonsense ban anyhow.
Wouldn't be the first time the FAI got something wrong. I'm guessing Rovers have read the rules book and think they have a case
There was nothing "curious" about his or Cliftonville's position at that time. He/They spoke out against so-called proposal at that time, based on it making any substance, not on the concept of an AIL.
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