20 Teams, 2 Divisions, 1 National League

[BigEars]

Im dissapointed to be honest, i feel like the FAI have fudged the whole thing and are just creating a stoger varsion of the various Country leagues while weakening the Leinster senior league rather than actually creating a third tier or a pyramid.
Maybe in time it could become this but it seems a stretch.
From Rovers perspective i see zero point in it tbh, retaining players to play in a jumped up LSL wont be very attractive if they are good enough that we want to retain them they will be good enough to go and sign an play for Bray/UCD or Shels /BOhs/PAts .

As regards it beiong amateur that wont stop clubs who are already paying players in cash continuing to do it, its been happening for years and wont stop, i even got a few bob myslef about 100 years a go from an LSL team

Out of interest, what would you have liked to see from this 3rd tier starting out ?

[WeAreRovers]

Do many LoI clubs still have link ups with schoolboy clubs? It seems to have gone very quiet in that regard eg Dundalk and Malahide. St Kevins wanted their own pathway didnt they but linked up (Bohs?) but again not particularly shouing about it. Rovers would have stolen their thunder for sure and showed up their exploitative model. Have Bray taken on the Cabinteely connection and so on? These were clubs that would have tried to go it alone in underage LoI but needed a senior pathway and now have the possibility. Cavan Monaghan it would be a real surprise if they havent applied considering Monaghan would have the facility and experience. They had teams in Dundalk Schoolboys League which caused significant annoyance locally as they had access to a much bigger catchement and dominated the local traditional stronger clubs for a while.

Three different levels of partner clubs at Rovers but lots of schoolboys clubs affiliated in one way or another - Crumlin United, Templogue United, Corduff and Lucan United are the main partners.

Kilnamanagh, Firhouse Carmel, Jobstown Celtic, Sacred Heart, Athy Town, Ballyoulster United, Cambridge, Granada, Kilcullen, Lakelands, Leicester Celtic, Leixlip United, Newlands/Castle Park and Sallins Celtic are affiliated in one way or another.

https://www.shamrockrovers.ie/rovers-in-clubs/

[Kiki Balboa]

2 from Louth rumoured not listed but both would be mad for different reasons. Dont see Athboy with a former FAI suit cheerleading things in Meath and a Dublin based club that was suggested to be 1 of a couple with questionable funding, maybe the noose is tightening on the Dubai connection.

Who are the rumours ? Dying to know... Didn't hear anything myself

[Elfman]

Having a quick look in FAI Connect, they don't appear to have played in the underage leagues since 2022?

A good spot Culloty! I sourced the exact article below; it suggests that there was interest from a club in Offaly. Tullamore perhaps?

https://www.shannonside.ie/sport/no-...-league-259613

[EatYerGreens]

I don't think the lack of an application/club from Roscommon is either a surprise or a big deal. The north of the county has always contained a decent supoort for Sligo Rovers. The south of the county has Athlone Town right on its doorstep - with a growing part of the town actually in Roscommon. And the middle of the county is close to Longford Town (Strokestown 20km, Roscommon Town about 25km). So the county is suprisingly well-served already by existing LOI clubs anyway.

On top of that Roscommon is very rural, with no large towns. Someone mentioned Castlerea Celtic - in a town with a population of only 2,000 people. Roscommon Town is the biggest, and it's about the size of Ballybofey/Stranorlar. It's also primariyl a GAA county, and always has been.

So I'm not at all surprised if it's had no applications, and see no issue in that either.

[legendz]

The point being that with Football...

Briefly, you see to be a big fan of the Irish League pyramid. Are a lot of small clubs competing against each other helping for a vibrant professional league with big crowds?

[Eminence Grise]

I don't think the lack of an application/club from Roscommon is either a surprise or a big deal. The north of the county has always contained a decent supoort for Sligo Rovers. The south of the county has Athlone Town right on its doorstep - with a growing part of the town actually in Roscommon. And the middle of the county is close to Longford Town (Strokestown 20km, Roscommon Town about 25km). So the county is suprisingly well-served already by existing LOI clubs anyway.

On top of that Roscommon is very rural, with no large towns. Someone mentioned Castlerea Celtic - in a town with a population of only 2,000 people. Roscommon Town is the biggest, and it's about the size of Ballybofey/Stranorlar. It's also primariyl a GAA county, and always has been.

So I'm not at all surprised if it's had no applications, and see no issue in that either.

All very true. Once you go down through Roscommon town (6.5k), Boyle, Castlerea and Ballaghaderreen (2k-ish), every other town in the county is really no more than a large village. For a county its size and population it somehow manages to compete in all three GAA codes: around 30 clubs with hurling strong in the southern part of the county, and nine handball clubs, three only 15 minutes from where I grew up. Round that neck of the woods, there'd never be talk of LoI or rugby. Even cross-channel football tends to take a back seat, apart from the usuals like Man Utd, Liverpool, Celtic.

[nr637]

I don't think 67 clubs applied. Only a few clubs have announced that they applied. The FAI are still not to be trusted.

I do think 67 clubs applied or have shown interest.

You could pick over 20+ clubs from the LSL Premier & Second Divisions and another 10+ well established Junior clubs from the Dublin area alone who are showing interest, approximately 30.
Then there are more top Junior clubs from Wexford & Kildare, along with many County district leagues showing interest, Meath DL, Carlow DL, Kildare DL & Kilkenny DL, approximately 10.
I reckon all the clubs in the MSL Premier Division have applied while several more from the Second Division can be added, approximately 15+.
Additional established Junior clubs from Limerick, Waterford, Kerry & Clare, approximately 10.
The Mayo DL and several Galway, Donegal & Monaghan/Cavan clubs have shown their interest, approximately 10.
There are also several Universities, such as UCD, UCC & Dublin University showing interest.

So you can see how a figure of 67 and more can be created.

[2 Year Contract]

I do think 67 clubs applied or have shown interest.

You could pick over 20+ clubs from the LSL Premier & Second Divisions and another 10+ well established Junior clubs from the Dublin area alone who are showing interest, approximately 30.
Then there are more top Junior clubs from Wexford & Kildare, along with many County district leagues showing interest, Meath DL, Carlow DL, Kildare DL & Kilkenny DL, approximately 10.
I reckon all the clubs in the MSL Premier Division have applied while several more from the Second Division can be added, approximately 15+.
Additional established Junior clubs from Limerick, Waterford, Kerry & Clare, approximately 10.
The Mayo DL and several Galway, Donegal & Monaghan/Cavan clubs have shown their interest, approximately 10.
There are also several Universities, such as UCD, UCC & Dublin University showing interest.

So you can see how a figure of 67 and more can be created.

This entire post is just based on assumptions and guesses. The vast majority of teams you mentioned have not officially confirmed that they’ve applied. Also, UCD interested? They have a League of Ireland team already and it’s been confirmed that shamrock rovers were the only LOI club to have applied to enter a B team into the third tier

[BigEars]

Does anyone know what the application process involved ?

If it was merely expressions of interest till more info is unveiled, then 67 is very plausible.

[DonegalHoop]

There was no application process. Its basically an email sent to the FAI expressing interest.

[nr637]

This entire post is just based on assumptions and guesses. The vast majority of teams you mentioned have not officially confirmed that they’ve applied. Also, UCD interested? They have a League of Ireland team already and it’s been confirmed that shamrock rovers were the only LOI club to have applied to enter a B team into the third tier

Just like a lot of entire posts on here are just based on assumptions and guesses. The post was just a look at where 67 areas of interest could come from. We all know there are some real progressive and established non-clubs around the country who would be interested in using this new structure to further their ambitions. The fact that it is based on assumptions and guesses is not relevant. You seem to be very negative towards the idea. I think the third tier option is a great opportunity. As for UCD, they may be exploring the idea just like several other institutions, such as Dublin University & UCC, so we will have to wait and see.

The best thing about this option, is that it has created another reason to consider and keep soccer in Ireland as a further topic of conversation.

[EalingGreen]

Briefly, you see to be a big fan of the Irish League pyramid. Are a lot of small clubs competing against each other helping for a vibrant professional league with big crowds?

Absolutely!

ROI has x2.5 the population of NI, and a wealthier one at that (i.e. more disposable income). Yet we somehow manage to sustain 24 Senior clubs, 4 or 5 f-t of them professional, with the rest p-t, and that without Derry City, from our second city. Over the last 3 or 4 decades the IL has spread from its heartlands in Belfast/Antrim and Mid-Ulster to all parts of NI, incl Fermanagh (Ballinamallard U), and Tyrone (Dungannon S), and further into otherwise outlying areas such as South Down (Warrenpoint T) and Derry again (Institute).

All this against the background of 30 years of horrendous civil strife, and having still to cope with the sectarian legacy that left.

Meanwhile, crowds have almost exactly mirrored those of the LOI in terms of increases over the last few years, and in relative terms, match them too. For example, this season we are averaging just under 1,600 per game in the Premiership. Multiplied by 2.5 this would work out at c.4k, which is, I think, what the LOI PD is achieving? Indeed drop the two bottom teams, Carrick and Loughgall (also the two lowest attendances) and our average for 10 clubs is 1,768, which multiplied by 2.5 equals just under 4.5k.

Similarly, to mirror your splendid Bohs v Shams season opener (35K?), Glens are playing Cliftonville in the final of the League Cup at Windsor in a couple of weeks and with good promotion, fair ticket prices and a Sunday afternoon slot, the match is already a 15k sell-out.

Now don't get me wrong, we still have many problems to sort out, and are behind the LOI in a number of ways. But to even get as far as we have, the pyramid has been vital, esp for anyone old enough like me (just about!) who remembers what things were like with the old IL/'B' Division/Reserves League, all with the same, tired old teams, moribund and lacking any energy or vitality.

In particular, the pyramid offers an opportunity for ambitious clubs, esp those who manage to attract a benefactor who puts money into the club. For example, Ballinamallard were only founded in 1975, in a village of fewer than 2k, in a county which had never before hosted Senior football. They were playing in the Fermanagh & Western League (Junior, amateur). But they had a wealthy local businessman who put money into infrastructure (their ground and facilities are better than a few LOI FD clubs), plus a band of local volunteers who harnessed the village's community spirit, soon working their way right up through Intermediate football to Senior level, where they're now established in the 2nd tier, having had quite a few seasons in the top tier. Ditto Loughgall (founded 1967, pop. 300) and Warrenpoint (1987, pop.9k). And at the other end of the scale, we see what Kenny Bruce has done for Larne, after decades of never going anywhere, even enduring a recent spell outside Senior level before "crowds" of two men and a dog. None of all that could ever have happened without the pyramid.

Plus there is a further advantage. Despite everything else, the IL has never suffered anything like the numbers of clubs going into examinership, or even folding entirely, that we've seen in the LOI, eg Derry City. Twice!

That primarily is because of a lack of Moral Hazard. That is, LOI clubs know that if they should go bust, usually after spending money they don't have to keep up with the rest, the FAI will find a way of keeping them in the league. Further, there is no lower level to sustain them should they need to regroup. For example, Bangor FC got into financial difficulties around 2016 which threatened their very existence. But rather than pushing it, they voluntarily dropped out of the IL, though only after fulfilling all their league fixtures for the season. This being the first time outside Senior football since being founded in 1918, they managed to survive at Intermediate level and work their way back up to the Championship, were this season they look certs to get promoted back to the Premiership. At the same time as this, they're finally getting round to upgrading their stadium, which has been (embarrassingly) decrepit for a long time.

But having said all that, and before anyone thinks I'm coming over all Polyanna, I repeat, we are behind the LOI in a number of respects, with many other problems still to overcome. However without a tolerably functioning pyramid, I shudder to think where we'd be.

Cymru League anyone?

[pineapple stu]

As for UCD, they may be exploring the idea just like several other institutions, such as Dublin University & UCC, so we will have to wait and see.

What would UCD be exploring?

We're in the second tier and Rovers are (apparently) the only side to enter a B team. What's left?

[Shearer]

I can see how there'd be 67, but I'd imagine some applications were written in crayon and won't take long to whittle down.

[2 Year Contract]

Just like a lot of entire posts on here are just based on assumptions and guesses. The post was just a look at where 67 areas of interest could come from. We all know there are some real progressive and established non-clubs around the country who would be interested in using this new structure to further their ambitions. The fact that it is based on assumptions and guesses is not relevant. You seem to be very negative towards the idea. I think the third tier option is a great opportunity. As for UCD, they may be exploring the idea just like several other institutions, such as Dublin University & UCC, so we will have to wait and see.

The best thing about this option, is that it has created another reason to consider and keep soccer in Ireland as a further topic of conversation.

I'd be interested to see where you got the idea that I'm negative to the idea of the third tier, quite the opposite really, I’m happy to see what I hope is just a starting point in fully joining the various league structures.

Yes posts in this thread have speculated on potential clubs to join, but since it’s been revealed that 67 clubs have applied, you continue to post speculation as fact. Examples of this are below:

You could pick over 20+ clubs from the LSL Premier & Second Divisions and another 10+ well established Junior clubs from the Dublin area alone who are showing interest, approximately 30.

Who are these 30 clubs that have officially confirmed that they’re interested in joining the third tier please (proof of this please where possible)

Then there are more top Junior clubs from Wexford & Kildare, along with many County district leagues showing interest, Meath DL, Carlow DL, Kildare DL & Kilkenny DL, approximately 10.

Again, what 10 clubs in these leagues have officially confirmed their interest in joining the league or are you just stating your assumption as fact?

The Mayo DL and several Galway, Donegal & Monaghan/Cavan clubs have shown their interest, approximately 10.

Which 10 clubs are those that have officially shown interest?

There are also several Universities, such as UCD, UCC & Dublin University showing interest.

Any links for public confirmation from any of these universities or is this also assumption that has been stated as fact? Apart from the fact that as has been mentioned, Dan McDonnell has stated rovers are the only LOI club to want a reserve side in the third tier so you can rule UCD out unless of course you want to wait and see as you said.

[dundalkfc10]

Who are the rumours ? Dying to know... Didn't hear anything myself

Never heard myself but if I was to guess I'd say Ardee Celtic may be one. Can't see any of the clubs around Dundalk touching it, none of them even play LSL in years since Quay Celtic did maybe 20 years ago

[Nesta99]

Drogheda Town have made informal enquiries about use of the Lourdes Stadium read in to that what you will, there is enough emnity still with some with their local senior club to spite and think they could do better - bad timing though. There is still a surprise with some more ambitious higher education soccer people, though it could well be a way to annoy the GAA dominated sports department, or kite flying on the development of a scholarship programme within existing academic programmes. Ardee cant get on the same hymn sheet, dont want to miss out dont want to over commit -i dont see any harm in any names submitted and can then pull or stick in due course.

[nr637]

I'd be interested to see where you got the idea that I'm negative to the idea of the third tier, quite the opposite really, I’m happy to see what I hope is just a starting point in fully joining the various league structures.

Yes posts in this thread have speculated on potential clubs to join, but since it’s been revealed that 67 clubs have applied, you continue to post speculation as fact. Examples of this are below:

Who are these 30 clubs that have officially confirmed that they’re interested in joining the third tier please (proof of this please where possible)

Again, what 10 clubs in these leagues have officially confirmed their interest in joining the league or are you just stating your assumption as fact?

Which 10 clubs are those that have officially shown interest?

Any links for public confirmation from any of these universities or is this also assumption that has been stated as fact? Apart from the fact that as has been mentioned, Dan McDonnell has stated rovers are the only LOI club to want a reserve side in the third tier so you can rule UCD out unless of course you want to wait and see as you said.

As I have stated on previous posts I know I am basing my information on speculation for fact through various social media claims. I have not really claimed that clubs have confirmed their intentions from any of the various leagues, I have just tried to show the potential that exist for that figure of 67 to be possible. From my perspective I feel as if you have a negative view for the basis of this input.

Hope you can accept my view, if not we will just have to agree to disagree m8 and move on.

Let's hope we see an official list of clubs soon as we are all anxious to know.

[legendz]

Yet we somehow manage to sustain 24 Senior clubs, 4 or 5 f-t of them professional, with the rest p-t...

How many full time professional clubs are realistically attainable?

You're clearly supportive of the pyramid structure. While there are advantages, can it hinder there being more full time professional clubs with a bigger support base?