What day should the games be played?

[A face]

I wouldn't mind Saturday nights but it doesn't suit everyone thats for sure .... Friday nights are the job in the cross, the best thing that has happened in a long while.

[NY Hoop]

Well how Thursdays came about is like this. Back in the 1980's when we had massive unemployment Dundalk moved their games to Thursday cause it was dole day. Derry did something similar for the same reason a few years later.

Nonsense or else you're joking. I first went to Dundalk in 1989 to support the Hoops and it was always sunday afternoons. They started the thursday night rubbish in the late 90s. And of course like sheep a few others tried it as well. Dole day is not just on a thursday.

Mypost has it right. This me fein attitude is why this league is in the mess its in. Players want to have a pint saturday night? Can you imagine that in another league ffs?

Would'nt be too sure on the 10 day rule either. Galway changed a game this season cos one of their players' brothers was getting married!!! You could not make it up. Boez changed a fixture cos they were hiring out their pitch!!

Appalling stuff. Fixtures that are announced at the start of the season should be set in stone and not changed for any reason other than if your county gets into a major stage in the All Ireland or a if there's a natural disaster.

KOH

[mypost]

Friday nights are the job in the cross, the best thing that has happened in a long while.

More "me fein" mentality. We play at home on Fridays too, even though I don't like it. You would get more people at the gate on Saturday nights, except for so called LOI "fans", who put socialising with their mates/birds, ahead of watching their club.

As it is, playing in Santry shi-thole next season, means we can't play on any night, nor in Tallaght by the sounds of it. The games are perfectly timed of course, to clash with live GAA/Premiership tv coverage to ensure that only the die-hards turn up.

[dublinred]

Saturday nights has less disadvantages anad seems to work , the league could hype up live sat night football.

[NY Hoop]

As it is, playing in Santry shi-thole next season, means we can't play on any night, nor in Tallaght by the sounds of it. The games are perfectly timed of course, to clash with live GAA/Premiership tv coverage to ensure that only the die-hards turn up. [/QUOTE]

I've just pointed out the GAA thing. It's only on a certain amount of times a year. Take sligo for example. I can guarantee you that if they are doing at all well next season they will bring a great crowd to santry precisely because it is a sunday. If you support your club you'll be at the game. **** the premier****.

IMO Tallaght will be a success on a sunday afternoon. Look at the RDS. For most of the 6 years we were there the team wasnt great but on average we had decent crowds because it was a sunday. It was a day out and we gained a new support base there.

KOH

[coislaoi]

It is symptomatic of this league that Cork, Derry and Waterford play each other on fridays It is not fair on the fans firstly but the part time players have to take time off work as well. Factor in the traffic problems in not only the capital and you have problems.

KOH

You have lost me there. Are you referring to yourself and other Hoop fans not being able to travel to Derry, Cork & Waterford because they play on Friday nights? Don't yourselves, Bohs, Shels, Pats and UCD play on Friday night. Did you ever consider that we have to travel to everywhere (the shortest trip being Waterford)? You on the other hand get handy trips to Phibsborough, Inchicore, Drumcondra & Donnybrook.

Broadly speaking Friday nights suit home fans but don't suit away fans.

Saturday nights imo would be the best time overall with a 7.30 (across the board) kick off.

[NY Hoop]

You have lost me there. Are you referring to yourself and other Hoop fans not being able to travel to Derry, Cork & Waterford because they play on Friday nights? Don't yourselves, Bohs, Shels, Pats and UCD play on Friday night. Did you ever consider that we have to travel to everywhere (the shortest trip being Waterford)? You on the other hand get handy trips to Phibsborough, Inchicore, Drumcondra & Donnybrook.

Broadly speaking Friday nights suit home fans but don't suit away fans.

Saturday nights imo would be the best time overall with a 7.30 (across the board) kick off.

Sorry should have explained it better. I'm referring to ALL fans who have to travel distances for friday night games. Agree with your last line.

And Cop On I already said twice that if your county is involved in the latter stages of the All Ireland obviously you dont play on that sunday

KOH

[mypost]

I've just pointed out the GAA thing. It's only on a certain amount of times a year. If you support your club you'll be at the game. **** the premier****.

The GAA is on every Sunday, every week of the year. There are club, county, minor, and senior games every sunday, across the country, on top of live tv coverage, of which there are several such games on Sunday afternoons, and that's before you consider the Premiership tv factor. We cannot compete with that on Sundays, that's why most clubs play earlier in the weekend. I like the idea of playing on Sunday nights, but nobody ever does, so I guess it's a non-runner.

[Macy]

There is no tradition of playing games on saturday afternoons here as there is across the water.

Doesn't stop thousands of nob ends going over for 3pm Saturday games every week though.

Saturday 3pm - public transport an option for travel, most of the season in daylight anyway with summer football, there and back in a day for any fan for any game, less clash with the bogball (both TV and local), less competition - shopping v football (people who'd stay in to watch the RTE/Setanta game would probably stay in for the Premiership anyway).

Mypost, the problem isn't fans that are going now, it's the people we have to attract - the people that probably would put socialising with their mates/bird above going the match. Give em a choice between shopping with the bird and the match we have more chance of winning...

[fbtn]

We tried changing our Saturday night games to a Friday last year to see if it would improve attendances but it didn't. It just meant less away fans and the same amount of home fans.

Saturday nights are perfect for me. Friday night and Sunday with the family and a footballing, beering day out on the Saturday.

Atmosphere just isn't the same on a Sunday and Thursday nights are a disaster. Shouldn't be allowed IMO.

Saturday night, best option and Friday after that. Friday nights mean a half day off work for most people travelling so it can be a balls for a lot of fans.

We're playing Derry tomorrow night because of the Ireland game on Sat but as NY Hoop pointed out, makes no real difference when it is a derby game.

[bigmac]

Mypost, the problem isn't fans that are going now, it's the people we have to attract - the people that probably would put socialising with their mates/bird above going the match. Give em a choice between shopping with the bird and the match we have more chance of winning...

I don't know though, I think if the league marketed itself as the start of a good night out they'd probably be able to get in a few more people. I never head out on a night till about 9 or so anyway so it's ideal to go to a match and then head into the pub. This is a market that could definitely be tapped into with a bit of effort.

Incidentally, how is wanting to schedule games so they get the most people a "me fein" attitude? Friday nights is my preferred time and IMO the time that has the best potential for getting a good home crowd at the RSC. If a game is on in Dublin at 7.45 I have no problem making it up from Waterford either for it.

[Colm]

I wouldn't mind Saturday nights but it doesn't suit everyone thats for sure .... Friday nights are the job in the cross, the best thing that has happened in a long while.

Spot on there A face.

I'd prefer Saturday nights myself as you'd be able to go on the p!ss for the day.

However, it's been proven any time a game was switched that we get our biggest crowds on a Friday night at the Cross so it would be ridiculous for us to change. For example say for a big game like Shels or Rovers we'd get 5000-6000 on Friday night but we'd be lucky to get 4000 any other night of the week.

[NY Hoop]

I don't know though, I think if the league marketed itself as the start of a good night out they'd probably be able to get in a few more people. I never head out on a night till about 9 or so anyway so it's ideal to go to a match and then head into the pub. This is a market that could definitely be tapped into with a bit of effort.

Agree.

Incidentally, how is wanting to schedule games so they get the most people a "me fein" attitude? Friday nights is my preferred time and IMO the time that has the best potential for getting a good home crowd at the RSC. If a game is on in Dublin at 7.45 I have no problem making it up from Waterford either for it.

The thing is the rescheduling of games sometimes is not to maximise crowds. Look at the 2 examples I have given already. You've just contradicted yourself there. YOU have no problem making a game in Dublin but what about the regular 9 to 5 joe schmo who cant make it? That's why the games should be sat night or sunday afternoon.

FBTN describes it perfectly!!

KOH

[noby]

7pm is too early for an evening ko. We play at 7.45/8pm already, what's so wrong about putting the ko back another (half) hour? Or does everyone have to be back in bed by 12, like we must obey a curfew or something?

If Saturday night ko's at 8.30/9pm are too late for you, go out another night. As usual, someone's self-interest comes before the good of the league. This "me fein" mentality is why the league is the way it is.

The problem I see with that is not the amount of drinking time you've left in the night. But if you're only leaving the ground heading on to 11pm, and have to face a 3 hour journey home you may be more inclined to stay at home. I would like the Saturday 7.30 ko. If you need to get home you can be on the road for 9.30. Like wise if you *need* to go out.

I don't think it's someone's self-interest coming before the good of the league when it's pointed out that a lot of people may like to be socialising by ten o'clock on a saturday. I think it's being reaalistic

[Krstic]

I don't care what night we play, as long as we keep winning

[Conor H]

In a poll done bu the GUST on what days home matches shoud be played the reults were.....
Friday..71%
Saturday...16%
Thursday....9%
Sunday...2%
..the above are the rough figures...see here for accurate results see here...http://gust-online.com/gust/componen...d,2/Itemid,55/

[monutdfc]

Similar poll on www.monaghanunited.ie:


Following the recent switch of matchdays to Fridays, when would you prefer to watch the Magic Mons
Friday
68 66%

Saturday
18 17.5%

Sunday
12 11.7%

Thursday
5 4.9%

[The Stars]

Saturday night(at the movies.......)

[sligoman]

Saturday nights are the best in my opinion. I hate games been played on Thursday or Friday nights. Sunday afternoon used to be good enough in Monaghan too

[pete]

Poll Added. 1 Choice, no stupid "none of the above" options. No option for Monday or thursday as they stupid options too.

IMO the live TV game should be on different time than the rest of the games & should be evening too as looks better under lights.

Ireish League teams don't play many games at night cos floodlights are very poor quality.