Are we the only league that does this?

[EnDai]

If the attendances are to be slated then at least respect the few fans who do make an effort.

Exactly. Any team in the Premier is there on merit, and thats all that matters. They can do the business on the pitch, ergo the football is good.

[Poor Student]

Worse, CHF is an opportunistic attempt to cash in on a name and a blue shirt in an already crowded city club scene.

And if they are, so what? Not all football clubs can have eons of tradition and have existed before the dawn of time commanding the loyalty of masses. Some clubs are new and have to start off from humble beginings. Modern new born clubs can't become massive overnight.

Football clubs believe it or not are different. Different colours, stadiums, fansbases, financial bases, ethos etc. All countries have small clubs but our small ones just happen to be really tiny and people seem to take offence to that.

[Philo]

Actually, since we gave up on trying to get students to games, we have had some success in getting locals to games. There's now a good many locals - many more than go to games, obviously, as with any football club - who consider UCD to be their local team. I often have people recognise me - kids mainly, but not exclusively - and say that they go to games and enjoy it and who's coming or going, etc., etc.

I can just imagine you lot knocking on doors along Foster's Avenue and getting reactions like you're Jehovah's Witnesses... "It's them smiling football fans again Gerald!"

I've nothing against UCD as such but I think they and Dublin City are the two expendable teams if football in the capital were to be rationlised and strengthened. It might be harsh on their supporters but with those clubs having the fewest fans it's just damage limitation.

[BohDiddley]

And if they are, so what? Not all football clubs can have eons of tradition and have existed before the dawn of time commanding the loyalty of masses. Some clubs are new and have to start off from humble beginings. Modern new born clubs can't become massive overnight.

Football clubs believe it or not are different. Different colours, stadiums, fansbases, financial bases, ethos etc. All countries have small clubs but our small ones just happen to be really tiny and people seem to take offence to that.

Tradition matters, although not as much some unfortunates might think, but let's leave that one for other threads.
Of course clubs have to start somewhere, but why does Dublin, with Bohs, Pats, Rovers and Shels, need another? By your logic, should we support the next proposal for another, even tinier outfit in Drogheda or Sligo, Galway or Athlone? Cobh Wanderers or Bray Ramblers anyone? As it is, the powers that be want clubs to ground-share, something which, in my view, is a dangerous experiment that could lead to the extinction, Cork-style, of at least one Dublin club. (At which point some overpaid suit is bound to turn around and marvel at the 4,500-strong crowd in Dalymount).
CHF do not have 'different' colours -- they adopted the name and colours of a city and misrepresent themselves accordingly; Rovers are closer to having a stadium; they stretch the meaning of 'fanbase', and if you can point to anything of merit under ethos etc., then I'd certainly be interested to hear what it is.

[Poor Student]

I can just imagine you lot knocking on doors along Foster's Avenue and getting reactions like you're Jehovah's Witnesses... "It's them smiling football fans again Gerald!"

The local area targeting is done through soccer camps and schools not through door to door calling. The eL needs to get to kids while they are young and impressionable before the EPL gets a strong root in them.

I've nothing against UCD as such but I think they and Dublin City are the two expendable teams if football in the capital were to be rationlised and strengthened. It might be harsh on their supporters but with those clubs having the fewest fans it's just damage limitation.

How are we expendable? We're the only club in the whole South Eastern quarter of Dublin. What do you mean rationalised and strengthened? If Dub City and UCD are so irrelevant then their elimination would make no difference as we don't detract from the other clubs.

BohDiddley, I am not saying to squeeze another club into another Irish town. We're talking about 1 extra club in Dublin. There's more than enough room for these clubs. People in Dublin and indeed Ireland are not really willing to travel far to see their nearest club so extra clubs in untapped areas of Dublin are no harm. That is why Rovers earmarked Tallaght for a move, no? Similar sized cities can support as many clubs, bigger ones too. The problem is not too many clubs in Dublin but too little interest from Dubs (or indeed Irish people in general).

[Roverstillidie]

the issue, for the millionth time is not their crowds being woeful per say.
Its the fact they are a franchise, a fake football club with no history, underage structures, ground, or support. By all means start a club frm scratch. In the LSL. Its a bad precedent to set. Why didnt he invest in Cherry Orchard or TEK Utd if he thought there was room for another Dublin club?
Franchises have no place in football, thats why most genuine fans have nothing but contempt for them.

[Slash/ED]

Ideally for me UCD and Dublin would both be in the first division. But they're in the premier division on merit alone, and anyone who whinges about it is being foolish. If you don't like it, it's up to the other so called bigger clubs to get their acts together and relegate them. Afterall, if they have so much more potential, why can't they?

[dancinpants]

the issue, for the millionth time is not their crowds being woeful per say.
Its the fact they are a franchise, a fake football club with no history, underage structures, ground, or support. By all means start a club frm scratch. In the LSL. Its a bad precedent to set. Why didnt he invest in Cherry Orchard or TEK Utd if he thought there was room for another Dublin club?
Franchises have no place in football, thats why most genuine fans have nothing but contempt for them.

I might be way off the mark here, but don't we all slag the sh!t out of Dublin City for being, in essence Home Farm (Everton, Finglas)? So would it not be fair to suggest that Dublin City have been involved in LOI football (albeit in one guise or another) for quite a long time?

[Philo]

The local area targeting is done through soccer camps and schools not through door to door calling. The eL needs to get to kids while they are young and impressionable before the EPL gets a strong root in them.

OK so Jehovah's Witnesses have a better sense of humour.

How are we expendable? We're the only club in the whole South Eastern quarter of Dublin. What do you mean rationalised and strengthened? If Dub City and UCD are so irrelevant then their elimination would make no difference as we don't detract from the other clubs.

Dublin has too many teams - there isn't the interest to realistically support 6 teams (plus Bray who draw support from Dun Laoghaire/Shankill/Cabinteely etc). Cutting two teams would strengthen Dublin football by taking away the Dublin derbies ad nauseum factor. The two teams I'd propose be cut are UCD and Fingal City as fewer supporters would be upset. Not none, just fewer... you can't make omelettes without breaking eggs.

[Poor Student]

OK so Jehovah's Witnesses have a better sense of humour.

I got the joke. I just wanted to make it clear it is nothing remotely like that.

Dublin has too many teams - there isn't the interest to realistically support 6 teams (plus Bray who draw support from Dun Laoghaire/Shankill/Cabinteely etc). Cutting two teams would strengthen Dublin football by taking away the Dublin derbies ad nauseum factor. The two teams I'd propose be cut are UCD and Fingal City as fewer supporters would be upset. Not none, just fewer... you can't make omelettes without breaking eggs.

In your wonderful ideal world there is going to be the big 4 from Dublin in the Premier, that already gives you your derbies ad nauseum. Wiping us out is not going to make it any better. You're not going to strengthen "Dublin football" by this. It would have no effect. "Dublin football" is only a construct of your mind too. You remind me of Cork fans talking about the health of "Munster football". In the eL there is only national football and that is where the problems of low crowds need to be addressed, not at the narrow sight of your local surroundings.

[Maynard]

It's unfortunate that the extremely sensible post that started this thread is going to descend into the unsual bowels of b()llox that it always does.

Suffice to say I agree wholeheartedly with the inital logical and considered views posted initially.

Also (once again) for the record- Dublin City FC do not receive one penny (cent, dollar,yen whatever) from the sales of Dublin City shirts. Not one.

[Poor Student]

It's unfortunate that the extremely sensible post that started this thread is going to descend into the unsual bowels of b()llox that it always does.

Suffice to say I agree wholeheartedly with the inital logical and considered views posted initially.

Thanks Maynard.

Also (once again) for the record- Dublin City FC do not receive one penny (cent, dollar,yen whatever) from the sales of Dublin City shirts. Not one.

So how does it work? One lump payment from Carrolls for the right to sell your shirt and they take all the profits?

[Philo]

I got the joke. I just wanted to make it clear it is nothing remotely like that.

In your wonderful ideal world there is going to be the big 4 from Dublin in the Premier, that already gives you your derbies ad nauseum. Wiping us out is not going to make it any better. You're not going to strengthen "Dublin football" by this. It would have no effect. "Dublin football" is only a construct of your mind too. You remind me of Cork fans talking about the health of "Munster football". In the eL there is only national football and that is where the problems of low crowds need to be addressed, not at the narrow sight of your local surroundings.

What's all this about the big four being in the Premier? shamrocks have already taken one for the team... good work fellas.

I've heard all the UCD arguments before and it doesn't change a thing. Like I said, some people will be upset (hint: you) but many more won't be. I'm honestly not ruubbishing your club or judging you as a person, just saying what I think.

[Bald Student]

We'd all like to see strong clubs in Limerick, Galway and elsewhere but it's not the fault of Dublin City that they weren't promoted. If DCFC can sell 50,000 shirts there's no reason why Galway and Limerick can't do similar.

In a way this reminds me of the debate surrounding UCD and Dublin hurling. You don't improve hurling in the county by chopping off the better clubs to help the weaker ones. The weaker clubs need to up their game to meet the challenge. If UCD or DCFC were to leave the league it wouldn't strengthen the weaker teams one bit, it would just make them more complacent of their position.

[Philo]

It's unfortunate that the extremely sensible post that started this thread is going to descend into the unsual bowels of b()llox that it always does.

Suffice to say I agree wholeheartedly with the inital logical and considered views posted initially.

So instead of arguing your case, you proclaim the thread has turned to bollócks. Winner all right.

[Poor Student]

I've heard all the UCD arguments before and it doesn't change a thing. Like I said, some people will be upset (hint: you) but many more won't be. I'm honestly not ruubbishing your club or judging you as a person, just saying what I think.

I'm not saying you are. I am saying what logic actually tells you that somehow it will benefit the other four clubs by getting rid of us, and why should the other 4 be helped?

[Philo]

I'm not saying you are. I am saying what logic actually tells you that somehow it will benefit the other four clubs by getting rid of us, and why should the other 4 be helped?

Are you studying English as a foreign language?

I'm not suggesting we get rid of you by Christmas or anything. Just saying that in my opinion the two most expendable clubs in Dublin are UCD and Thingy FC and that ain't changing. I'm not saying UCD don't have a right to exist but they, along with Dublin City, would be my logical choice for the chop should such a situation arise.

As for the title of the thread, I should imagine the Austrian league as a whole hates the idea of Red Bull reinventing Austria Salzburg and having a "new" team suddenly appear on the scene. MK Dons are treated as a joke. Dunno about anywhere else. Try putting a few questions to supporters from other countries on a forum such as this one. I'd guess in most struggling leagues there are teams which are considered "non essential" by other fans.

[Roverstillidie]

I might be way off the mark here, but don't we all slag the sh!t out of Dublin City for being, in essence Home Farm (Everton, Finglas)? So would it not be fair to suggest that Dublin City have been involved in LOI football (albeit in one guise or another) for quite a long time?

fair point, but as the CHF fans repeat ad nauseum, they are a 'new club'. but they took another clubs licence and stadium and just changed the name and slightly changed the shirts. we refer to them as home farm to remind them they are not considered, nor never will be, a genuine club. team wise, they deserve EL football, but the club is a farce.

i refer to them as CHF, ICBINHF or whatever because i am fundamentally opposed to a US style franchise system for our game. I didnt opposed dons for dublin to allow a team to just appear from nowhere in the top tier of Irish ball while numerous clubs work their arses off to inch towords an EL berth.

and to answer the question, we are the only league that would have allowed CHF in in the first place, so the question is irrelevant
And when the money runs out and he has ran up debts, will he change the club name to Dublin Utd and start 'from scratch' again?

[Poor Student]

Are you studying English as a foreign language?

No need to get cheeky. I am asking you what would be the positive benefits of eliminating UCD and DCFC. You just keep repeating you'd do it if you could. Why ask me if I can speak English?

I'm not suggesting we get rid of you by Christmas or anything. Just saying that in my opinion the two most expendable clubs in Dublin are UCD and Thingy FC and that ain't changing. I'm not saying UCD don't have a right to exist but they, along with Dublin City, would be my logical choice for the chop should such a situation arise.

But no such situation would ever arise. We're talking contrary to football logic here. Placing teams on the merit of non-footballing criteria. You're telling me it'll benefit Dublin football (i.e. the big 4). I am saying how, and why is Dublin football (i.e. you mean the big 4) something that deserves such aid?

As for the title of the thread, I should imagine the Austrian league as a whole hates the idea of Red Bull reinventing Austria Salzburg and having a "new" team suddenly appear on the scene. MK Dons are treated as a joke. Dunno about anywhere else. Try putting a few questions to supporters from other countries on a forum such as this one. I'd guess in most struggling leagues there are teams which are considered "non essential" by other fans.

The title of this thread is not exclusively about DCFC. It's also about your UCDs, Longfords, Kilkennys, Monaghans etc.

[Bald Student]

I'm not saying UCD don't have a right to exist but they, along with Dublin City, would be my logical choice for the chop should such a situation arise.

I think this is the nub of our disagreement Philo. There is no need to chop any team so for us to debate which team to chop should the situation arise is a bit silly. This is especially true since, according to the Genesis Report, the league will be looking for eight new teams in two years time. While I don't think your opinion on who would get a hypothetical chop is stupid I do think it's completly irellavant.

P.S. While I'm sure that there are some spelling and/or gramatical mistakes in this post there's probably no need to point them out.