3 Questions

[The openout kid]

here here, south Croydon. The core support for LFC comes from these areas anyway. If you go up on a Friday evening there is not that many of the Clohessy's after the match Brigade up there. Aslo these people from southhill Rathbane, moyross etc are basically the only people who actually support the local Limerick soccer scene. I know a load of lads who are from the better off locations in limerick and very few of them have been to a LFC match ever. To move it to a Green Area in Limerick would see that core support disappear and would probably spell the end of the club.

[4tothefloor]

I think everyone has lost their way on this thread. Nobody is getting assaulted on their way to the game, or raped for that matter. That's just a ridiculous defensive response from those who don't like the club/Hogan Park being criticised. All that was said was the entrance to Hogan Park looks terrible and intimidating. Bacause it does. Thus the ground looks situated in a sh!thole. If you grew up in a disadvantaged area, stop taking criticism of the Rathbane area as a personal insult, what are we, children?

We're talking about Hogan Park as a football ground and how appealing it is/isn't in the bigger picture of attracting new supporters. It isn't very appealing as it stands at the moment, you can dress it up as much as you like and ramble on about how long you have supported the club etc. I've been going to Rathbane since Billy Hamilton was manager back in the eighties, and I've never liked the place. And it hasn't changed one bit since then either if we're honest. The fact is, I know people who will go to a game if someone else brings their car, but they will not bring their own car. That says it all really.

Now we are suggesting that the club will need to address this car parking issue in the future. We're also suggesting that opening the far side would be far better for car owners, cos Roxboro wouldn't have to be an option then. If neither of these two options are taken, the suggestion is we would be better off out of the place cos its appeal is not going to improve otherwise. Obviously a greenfield site would come into the equation at that stage, as would looking at current grounds. Nobody is having a pop at Danny Drew either. He's doing his best and his hands are tied at the moment.

These are real problems lads in the real world, cars are being broken into whether ye like it or not. It's not fantasy. But do ease up on the fantasy attacks at half time and vampires etc, cos that IS crap....

[Westside]

These are real problems lads in the real world, cars are being broken into whether ye like it or not. It's not fantasy. But do ease up on the fantasy attacks at half time and vampires etc, cos that IS crap....

Fair enough but I think people are using the area (ie. Rathbane/Hogan Park)to suggest that only there is there vandilism going on. Its happening all over the city, even in the so called better / quieter areas of the city, its the society we live in today, I bought a season pass last season and again this season, and I have parked my car in this so called "Beirut zone" all last season and again this season, without any trouble, I not going to say whats going to happen in the future, but vandilism and theft is rife in the city, maybe if a park and ride facility was operated by DD in areas of the city where people feel safer leaving their car for a few hours, say the Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle and The Jetland on the Ennis Rd., but for it to work it would mean getting guranteed no.'s to fill buses, he tried several bus routes last season why not try this option, might be worth looking into. At least then we would find out how many are serious about going to the games but for the parking conditions.

[osarusan]

I think everyone has lost their way on this thread. Nobody is getting assaulted on their way to the game, or raped for that matter. That's just a ridiculous defensive response from those who don't like the club/Hogan Park being criticised. All that was said was the entrance to Hogan Park looks terrible and intimidating. Bacause it does. Thus the ground looks situated in a sh!thole. If you grew up in a disadvantaged area, stop taking criticism of the Rathbane area as a personal insult, what are we, children?

We're talking about Hogan Park as a football ground and how appealing it is/isn't in the bigger picture of attracting new supporters. It isn't very appealing as it stands at the moment, you can dress it up as much as you like and ramble on about how long you have supported the club etc. I've been going to Rathbane since Billy Hamilton was manager back in the eighties, and I've never liked the place. And it hasn't changed one bit since then either if we're honest. The fact is, I know people who will go to a game if someone else brings their car, but they will not bring their own car. That says it all really.

Now we are suggesting that the club will need to address this car parking issue in the future. We're also suggesting that opening the far side would be far better for car owners, cos Roxboro wouldn't have to be an option then. If neither of these two options are taken, the suggestion is we would be better off out of the place cos its appeal is not going to improve otherwise. Obviously a greenfield site would come into the equation at that stage, as would looking at current grounds. Nobody is having a pop at Danny Drew either. He's doing his best and his hands are tied at the moment.

These are real problems lads in the real world, cars are being broken into whether ye like it or not. It's not fantasy. But do ease up on the fantasy attacks at half time and vampires etc, cos that IS crap....

well put.

I was one of those who criticised the state of the ground, and some of the people around it, in an earlier post. Part of my post was quoted as an example of "going too far".

I have never lived in Limerick, but I know the city fairly well, as my dad has worked there for 20 years.

I dont know the crime rates for the city, or any other city.

What I do know is that I have been to games where the young kids outside the wall (and before the wall, when there was that fence) were throwing rocks over the other side. These rocks occasionally landed on the roof of the stand, and I remember one damaging a parked car inside the ground.
I have been to games where the ball went over the wall and was nicked by the same people. (at least, they were kids too)
I have always been embarassed by one fan, who used to stand right behind the opponents dugout and hurl a constant stream of truly foul abuse at the opposing manager and players. (A big fat bloke with a red face, a truly ignorant moron he was).
I have been at a game where my brother once tried to stop a "fan" from getting in free over the wall, and was threatened by that guy and his friends for the rest of the game.

I am not saying that Rathbane is like Beiruit, but I am saying that I can understand why opposing fans dont have fond memories of the place (regardless of the score), and I can understand why fans who are curious about the local Eircom League football team might visit once and decide it wasnt for them.

How to fix it I dont know, whether staying there or moving, both of which are problematic, but I do think it needs to be fixed.

[lim abroad]

I have always been embarassed by one fan, who used to stand right behind the opponents dugout and hurl a constant stream of truly foul abuse at the opposing manager and players. (A big fat bloke with a red face, a truly ignorant moron he was).

ha ha,we all know who that is

[the only 1]

dats r damien

[Westside]

well put.

I I have always been embarassed by one fan, who used to stand right behind the opponents dugout and hurl a constant stream of truly foul abuse at the opposing manager and players. (A big fat bloke with a red face, a truly ignorant moron he was).

Ah our Chairman has calmed down now, since those days at Pike, I actually enjoyed the banter he had with opposing sides especially the abuse he gave Pat Dolan in a league cup match up there a few years ago, should be funny if he actually comes to to Limk if the lease gets sorted, it was all in good spirit, he was only doing his 12th man thing, a man for the cause

[LFC in Exile]

"a place where you and your car are very likey to get done at any time"

"home fans feel in physical danger in and around the ground"

"wont bring children and park a car in that area of town,and i cant really blame them"

"she didnt feel safe"

4tothefloor - I appreciate the more reasonable tone of the post. I agree with a lot of what you say about the look of the ground and its immediate environs. However, I do think the ground is well located in terms of access from city and location on the ring road. If the ground was developed along the lines suggested by the club and if the football was appealing (i know they are big ifs) then supporters would go to Rathbane. Rathbane has always had good crowds when the club has been performing well.

This is a point that can be debated - you called the response a ridiculous defesive response. This revisionism is a bit disingenous. There are a sample of quotes from earlier in teh thread above. This has nothing to do with the club or DD - but I felt it was unfair to give the impression - which is what those posts were doing that there was threat to people going to matches. I have never experienced that. Also, I do not come from the area - I am from a completely different side of the city - so this isn't local defensiveness either. If we want to keep the discussion about the prospects for the ground etc after the lease is signed lets leave out hyperbole like that quoted at the start of this post.

And also, if people are anti-Rathbane - what do they suggest as an option?

[sadloserkid]

I have always been embarassed by one fan, who used to stand right behind the opponents dugout and hurl a constant stream of truly foul abuse at the opposing manager and players. (A big fat bloke with a red face, a truly ignorant moron he was).

I suppose Podge & Rodge offends you greatly too does it?

[LFC in Exile]

I suppose Podge & Rodge offends you greatly too does it?

I have never seen Podge and Rodge at a Limerick match. Bloody fair weather supporters.

[sadloserkid]

I have never seen Podge and Rodge at a Limerick match. Bloody fair weather supporters.

I always presumed that Ballydung Manor was in Connacht actually...

[declan hide]

Ah our Chairman has calmed down now, since those days at Pike, I actually enjoyed the banter he had with opposing sides especially the abuse he gave Pat Dolan in a league cup match up there a few years ago, should be funny if he actually comes to to Limk if the lease gets sorted, it was all in good spirit, he was only doing his 12th man thing, a man for the cause:

pity he thinks hes right the whole time

[LFC in Exile]

I always presumed that Ballydung Manor was in Connacht actually...

What is this Ballydung Manor of which you speak. Don't they braodcast live from Rathbane?

[CraftyToePoke]

"a place where you and your car are very likey to get done at any time"

"home fans feel in physical danger in and around the ground"

"wont bring children and park a car in that area of town,and i cant really blame them"

"she didnt feel safe"

4tothefloor - I appreciate the more reasonable tone of the post. I agree with a lot of what you say about the look of the ground and its immediate environs. However, I do think the ground is well located in terms of access from city and location on the ring road. If the ground was developed along the lines suggested by the club and if the football was appealing (i know they are big ifs) then supporters would go to Rathbane. Rathbane has always had good crowds when the club has been performing well.

This is a point that can be debated - you called the response a ridiculous defesive response. This revisionism is a bit disingenous. There are a sample of quotes from earlier in teh thread above. This has nothing to do with the club or DD - but I felt it was unfair to give the impression - which is what those posts were doing that there was threat to people going to matches. I have never experienced that. Also, I do not come from the area - I am from a completely different side of the city - so this isn't local defensiveness either. If we want to keep the discussion about the prospects for the ground etc after the lease is signed lets leave out hyperbole like that quoted at the start of this post.

And also, if people are anti-Rathbane - what do they suggest as an option?

you have chosen to quote an earlier post of mine twice here in relation to percieved neighbourhood bashing that went on in the thread, both the pieces you quote were based on facts, i know for a fact that several of my friends wont risk their cars (rightly or wrongly) under the present arrangements and set up.the club will,therefore, have to do without their money for now, and how many more like them? surely thats relevant in relation to the club prospering in the longer term.

i know for a fact my girlfriend didnt feel safe going into the ground because she told me so. u calling my missus a liar?

and yet you chose to convienently ignore that my fathers car was broken into and vandalised, also a fact.

and importantly, your editing ignored my being in favour of a developed H.P. but a year into the five year plan to challenge shelbourne etc and the basics of the lease still up in the air, well..........

finally, and probably most importantly, you missed out on the importance i placed upon of not isolating/losing the core support of the club. which as it has been well documented since, are the lifeblood of the club most of whom are from the sorrounding areas of H.P.

seems to me your selective editing process has totally mis-represented what i originally said.

[LFC in Exile]

seems to me your selective editing process has totally mis-represented what i originally said.

I don't accept that. I appreciate that everything you said is based on real events - but my issue is on generalising from the specific. We hear about cars being broken into - nobody has said that has not happened. the issue is whether it is more prevalent at Limerick FC matches than other matches i.e. is it a real problem or a perceived problem. Perhaps your friends not risking their cars is due to over-exaggeration of teh risk to cars. Would your friends bring their cars to Munster matches? If one of them was broken into would all of them then not bring their cars to Munster matches? It is common for people to over compensate when they hear of one incident that affects them directly.

Your missus may have felt unsafe - I and many others (including some on here, my missus and other females I know that have been at matches) have not felt at all unsafe and never had any issue. So it is a fair enough comment to make about someone you know not feeling safe at the ground but I think we have to say that it is not the general feeling.

Also, I am a bit confused. Do you think the club should stay at HP given the problems you suggest? If not (and I am sensing from your posts that you think not but I may be wrong) why are you slagging them off for not finalising the lease. This is coming across from a few posters - simultaneously calling teh ground a kip and in also saying the club should be getting the lease sorted? Contradiction?

[CraftyToePoke]

I don't accept that. I appreciate that everything you said is based on real events - but my issue is on generalising from the specific. We hear about cars being broken into - nobody has said that has not happened. the issue is whether it is more prevalent at Limerick FC matches than other matches i.e. is it a real problem or a perceived problem. Perhaps your friends not risking their cars is due to over-exaggeration of teh risk to cars. Would your friends bring their cars to Munster matches? If one of them was broken into would all of them then not bring their cars to Munster matches? It is common for people to over compensate when they hear of one incident that affects them directly.

Your missus may have felt unsafe - I and many others (including some on here, my missus and other females I know that have been at matches) have not felt at all unsafe and never had any issue. So it is a fair enough comment to make about someone you know not feeling safe at the ground but I think we have to say that it is not the general feeling.

Also, I am a bit confused. Do you think the club should stay at HP given the problems you suggest? If not (and I am sensing from your posts that you think not but I may be wrong) why are you slagging them off for not finalising the lease. This is coming across from a few posters - simultaneously calling teh ground a kip and in also saying the club should be getting the lease sorted? Contradiction?

i personally believe statistically, that the problem may be being overstated, but nothing travels like bad news, comparing us to munster, or the gaa for that matter, is simply not comparing like for like in my opinion because both those codes have a long established fanbase large in number in comparison with ours. we are trying to emerge from the ashes of mismanagenent and 20 years in the doldrums.that in my opinion is a big and key difference here, we cannot afford this perception to be attached to the club while endeavouring to widen the support base.

this is not a sleight on the area or the people of it, and was never intended as such, i just believe it to be a hinderance we could do without wheather it be a fair or unfair one, and a neighbouring thread is currently carrying more bad news in relation to parking in the area.

i wasnt slagging the club off for not signing the lease, i was conveying a sense of frustration in relation to the ongoing issue of a permanent home for senior soccer in limerick, this strems from ambitious plans a year ago for a county entrance etc (which i believe would be a fine solution) to where we still are.

could it be percieved form the outside looking in for a poential fan as 'nothing but the same old story at LFC' unfortunately, i think it could. if it gets signed and development begins, allied to a winning team playing decent football then its smiles all round, none broader than mine

[LFC in Exile]

could it be percieved form the outside looking in for a poential fan as 'nothing but the same old story at LFC' unfortunately, i think it could. if it gets signed and development begins, allied to a winning team playing decent football then its smiles all round, none broader than mine

Thats very true.

I wasn't comparing us to Munster (we're a fair bit off that yet) - what I meant was that there are also cars broken into at Munster games but nobody seems to suggest it as a problem. And we don't know if there are a greater proportion of cars affected at Limerick matches or at Munster matches.

I agree perception is really important here. And that is why I got on this hobby horse because I wanted to challenge the perception that a lot of cars are damaged or there is a lot of fear at Limerick matches.

[osarusan]

I suppose Podge & Rodge offends you greatly too does it?

no, it is actually quite funny.

but he is not. Maybe you are a mate of his but I, who dont know him from Adam (though other people here seem to know), think he is not a good advertisment for Limerick supporters.

I tried to point out a couple of reasons why fans might not think Rathbane was not the most glamourous of football venues in the world, and I think that if a visitor saw any of the things I mentioned above, they might come to the same conclusion.

THe rolling eyes tells me that you disagree with me in some way, so please, in what way am I wrong?

[jebus]

THe rolling eyes tells me that you disagree with me in some way, so please, in what way am I wrong?

In thinking that your opinions should be regarded as facts maybe?

[sniffa]

Maybe we're lucky but we were in Limerick last night and had no problems. Parked the car in the supermarket carpark, popped into Supermacs for a nosebag and then walked down to the ground.
Just outside the ground we passed 3 to 4 lads pulling along some very young Pitbulls. Next year it will be the other way round .
We played you's in the last game of the season last year. We got to Rathbane around 6 and took the opportunity to visit the local hostelry,The Steering Wheel. Nice couple of pints, nice chat about the club and local soccer with the locals and then on to the game. It looked a little rough but we never felt uneasy at any time.
Reading some of the posts here makes it seem like a completely different place. We were however, wary at all times but never threatened.