FAI proposals for future of Eircom League...

**sullanefc** · 26/05/2006, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

Sullane name changes dont work. Look at CHF for example. A deluded seery thought that by changing the name of Home Farm he would be in the CL in 5 years

Yes, but I feel they went about it the wrong way. They tried to win over the support of the whole city and it has not worked.

For fans to adopt a team, they have to be able to associate with that team.

Aren't rovers going to Tallaght because it is a big catchement area and to convert the good people of Tallaght into Rovers fans.

My new names (BTW don't take offence, these are only mockya names)

Shamrock Rovers of Tallaght.

Shelbourne of Drumcondra (for how long I don't know)

St Patricks Athletic of Inchicore

Bohemians of Phibsboro (or whatever area they are moving to)

Blackrock FC (formerly UCD)

Fingal FC (formerly Dublin City - formerly Home Farm Fingal - formerly etc etc)

**pineapple stu** · 26/05/2006, 10:45 AM

Now you have to be taking the ****!

**NY Hoop** · 26/05/2006, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by harpskid

How would they? Clearly you have no experience of intermediate/junior soccer in Donegal.

The USL contains teams from Donegal only and I suspect Monaghan wouldn't be too pleased about having to make rediculous journeys to Keadue Rovers or Glenea United regularly...

It's hell for us and we're in the same county

Donegal only? Selfish *******s

UCD fans wake up this is good for the league.

KOH

**pineapple stu** · 26/05/2006, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

UCD fans wake up this is good for the league.

So I keep hearing. But nobody says how, without just quoting UEFA Licencing verse for verse. Which apparently we have implemented already.

**Real ale Madrid** · 26/05/2006, 10:48 AM

The only criteria for inclusion to the Premiership in my opinion is - on the pitch 100%. UCD and Dublin City have every right to feel aggrived if they get booted down to Division One. Its up to all the other clubs with thier millions of fans to get thier houses in order and ensure that they are better ON the pitch. Anything else is not in the spirit of the game we all love. We can still implement all of the Genesis report without picking and choosing the teams we have in the top flight.

**sullanefc** · 26/05/2006, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by sullanefc

UCD fans. One question. How do ye propose that attendances are increased and hence lead to a better supported league??

No response??

**pineapple stu** · 26/05/2006, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by sullanefc

No response??

Eyes open.

**Magicme** · 26/05/2006, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

The only criteria for inclusion to the Premiership in my opinion is - on the pitch 100%. UCD and Dublin City have every right to feel aggrived if they get booted down to Division One. Its up to all the other clubs with thier millions of fans to get thier houses in order and ensure that they are better ON the pitch. Anything else is not in the spirit of the game we all love. We can still implement all of the Genesis report without picking and choosing the teams we have in the top flight.

As a mons fan that would make me happier than being booted out for other reasons. Its only fair that its results that count.

**monutdfc** · 26/05/2006, 10:52 AM

I really don't want to get involved in this whole debate (I have to say both sides make valid points), but to put the prize money in context, the oprize for the league winners is less than the FAI are paying Bobby Robson per annum as a part-time consultant.

**sullanefc** · 26/05/2006, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Eyes open.

Hardly anything to get excited about

So in 20 years your attendance will have shot up to 1500. WOW amazing

**pineapple stu** · 26/05/2006, 10:54 AM

Good stuff - a perfectly adequate response to your question dismissed with pure sarcasm and not a jot of reasoned fact. Congratulations.

**sullanefc** · 26/05/2006, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Good stuff - a perfectly adequate response to your question dismissed with pure sarcasm and not a jot of reasoned fact. Congratulations.

Responded with sarcasm. Well done

And where in my post was I saying that I was quoting fact? When you have not stated any facts why this proposal will fail.

You still haven't answered my question though. How do you propose to increase your attendances? And I'm talking about big increases!!

**dcfcsteve** · 26/05/2006, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Did you ever meet Jim Roddy? Seriously? If I hadn't met both of yez, I'd swear blind you were the same person. You both have this utter belief - bordering on arrogance - that the league is on the cusp of something huge and it just takes a small tweak to get it right. But when pressed, neither of yez can actually put forward any sort of path from now to your proposal. Yet you both expect to be taken seriously despite this glaring omission. Quite remarkable. And quite frankly, one of Jim Roddy is more than enough without a clone knocking around...!

Well I don't believe that Jim and I have ever been seen in the same room at the same time, so you might be onto something there....

PS - I've highlighted how there can never be an exact science between what sports administrators do and attendances. That is a fact. You can build the best stadiums, introduce the highest prize money, and bring in the best players in the world - like the Americans did in the 1970's - and still fall flat on your face. Likewise, you can have an average team playing in a poor league out of a rubbish stadium - like Derry City did in 1985 - and attract 10,000+ to home games and take an average of 4,000+ away. Football attendances are about human psychology and human behaviour - not about direct-line cause-and-effect bean counting. This is not and never can be an exact science. Please accept this and stop asking for conclusive proof in an arena where you know it can never exist.

If you accept that there cannot be imperical evidence to conclusively prove that more stable and better funded clubs with closer links to their local community playing out of improved facilities will lead to an increase in attendances then the debate therefore progresses onto one of value judgements - based on common sense, gut feel, and (hopefully) objective analysis. And on these elements I personally believe that the proposals for more stable and better funded clubs playing out iof better facilities is, on balance, likely to have a positive impact upon attendances. We can argue about how much better (and god knows why you're constantly trying to pin me to a figure of 6,000) but we have no conclusive proof so it's moot.

**NY Hoop** · 26/05/2006, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

So I keep hearing. But nobody says how, without just quoting UEFA Licencing verse for verse. Which apparently we have implemented already.

How? Eh increased prize money, regulated wages, a chance for a first division team to be in the Setanta Cup. Look at the bigger picture. The league is not dying as is but it is just carrying on as usual. This will make the league better and I cannot for a minute understand how anybody with the league at heart doesnt want this to happen.

Sullane its a bit early to be drunk isnt it?

KOH

**sullanefc** · 26/05/2006, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

clubs with closer links to their local community playing out of improved facilities will lead to an increase in attendances

Thank you

Link to local communities is Vital IMO. Who do UCD represent?? Former students/current students?? Who do Dublin City represent?? The whole of Dublin?? Less than 100 attendance? Hardly.

**sullanefc** · 26/05/2006, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

Sullane its a bit early to be drunk isnt it?

Do I come accross that way??

**pineapple stu** · 26/05/2006, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

This is not and never can be an exact science. Please accept this and stop asking for conclusive proof in an arena where you know it can never exist.

The problem is that this is such a radical proposal, with potentially serious effects on certain clubs, that it would want to have some sort of evidence behind it that it's going to work. There's no point just going ahead with it for the craic. If there's no proof that it's going to do anything - as you seem to acknowledge - then it can't be backed. Again, the rest of your post proposes UEFA Licencing. Why don't we just implement that system properly rather than all this nonsense?

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

and god knows why you're constantly trying to pin me to a figure of 6,000

I apologise. 4000-5000 was your quote.

Originally Posted by sullanefc

You still haven't answered my question though. How do you propose to increase your attendances? And I'm talking about big increases!!

I don't really see the need to justify my club to you, to be honest. However, links to schools have been introduced in the last four or five years (after we dropped targetting the college and expanded into the surrounding localities), summer soccer camps have been very popular, there've been community projects in disadvantaged areas which have been popular, we're trying the Saturday evening switch as more family friendly, etc., etc.

May I ask as to what any other club is doing that we're not? I don't see any other club recording "big increases!!", as you seem to require.

**pineapple stu** · 26/05/2006, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by northside hoop

There's a free ground for one. And there's the scholarship sytem for 2. UCD would be basically like ICBINHF without Seery if both of these were removed

Oh dear God...

Lots of clubs get free grounds from the local council. UCD FC have to pay for every scholarship given.

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

How? Eh increased prize money, regulated wages, a chance for a first division team to be in the Setanta Cup.

So bring them in and drop the rest of the nonsense...?

**NY Hoop** · 26/05/2006, 11:13 AM

Only thing that needs to be dropped is the name change which is embarrassing. The Irish league adopted criteria somewhat similar a few years ago to determine the top division. Honestly dont see the problem. When the dust settles we'll have a better league. AGAIN if UCD are demoted you can get promoted.

This is the turning point for the league. With increased money clubs can improve facilities including proper tv gantries which will mean more tv coverage which will mean, hopfully, improved attendances. The last few years have seen great strides in the league, the summer football was the beginning and these proposals can propel the league forward into a respected, viable entity.

KOH