Summer Soccer Poll

**dav_sfc** · 26/07/2006, 10:13 AM

The league will die if we don't get the co-efficent up and get playing bigger teams year in year out. If lets say.... English clubs were kicked out of european competitions for lets say...6 years, what effect do you think it would have on gate receipts?
Getting success in Europe will change peoples opinion of the EL and get people interested, then watching, then going to games then we get rich, conquor Europe, keep irish players at home, have an irish Ireland squad and a captain of an Eircom/Samsung SuperPremierDivision will lift the World Cup for Ireland. Easy yeah?

**dav_sfc** · 26/07/2006, 10:16 AM

Spot on too pete about the Winterball. Does anyone have figures on the attendances drop per annum when playing Chillball compaired to playing Sunshineball?

**Dodge** · 26/07/2006, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by pete

No one has given any reason why they think attendances in the winter would be better than the summer.

I stands to reason that small clubs will alwasy resist change & progress as feel they will be left behind.

We donm't havbe to give reasons, the facts speak for themselves. Crowds are down in the summer. I've guessed at why above, so obviosly reverse it for why they'd go up in winter...

And european football will not help the league. Will help the individual clubs but as long as they continue to overspend to try and crack "Europe" , they'd be back in ths s****s soon enough

**pete** · 26/07/2006, 11:28 AM

I don't know if success in Europe gets bigger crowds at league games but it is great for feel good factor within the league. Even when we weren't in Europe it was great to see Bohs & Shels (to lesser extent) win in Europe.

I don't know if its enouhg to attract players to the eL but if top teams can guarantee 3 rounds of european football a year its something the non-Premiership english teams cannot offer. Would the Swedes be bidding 600k for Jason Byrne based on eL performances? Maybe UK clubs will never respect eL players but continential clubs not so blinkered?

**Patronizer** · 26/07/2006, 11:34 AM

Winter... if it's a borin game the cold keeps ya awake...

I dont mind Summer football but there's just somethin about Winter.

**ColinR** · 26/07/2006, 1:55 PM

everyone seems certain that crowds are down compared to winter?? where is the evidence to prove this? is it just that people think they can remember big crowds in winter matches?

i certainly can remember worse crowds in winter, and not just at drogs matches.

most clubs who are complaining that crowds are down, should also note that their league position is also down since the winter seasons, and perhaps this is having a bigger impact on the crowds tham the weather or the season or..

**Macy** · 26/07/2006, 2:24 PM

Originally Posted by ColinR

most clubs who are complaining that crowds are down, should also note that their league position is also down since the winter seasons, and perhaps this is having a bigger impact on the crowds tham the weather or the season or..

And equally those that are saying it's been a great success should too? The only way would be to do it over the whole league, not just individual clubs, obviously.

I personally don't think it's worked, but at the moment we don't really know because no proper evaluation has been done. If one is done, and disproves my arguments then fine, but I don't see why we should aimlessly continue with no idea of what's a success and whats a failure. Afterall, it'll be hard enough to establish whether it has been a success since it was done without any tangible aims and targets - just a "sure we'll give it a go".

**ColinR** · 26/07/2006, 4:17 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

I personally don't think it's worked, but at the moment we don't really know because no proper evaluation has been done.

agreed on that, and while you (and others) personally feel it hasn't worked, myself and others (a majority according to the poll

) feel it has worked. as it is there is no proper evaluation so far, nobody can actually say for definite if crowds are up or down. there is absolutly no point in changing again, just because people feel that it isn't working because their individual club is not doing as well as they used to.

the only facts we have are the positive ones - our performances in europe are up, and the drogs have never got relegated in a summer season

**Dodge** · 26/07/2006, 4:28 PM

Originally Posted by ColinR

agreed on that, and while you (and others) personally feel it hasn't worked, myself and others (a majority according to the poll

) feel it has worked

No, the question just asked which you preferred. it didn't ask whether summer football worked or not. And there's no point in asking that question of the hardcore fans here

**ColinR** · 26/07/2006, 4:33 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

No, the question just asked which you preferred. it didn't ask whether summer football worked or not. And there's no point in asking that question of the hardcore fans here

ok then, personally i feel it is working better, and a majority here prefer it. better now

**Dodge** · 26/07/2006, 4:35 PM

Aye. I don't think its working but personally I prefer it.

**Buller** · 26/07/2006, 5:34 PM

Summer!

**fbtn** · 26/07/2006, 9:52 PM

The GAH Championship and music festivals are big things to compete against in the summer. Especially in Donegal.

It may be working for some clubs, but it certainly isn't working for the Harps.

**NY Hoop** · 27/07/2006, 9:40 AM

Summer no doubt.

Firstly to say crowds are hugely down because of summer football is plain wrong. Pineapple Stu will confirm that and also just on going to games there hasnt been a massive decrease.

Secondly June and July are the only months that we play in now that we didnt before. This season has seen a decrease in crowds mainly because of the stupid World Cup break. This has meant more midweek games which are a killer gate wise.

Might I also add that because we are not in the premier crowds are down.

Keely and Matthews want to go back to the old days where they have to hoof the ball because of the mud. Say for example we do go back. Clubs well beaten in Europe again and the crowds will not go up. Is that what people want?

The future of this league is proper facilities, clubs adhering to UEFA Licensing and the league not bringing in joke non entities like CHF. On the first its great that Harps and Athlone are building new stadiums. If they get to the premier and are competitive they will get crowds no matter when in the year.

KOH

**pete** · 27/07/2006, 11:10 AM

The only difference between summer & winter are May-June-July versus December-January-February. All the other months we play are the same.

Is there a suggestion that clubs such as Longford Town & Finn Harps get bigger crowds in November than July? Can't see that myself.

**Dodge** · 27/07/2006, 11:13 AM

They were though.

**De Town** · 27/07/2006, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Is there a suggestion that clubs such as Longford Town & Finn Harps get bigger crowds in November than July? Can't see that myself.

Yes we got bigger crowds during winter football.

**pete** · 27/07/2006, 1:29 PM

Originally Posted by De Town

Yes we got bigger crowds during winter football.

You also got bigger crowds 2 years ago when winning Cups...

**joema** · 27/07/2006, 5:58 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

You admit attendances are down, yet you say skill levels and the football offered is better. Can't be much else left as a reason bar summer football? If attendances are down, it's obvious people preferred winter seasons.

That is flawed logic

Originally Posted by Macy

I think there's far more competition in the summer tbh. The only sport we're not clashing with for a few weeks is UK football, instead we have the GAA (which for the rural teams is significant in terms of local championship games too). Maybe we're also competing with the weather as well - In recent weeks has the weather been a help or hindrance with family days out, BBQ's, Beer Gardens, chores in the garden etc?

Im on about competition from other soccer - eg the English league which often clashed directly with el games in the old format.In other countries people are well able to support more that one sport at a time - why would Ireland be any different?

Are you srious about BBQs and the likes? - Oh yeah lets revert to the old format because we want to have a BBQ the odd time - there is always going to be distractions or alternatives to el games - be that in winter or summer