Two Little words...

[dcfcsteve]

There's quite a few threads floating around now about Summer soccer, why more people don't support EL teams etc etc.

In my mind it's very clear - the Irish love soccer, but completely ignore the domestic version of the game. There is no single answer as to why - it's been like that for years now, and there's a whole myriad of reasons why. So the big question for me is, how do we overcome that.

If you look at how people get into a certain football team, there tend to be two main ways. The first is that they get taken a long to a game - by family or friends - and get hooked that way. That's the easiest and best way to do it, but as we're starting with a low active support base in the league, we wouldn't really add many fans by dragging along willing friedns or family. It's an important route, but won't of itself make much of a difference (though a national 'bring a friend to a game' day would be good ! )

The second way epopel get intoa team is the more traditional gradual route. You see a few results for your local side, and it tweaks your curiousity. They're doing well so you keep an eye out for their scores. You catch a few goals on telly, and you think it looks alright. The hard bit is trying to get those people off their seats and into a stadium. How do we do that ?

Coming at it from another angle - most kids you ask will be able to give you a long list of teams they 'support' : Mn U in England, Celtic in Scotland, Barcelona in Spain, Bayern in Germany. Half the time they'll have a favourite team from less fashioable leagues like Belgium, Holland, or even Eastern Europe. These people can come out with the 2 little words "I support" for almost any league you mention - part form our own ! How do we get those people to adopt an EL team ? Beacuse if they don't adopt one as a favourite, our chances of getting them to go along to a game are greatly reduced.

Is live TV the answer ? Are football loving kids/adults more likely to take a shine to a certain team if they see them on TV ? How do we add EL clubs to football supporters repertoire of teams, as a first step towards getting them more actively interested in our league ?

[monkey magic]

well in my mind its simple. its all about facilities. we will never attract people to el games when their perception of the league is shabby stadiums, mucky pitches and poor athmosphere. in the uk the clubs woke up to that reality a long time ago and thats why the premier**** is probably the best sopported league in europe - people can take a lot more pride in their local side if there sitting in good facilities watching shiny players on a green carpet; its simple marketing and its non existent in the el. thats why im delighted to see what drogheda are doing. unfortunatly the financial reality in the league makes this next to impossible but el clubs have got to start trying to improve the packaging. an empty stadium looks bad on tv but an empty mud bank( see finn park and richmond park behind the goals) looks worse

[Block G Raptor]

el clubs have got to start trying to improve the packaging. an empty stadium looks bad on tv but an empty mud bank( see finn park and richmond park behind the goals) looks worse

Been saying this for god know's how long. Theres and old saying which I think is relevant here "The First Bite is with the Eye" Doesn't matter how many times you tell a bar stooler that the quality of eL is this that or the other if it doesn't look good on tv then its not gonna attract them. I reckon if you were to watch france v Italy in an empty Richmond park or Dalymount on Tv the match would look Shyte. What we need is proper camera gantries.Proper TV production Values. decent Commentary. and even a bit of Glitz and Glamour ie fireworks/cheerleaders when the teams are coming out or something like the league logo in the in the center circle. Cosmetics its all about cosmetics. ffs with a bit of make-up and bad disco lighting any Dog can look like a ride same goes for selling any product its all about the packaging. Just look at eL weekly and compare that to Sky's coverage of the Conference (Similar stadiums and attendances) they're a world apart is it any wonder barstoolers reckon the eL is not even up to english conference standard.

[Dodge]

lads its obviously not just one thing

1) The standard football isn't great
2) The grounds are all terrible
3) The media don't give a ****e about the league
4) The governing body have never shown an interest
5) Sponsors don't want to know
6) The pettiness of the clubs (constant bickering) puts many off
7) Lack of any stars (glen Crowe ffs)
8) Poorly run clubs
9) lack of co-operation from schoolyboy and junior clubs
10) Irish public nototios event juinkies, but cannot follow a team for a full season (Even the "great Munster" get less than 4,000 fr celtic league games)
11) No support from government

I suggest starting with getting the clubs run properly with financial help from FAI/Government in order to put proper administartion in place. We'll never cure all our ills though

[manic da hoop]

Irish people love a Big Event - it doesn't have to be football, it doesn't even have to be sport. The bottom line is though, that the el cannot (nor never will be able to) provide an occassion of 'Event' status. The closest example was Shels v Depor two years ago. Even the GAA can't manage it most of the time, but when your county has a Big Day Out in Croker everyone buys the jersey and hops on the bandwagon.

A Sports Mad Country? You must be joking!

[monkey magic]

all of what youve said is spot on dodge, but i was just making the point that perception goes a long way.

[Block G Raptor]

Irish people love a Big Event - it doesn't have to be football, it doesn't even have to be sport. The bottom line is though, that the el cannot (nor never will be able to) provide an occassion of 'Event' status. The closest example was Shels v Depor two years ago. Even the GAA can't manage it most of the time, but when your county has a Big Day Out in Croker everyone buys the jersey and hops on the bandwagon.

A Sports Mad Country? You must be joking!

Agreed but a bit more effort from broadcasters and Clubs to make the games a bit more of an event would surely make some difference