FAI Cup draw tonight?

**DvB** · 07/09/2006, 8:15 AM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

Its the Cup though and all the talking will be done on the pitch. If we win then we are in the semis and if we lose we are still solvent and own our own ground(Scully can't say that) and that is more important than going into debt for short term gain.

Looking forward to meeting up with the Rovers fans for a few pre match beers in Durty Harrys located in the centre of town before the match.

With all due respect Rovers are no longer in debt & are working within a strict budget for the season & will be for the foreseeable future, whatever happens in league & cup not a cent will be owed at the end of the season.

Personally i was delighted with the draw, a tie away against non league opposition is far worse IMO, they would most definitely have nothing to lose & would put up a fight & possibly bring something new to the game, Athlone on the other hand we've played & beat comfortably three times this season, wheras i certainly wouldnt go out on a limb & categorically state we'll win again i'd be extremely disappointed to not go through, wouldnt be suprised if it went to a replay though, nerves could play a big part as witnessed in spells in both games v Bohs, being the cup anything could happen, being Rovers trust mee anything & everything DOES happen!!

Could also be the last cup tie ever in St. Mels!? & assume it'll be on the friday night?

Koh

**NY Hoop** · 07/09/2006, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

Scully can say what he wants everyone has an opinion and are entitled to say it whether it is right or wrong. We know he doesn't respect us as a team and thats fine.

Rovers should be the better team when you consider that they are operating of a team budget of maybe 4 times possibly more of what we do.

Its the Cup though and all the talking will be done on the pitch. If we win then we are in the semis and if we lose we are still solvent and own our own ground(Scully can't say that) and that is more important than going into debt for short term gain.

Looking forward to meeting up with the Rovers fans for a few pre match beers in Durty Harrys located in the centre of town before the match.

If you hold the game on the saturday night you would get a much bigger crowd.

TG4 will cover a game on friday and saturday. Here's hoping they dont decide to our game live

KOH

**bluemovie** · 07/09/2006, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by hoopy

Not being smart or trying to rub Athlone fans up the wrong way but what part of his comments are untrue?

The bit where he said "Nobody gave us a chance against Bohs".

The usual manager-speak. Most people thought that was made for an upset.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 07/09/2006, 11:06 AM

I'd be surprised if our game up in Derry is live because of the day. I think the point made earlier about county finals is spot on. Reckon Pats-Longford and a Saturday game will get shown.

**WeAreRovers** · 07/09/2006, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by bluemovie

The bit where he said "Nobody gave us a chance against Bohs".

The usual manager-speak. Most people thought that was made for an upset.

There was a couple of thousand gypos who were pretty confident.

And lets face it Bohs were massive favourites in the bookies and all the papers tipped them too. So what part of "Nobody gave us a chance" do you disagree with precisely?

KOH

**bluemovie** · 07/09/2006, 11:27 AM

The "nobody" part.

**Battery Rover** · 07/09/2006, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

If you hold the game on the saturday night you would get a much bigger crowd.

TG4 will cover a game on friday and saturday. Here's hoping they dont decide to our game live

KOH

If the Derry game is going ahead on the Sunday then with the Longford vs Pats game a certainty it only leaves our game and the Sligo game. Its a bit worrying.

As for the bigger crowd on a Saturday night I agree there but it will be TV that decide that I would think. Wouldn't be a very pretty match for the TV but the atmosphere would be right up there This will be hyped up round the Town for the weeks leading up to it.

Remember the last time we played you in St Mels in the Cup

Hopefully not the last Cup tie in St Mels but if it was then there would be no more fitting pairing for it.

**NY Hoop** · 07/09/2006, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

If the Derry game is going ahead on the Sunday then with the Longford vs Pats game a certainty it only leaves our game and the Sligo game. Its a bit worrying.

As for the bigger crowd on a Saturday night I agree there but it will be TV that decide that I would think. Wouldn't be a very pretty match for the TV but the atmosphere would be right up there This will be hyped up round the Town for the weeks leading up to it.

Remember the last time we played you in St Mels in the Cup

Hopefully not the last Cup tie in St Mels but if it was then there would be no more fitting pairing for it.

Doubt they'd show a non league side live on tv so that leaves our game. Pats on the friday and us on a saturday then. Thing is mels looks like **** , the pitch is very bad and even the tv gantry is gone there

IMO better off not showing it live at all as it doesnt do the league any favours.

KOH

**Battery Rover** · 07/09/2006, 12:58 PM

The pitch itself is fine but the ground itself, we all know what that is like.

A tv gantry could be built in no time and the ground will be full on three sides with the cameras facing where the crowd will be so might mask it a bit.

The only thing that annoys me about playing yourselves is we get put up on the hill and ye get the cover.

First thing that a steward says is "If you beat that drum in the stand you are going on the hill"

**DvB** · 07/09/2006, 2:57 PM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

The pitch itself is fine but the ground itself, we all know what that is like.

A tv gantry could be built in no time and the ground will be full on three sides with the cameras facing where the crowd will be so might mask it a bit.

The only thing that annoys me about playing yourselves is we get put up on the hill and ye get the cover.

First thing that a steward says is "If you beat that drum in the stand you are going on the hill"

Agree, a gantry could be erected temporarily easily, facing the shed would help mask the poor condition of the rest of the ground, especially if there's a decent crowd in.

In relation to the segregation you mentioned, how come at the last game at St. Mels we all mingled in the shed no bother? Surely a similar arrangement would suit for this game also!? Or with this being the cup will the FAI step in & employ half the Garda based in the midlands to keep the respective supporters apart!? Daft if that is the case IMO.

Koh

**Poor Student** · 07/09/2006, 3:50 PM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

IMO better off not showing it live at all as it doesnt do the league any favours.

What kind of an attitude is that? I'm sick of seeing "Ohhh, hope this game isn't on TV, their ground looks crap". A lot of grounds in this league look crap. That is the league. If people will be put off by those grounds on TV then so be it. What's the point in hiding the reality?

**NY Hoop** · 07/09/2006, 4:02 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

What kind of an attitude is that? I'm sick of seeing "Ohhh, hope this game isn't on TV, their ground looks crap". A lot of grounds in this league look crap. That is the league. If people will be put off by those grounds on TV then so be it. What's the point in hiding the reality?

Oh come on. Mels is the second worst ground in the league after rathbane. By all means show highlights but to have it live reduces us to a laughing stock. There are no facilities there ffs.

To say that a lot of grounds look crap is not true IMO. The premier grounds all have covered seating and/or covered terracing. Kilkenny and Galway in the first as well.

KOH

**Battery Rover** · 07/09/2006, 4:34 PM

Oh come on. Mels is the second worst ground in the league after rathbane. By all means show highlights but to have it live reduces us to a laughing stock. There are no facilities there ffs.

Yes but it could be shown in a positive light. From where the TV gantry would be placed if needed all the cameraman would have to do is swing the camera round 45 degrees and they would see our new ground clearly. This could be used as a way of showing that Eircom League is progressing. However bad something is there can always be a positive made out of it.

In relation to the segregation you mentioned, how come at the last game at St. Mels we all mingled in the shed no bother? Surely a similar arrangement would suit for this game also!? Or with this being the cup will the FAI step in & employ half the Garda based in the midlands to keep the respective supporters apart!? Daft if that is the case IMO

I think it would be daft as well. But if you remember the first game all the Cootes were requested to stand on the hill behind the goal on instruction from the club.

The second game there they brought half the Garda riot squad down to protect us from you lot

Also at this a steward as I said made a comment to one of the drummers saying that if he used the drum he would be on the hill.

Third game who knows they might have electric fences

Think we should be allowed mix freely. There wont be any hassle.

**WeAreRovers** · 07/09/2006, 4:55 PM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

Think we should be allowed mix freely. There wont be any hassle.

Spot on and if the place is (hopefully) packed on 3 sides it'll look great on TV. I might even try and get my dad to drag himself in from Kiltoom for this one.

KOH

**hoopy** · 07/09/2006, 7:27 PM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

Looking forward to meeting up with the Rovers fans for a few pre match beers in Durty Harrys located in the centre of town before the match.

Couldn't argue with that, had a good day out there for the first game, good banter and a decent pint

**Battery Rover** · 17/09/2006, 5:21 PM

Just posted on www.athlonetownfc.com

The FAI have designated this FAI Carlsberg Cup quarter-final as a 'Category A' game which will be all-ticket and limited to a capacity of 4,000. Shamrock Rovers Football Club will receive a first allocation of 1,000 tickets and will be positioned on the terracing opposite the main seated stand.

Tickets are priced at �20 (Main Stand ), �15 (Ground), and �5 (Under-14's).

Go to the website for the rest of the press conference