Who stole our game? The fall and fall of Irish soccer

**sonofstan** · 05/10/2006, 5:36 PM

Skimmed the article- kind of a bad sign when the first person quoted, approvingly, from the the domestic game is Ollie B.

**BohDiddley** · 05/10/2006, 7:03 PM

Originally Posted by barney

Eamon Dunphy

'nuff said.

**Jerry The Saint** · 21/11/2006, 3:24 PM

Did a search for this after seeing Daire Whelan on the panel for that upcoming discussion - so did anyone get around to reading the full thing. Is it as underwhelming as early reports indicated?

**Mr A** · 21/11/2006, 3:25 PM

I spoke to a few people about that book on Sunday. Both reckoned it was useless.

**Passive** · 21/11/2006, 3:42 PM

The book's central theme is that the FAI and the clubs themselves messed up Irish football through infighting and a total lack of vision, an argument which is completely accurate.

I had a feeling that not all EL fans would like it because it lays the blame on the clubs themselves. Not a popular argument, but a very accurate one.

**Dodge** · 21/11/2006, 3:46 PM

If he uses Ollie as a postive for the league I've already made my mind up about it. No problem if they lay the blame at the clubs though.

**harps1954** · 21/11/2006, 3:53 PM

Just finished reading the book. Not as good as I hoped it would be. To me, it's too much dublin orientated. Although he does lay some of the blame on the doors of the clubs, he says that the reasons people starting flocking away from the game was due to the demise of Drumcondra and the sale of milltown. He also said that the success of the Dublin GAA team in the 70's brought the crowds back to the GAA. Only other clubs that really get a mention are Bohs and Shels. He refers to crowds of 30,000 at games in the 50's but only using Rovers/Drums as the example.

Done a few interviews with people, but only really Ollie Byrne in relation to the League clubs. Other people who featured in any depth within the book were Pat Quigley, Brendan Menton, Eamon Dunphy while Roy Dooney and quotes from Delaney feature in the latter parts of the book.

As I said, not as good as I thought it would be and too much dublin orientated.

**Philly** · 21/11/2006, 7:15 PM

I agree. Nearly finished it now. I looked at the index for a mention of Kildare County - no mention. Some other clubs aren't mentioned throughout. No worthwile attendance stats. Extremelt dub-centric. Everything is about Bohs, Rovers, Shels or the "mighty Drums". The author also makes no secrtet of the fact he is a Shels fan, which gets in the way of certain judgement he makes. Also he seems very critical of Bohemians selling Dalymount without offering a decent reason for them to refuse a deal. Indeed it is a negative sentance about Bohs selling the ground that finishes off the whole book. Some of the quotes used, a lot actually, are quotes taken from various ex footballers biographies and not from interviews with the author.

The thing that really got me though was how Dubcentric it was, how poorly researched it was, and how it carried a pessimistic tone throughout - always looking at the bad side. Not a great read.

**Ash** · 22/11/2006, 7:50 AM

Just started it the other day! Dunno if I'll bother finishing it now

**paudie** · 22/11/2006, 12:38 PM

Only bought it on Monday. Should have read this thread first.

Haven't started it but one thing that annoyed me and fits in with the DubCentric criticism in other posts was that he had at least 2 photos subtitled Shels/Rovers v Cork.

Didn't specify Celtic or Hibs.

The rivalry between the clubs was very intense and it struck me as being lazy not to bother saying which club it was.

Another point is that to write a book about EL and not discuss in detail the prospects for non Dublin clubs is ridiculous.
You could argue that EL football hasn't go a chance in Dublin (eg Shels) but successful clubs in Cork/Derry/Galway/Sligo/Drogheda can be identified with the locality and be much stronger in the long term.

**Mr_T** · 22/11/2006, 12:52 PM

Bought this a couple of weeks ago, read the first few chapter and not had time since.

Main points so far is that I agree with the lads entirely. The title should be "Who stole our game in the city of Dublin". No mention of Finn Harps in the index either, which set off alarm bells but I bought it anyway.

He starts it of going on about seeing Shels lift the Premier Tropy in from of only 1,500 and compares this to the glory days of Drums.

I think we all know Shels crowds are a bad example, any other club in the league if they were lifting the Premier title woud have exponentially more in attendance.

**el punter** · 22/11/2006, 8:58 PM

Here's El Punter's review.

We've also got five copies of the book to give away in our end of season competition.

**SeanDrog** · 23/11/2006, 7:35 AM

I am half way through it and although I agree that it is a bit general in many claims but I think the underlining message needs to be taken on board. The clubs and league didn't and it can be argued still do not plan long term, many have no real plans for intergration into the community etc etc Maybe times are changing but the book is about why the league has under performed and I can't so far disagree with many of his ascertions. For me is not a s good as i hoped but I think it is a must real for all el supporters.

**TiocfaidhArmani** · 26/08/2011, 2:16 PM

Anywhere you can get this book?

**thischarmingman** · 26/08/2011, 2:18 PM

http://tinyurl.com/424bxpl

**freewheel30** · 26/08/2011, 5:04 PM

Looks like second hand copies are going for about 50-60 pounds sterling now. Bought mine in Waterstones Cork and I think I might have seen one in there recently but I could have been hallucinating.

**Eminence Grise** · 26/08/2011, 6:36 PM

Originally Posted by TiocfaidhArmani

Anywhere you can get this book?

Would you not wait a few weeks for the Scottish edition?

Only messing. This site tracks books in all Irish public libraries:

http://www.borrowbooks.ie/

Seems to be a few copies floating around.