All Ireland League

[David]

I cant see it happening for another 8-10 years yet. There is too much going wrong in both associations to try and merge at this time. Add in the fact that there will be a debate on whether the two national teams will merge. Questions like who runs the league, who's invited...etc, personally i dont see it and dont want it to happen

I agree with you in that I don't see it happening for a number of years but to be totally honest I cannot understand the logic of someone not wanting it. Surely it will benefit both leagues.

[Aaron]

I agree with you in that I don't see it happening for a number of years but to be totally honest I cannot understand the logic of someone not wanting it. Surely it will benefit both leagues.

Being honest David, other than Linfield, Glentoran, Portadown and Cliftonville, i dont see wot the other IL teams wud bring to an All-Ireland League. I think it wud just be an EL with those four added. There isnt much support outside of those four. I think the EL as it is is better than the IL in terms of fanbase, football, stadia but the only thing the IL has equal to the EL is the poor financial state. Also now that the clubs have signed up to the newly run FAI league, there is no chance a breakaway can happen now. Ass in the fact that the IL is starting to get on its feet with the proposed new league being set-up.

[BohsPartisan]

CTID, I think you are being a bit short termist. Initially a lot of teams both north and south would bring "nothing to the league" but lets remember that they ARE THE LEAGUE. This is about giving these clubs and the league space to grow. The total will be greater than the sum of its parts.

[Poor Student]

Also, while a large fanbase is preferable, a well run club can optimise its resources to outdo clubs with larger fanbases like UCD. A well run outfit like Dungannon could do better than one might think. As BP points out, this could be beneficial to all and allow all to grow.

[Skunkito]

I agree with you in that I don't see it happening for a number of years but to be totally honest I cannot understand the logic of someone not wanting it. Surely it will benefit both leagues.

The plans would face more opposition from the North than south simply because so many get the grey shakes at the mention of anything "all-Ireland"

Papists lurk round every corner don't you know.

[David]

Being honest David, other than Linfield, Glentoran, Portadown and Cliftonville, i dont see wot the other IL teams wud bring to an All-Ireland League. I think it wud just be an EL with those four added. There isnt much support outside of those four. I think the EL as it is is better than the IL in terms of fanbase, football, stadia but the only thing the IL has equal to the EL is the poor financial state. Also now that the clubs have signed up to the newly run FAI league, there is no chance a breakaway can happen now. Ass in the fact that the IL is starting to get on its feet with the proposed new league being set-up.

Given the size of Northern Ireland surely you would expect ROI to have more clubs capable of entering. Also in Windsor Park and Mourneview I believe that as far as stadia go they are a match for anything in the Eircom. Outside a few clubs the support in the Eircom is not exactly brilliant either. I think you need to get down from that high horse, your implication is that the EL is streets ahead of the IL and that is simply not the case.

[marley]

The biggest hurdle to an All Ireland League in my opinion is the stadia. Having a safe enviroment were crowd segregation is applied might be an issue with the current stadiums

[David]

The plans would face more opposition from the North than south simply because so many get the grey shakes at the mention of anything "all-Ireland"

Papists lurk round every corner don't you know.

Bit of a sweeping generalisation there and I would say an inaccurate on at that. Up here rugby is a predominantly Protestant sport yet there are no problems whatsoever with the all Ireland format there. Surely the fact that I as a Linfield supporter am favouring this (and I am not alone amongst Linfield supporters) speaks volumes.

[David]

The biggest hurdle to an All Ireland League in my opinion is the stadia. Having a safe enviroment were crowd segregation is applied might be an issue with the current stadiums

That is a valid point.

[ciaraa]

Bit of a sweeping generalisation there and I would say an inaccurate on at that. Up here rugby is a predominantly Protestant sport yet there are no problems whatsoever with the all Ireland format there. Surely the fact that I as a Linfield supporter am favouring this (and I am not alone amongst Linfield supporters) speaks volumes.

Yeah but yer average rugger fan would be of a different breed to yer average linfield fan in fairness.

[BohsPartisan]

Yeah but yer average rugger fan would be of a different breed to yer average linfield fan in fairness.

Thats a pretty inlamatory post.

[Aaron]

CTID, I think you are being a bit short termist. Initially a lot of teams both north and south would bring "nothing to the league" but lets remember that they ARE THE LEAGUE. This is about giving these clubs and the league space to grow. The total will be greater than the sum of its parts.

Hence the reason i said 8-10 years

Given the size of Northern Ireland surely you would expect ROI to have more clubs capable of entering. Also in Windsor Park and Mourneview I believe that as far as stadia go they are a match for anything in the Eircom. Outside a few clubs the support in the Eircom is not exactly brilliant either. I think you need to get down from that high horse, your implication is that the EL is streets ahead of the IL and that is simply not the case.

It is my opinion that the EL is ahead of the IL in terms on quality of football, grounds and fanbase, whether you agree with that or not, i dont know.

Also, while a large fanbase is preferable, a well run club can optimise its resources to outdo clubs with larger fanbases like UCD. A well run outfit like Dungannon could do better than one might think. As BP points out, this could be beneficial to all and allow all to grow.

Good point.

I never said there wouldnt be an all-ireland league, wot i said is that i didnt want one, i prefer it as it is, the setanta cup, with the two seperate organisations. Just my opinion, not a fact

[ciaraa]

Thats a pretty inlamatory post.

oops, is it? ok, to counter any potential backlash.. "I read it in a ross o carroll kelly book!!".

[David]

Yeah but yer average rugger fan would be of a different breed to yer average linfield fan in fairness.

Maybe you should ask some of your fellow Drogheda supporters about "yer average Linfield fan".

[David]

It is my opinion that the EL is ahead of the IL in terms on quality of football, grounds and fanbase, whether you agree with that or not, i dont know.

Out of curiousity what stadia is there in the Eircom that is better that either Windsor or Mourneview? Dalymount is about the best I have been to in the Eircom and I would say Windsor is certainly better and arguably so is Mourneview. As for the quality of football, I would say that Linfield have shown that we are a match for the best the Eircom has to offer. There is undoubtedly more strength in depth in the Eircom but again you would expect that when you compare the size of the two countries and I would expect that to be reflected in the make up of any All Ireland League with there being more Eircom League clubs in it. Now on to your fan base argument. Surely it cannot be debated that both Linfield and Glentoran are a match for any club in Ireland in regard to this.

[dcfcsteve]

Out of curiousity what stadia is there in the Eircom that is better that either Windsor or Mourneview? Dalymount is about the best I have been to in the Eircom and I would say Windsor is certainly better and arguably so is Mourneview. As for the quality of football, I would say that Linfield have shown that we are a match for the best the Eircom has to offer. There is undoubtedly more strength in depth in the Eircom but again you would expect that when you compare the size of the two countries and I would expect that to be reflected in the make up of any All Ireland League with there being more Eircom League clubs in it. Now on to your fan base argument. Surely it cannot be debated that both Linfield and Glentoran are a match for any club in Ireland in regard to this.

On the whole, Southern stadia isn't better than in the north. A number of the north's stadiums are a bit old and decrepit (e.g. Oval, Solitude, Seaview) - but they're still proper-feeling stadia with half-decent capacities. Most of our stadias aren't in the same league - even at big clubs like Cork. Windsor is the best football venue onn the isand, bar none. Even better than Lansdowne on everything bar location and capacity.

On fanbase, Linfield and Glens would certainly be at or near the top of any table of clubs on the island in terms of broad fanbase. They may not get much more than EL clubs at their average game, but they can still pull-in 5-10,000 for a numebr of games across a season, whilst only a small number of EL sides can match that and only really for the odd Cup Final.

Where I disagree with you is in terms of the quality of football. This year's Setanta did not show Linfield to be a match for the EL clubs. Hence, you were confidently beaten in the semis by last year and this year's current 4th-placed team, having also failed to beat last year's EL runners-up in the group stages as well. Moreover, I confidently expect the 2007 Setanta to exhibit an even greater gulf in standarsd (assuming in part that City can sort themelves a half-decent Manager, that is...!).

[David]

On the whole, Southern stadia isn't better than in the north. A number of the north's stadiums are a bit old and decrepit (e.g. Oval, Solitude, Seaview) - but they're still proper-feeling stadia with half-decent capacities. Most of our stadias aren't in the same league - even at big clubs like Cork. Windsor is the best football venue onn the isand, bar none. Even better than Lansdowne on everything bar location and capacity.

On fanbase, Linfield and Glens would certainly be at or near the top of any table of clubs on the island in terms of broad fanbase. They may not get much more than EL clubs at their average game, but they can still pull-in 5-10,000 for a numebr of games across a season, whilst only a small number of EL sides can match that and only really for the odd Cup Final.

Where I disagree with you is in terms of the quality of football. This year's Setanta did not show Linfield to be a match for the EL clubs. Hence, you were confidently beaten in the semis by last year and this year's current 4th-placed team, having also failed to beat last year's EL runners-up in the group stages as well. Moreover, I confidently expect the 2007 Setanta to exhibit an even greater gulf in standarsd (assuming in part that City can sort themelves a half-decent Manager, that is...!).

Linfield have the best record in the Setanta bar none. One win and one semi final in the two years. Also we were drawn in the same group as the two top teams in your lrague at the minute. Remind me who won the group?

[Lux Interior]

Out of curiousity what stadia is there in the Eircom that is better that either Windsor or Mourneview? Dalymount is about the best I have been to in the Eircom and I would say Windsor is certainly better and arguably so is Mourneview. As for the quality of football, I would say that Linfield have shown that we are a match for the best the Eircom has to offer. There is undoubtedly more strength in depth in the Eircom but again you would expect that when you compare the size of the two countries and I would expect that to be reflected in the make up of any All Ireland League with there being more Eircom League clubs in it. Now on to your fan base argument. Surely it cannot be debated that both Linfield and Glentoran are a match for any club in Ireland in regard to this.

Not often I agree with you but this is pretty much bang on the money. Also, remember, it wasn't that long ago that the Irish League was a superior footballing league but, IMO, the leap to 16 clubs has diluted the quality, with good players spread all over a ludicrous 16 sides.

There is also a more ingrained culture within Irish League fans of travelling away to fixtures. The three EL sides to visit the Oval in the Setanta Cup so far have been Longford (approx 200 fans), Shelbourne (under 100) and Derry (500 - "best ever season", remember), which, given the 'novelty nature' of the Setanta Cup was, IMO, slightly disappointing. Make no mistake, certain EL chairmen will be rubbing their hands in glee at the potential of the visiting Glens and Blues support (IMO, unrivalled on this island).

The stadium debate is a valid one. Windsor and Mourneview (superb ground for local football) would be - new stadiums in Athlone aside - the best equipped grounds on the island. The Oval is in a decrepid state but the club, looking for a new site, will not spend, nor will they seek funding, given that we are moving.

Agree that there are some formidable barriers before such a league exists but there you may be surprised by the groundswell of support amongst IL fans for this proposal.

[OneRedArmy]

There is also a more ingrained culture within Irish League fans of travelling away to fixtures.

The fact you can throw a stone from one side of the "province" to the next has nothing to do with it.....

Try 3 16 hour plus return trips a season and see how you get on!

[Lux Interior]

The fact you can throw a stone from one side of the "province" to the next has nothing to do with it.....

Try 3 16 hour plus return trips a season and see how you get on!

I've been to Eircom League games where the travelling distance was also a "stone's throw" and the away following was derisory but here's another few "facts" anyway ....

In our three return games with the clubs I mentioned, we took approx 700, 400 and 400 (restricted tickets at Brandywell) - and the last two attendances co-incided with our most ****** season for 12 years.

Given that suppporters to'd and fro'd equal distances for these games, I'd say that's a fair enough reflection.