Vs Wales: Lets create a sea of green

**PhatPat** · 12/02/2007, 12:06 PM

Though there was a cracking atmosphere at the rugby yesterday one dissapointing aspect was the lack of green in the stands - it certainly resulted in the pictures not matching the sound of the occasion.

I reckon we can put the rugger heads to shame when we invade croker and part of that must be to make sure that, at a minimum, everyone turns up in (Green) Ireland strips complete with scarves.

I know theres a lot of negativity about at the moment (and rightly so) but there should be more on this board about putting our best foot forward for Irish soccer - somebody has to.

**Not Brazil** · 12/02/2007, 12:11 PM

Good luck.

http://www.seaofgreen.org.uk

**shakermaker1982** · 12/02/2007, 12:39 PM

I'm sure the Chelski fans will be wearing their blue kits to show Roman his influence has spread west........

**Sumac** · 12/02/2007, 1:40 PM

I agree that the atmoshphere yesterday sounded electric but definately lacked some colour - Compare to Cardiff when Ireland played there with all the red with small pockets of Green.
A jersey or green tee shirt with a scarf if possible is not much to ask - A sea of green in croke park would be spectacular

**PhatPat** · 12/02/2007, 2:39 PM

Ahem...its a fair cop guv, copyright infringement noted.

**SuperDave** · 12/02/2007, 3:05 PM

get in touch with the fai and ask them to spend circa 10c on a bit of green card for every seat. Or else hand out green card outside the ground.

Hell, the fai could even slip a bit of card into every programme. sure they get �5 for them anyway (although, lets face it, they'll probably be more expensive in croker)

**green army** · 12/02/2007, 4:14 PM

they should give out flags like in stuttgart last september.

**soccerc** · 12/02/2007, 4:27 PM

Originally Posted by Not Brazil

Good luck.

http://www.seaofgreen.org.uk

Then again you picked up on our 2003 and 2004 efforts

and don't forget some of your collegues sought direction on how to proceed.

Fortress Lansdowne - 03 June 2003

"We want to turn Lansdowne Road into a sea of green with a fever-pitch atmosphere," Mr. Fran Rooney, CEO of the FAI, said today.

Mr. Rooney was speaking at a Press Conference where he outlined details of the FAI's plans to help the fans bring more atmosphere, colour and noise to Ireland's home venue.

"We have met with fans from 16 eircom League clubs since my appointment and we are delighted with their reaction," Mr. Rooney said. "We want to plug into the tremendous enthusiasm of these fans to raise the temperature for the international matches," he said.

"Like most eircom League fans, I've experienced the colour and noise which now exists at domestic matches every week and the challenge now is to actively help these supporters to create a fever-pitch atmosphere at Lansdowne Road," he added.

"We've made the fans' involvement one of our top priorities and I'm confident that we can, over time, elevate the already strong Lansdowne Road match day experience to a new level where visiting teams will genuinely notice the difference. Brian Kerr and the players want more nose and more colour and we will start to create this on Saturday," Mr. Rooney said.

"We've spoken with Brian and his staff, the players, the supporters and the authorities in bringing together our various ideas and everyone recognises that the fans can be the extra player which can make the difference on the pitch," he added.

Mr. Rooney outlined a number of short and long term initiatives which the FAI plans for future home international matches.

For the upcoming two Euro Championship games the FAI will :

� Make available over 1,200 North Terrace tickets for eircom League supporters
� Provide 22 large Ireland tricolours, one for each of the eircom League supporters' clubs
� Distribute 50 extra Ireland flags to eircom League supporters
� Provide 36,000 green card (one on each seat) to help generate more colour
� Unfurl Ireland's largest tricolour, a 3-piece flag presented to the FAI by the City of Izumo at last year's World Cup, measuring 114' X 60'
. Provide a new programme of music prior to and at half time in the game, co-ordinated with the fans

'Special Scarf Days'

The FAI is asking fans to make an extra effort at these two games including :

� Make the next two games special 'scarf days'
� Come to the ground early to get the chanting and drumming started
� Wear everything possible green to help turn Lansdowne Road into a unique sea of green
� Join in the singing, chanting and drumming

Special arrangements are also being made to allow a number of eircom League super-size banners into the stadium

'Fans' Forum'

Mr. Rooney emphasised that the task of building on the already very strong home support was one which would pay dividends in the long term. He said the initiatives for the next two matches were very important in the quest for Euro 2004 qualification but recognised that the process of turning Lansdowne Road into a real fortress would take time.

He said for the future the FAI will

� Generate greater contact between eircom League fans and the FAI
� Establish a 'fans forum' to actively involve the fans in the Association's plans for supporters and to air their views on an ongoing basis
� Seek to develop the fans' club to maximise all the areas of support for all our international teams
� Commit to examining ticket allocation to increase availability for fans who support football at home
� Allocate certain locations in the ground for eircom League fans
� Work with the fans to create a fans' band
� Work with interested sponsors to support fans' participation on match days
� Aim to create a better experience for everyone involved on match days.

**tetsujin1979** · 12/02/2007, 5:08 PM

Originally Posted by soccerc

He said for the future the FAI will

� Generate greater contact between eircom League fans and the FAI

Most fans feel more disconnected than ever

Originally Posted by soccerc

� Establish a 'fans forum' to actively involve the fans in the Association's plans for supporters and to air their views on an ongoing basis

None that I'm aware of

Originally Posted by soccerc

� Seek to develop the fans' club to maximise all the areas of support for all our international teams

Anyone ever hear back from the IrelandFans section on fai.ie?

Originally Posted by soccerc

� Commit to examining ticket allocation to increase availability for fans who support football at home

Nope

Originally Posted by soccerc

� Allocate certain locations in the ground for eircom League fans

Done away with?

Originally Posted by soccerc

� Work with the fans to create a fans' band

Don't make me laugh

Originally Posted by soccerc

� Work with interested sponsors to support fans' participation on match days

Erm, giant balls with legs, and some women sponsored by Heineken? Nothing else comes to mind.

Originally Posted by soccerc

� Aim to create a better experience for everyone involved on match days.

And nope again

I'm sure they had good intentions when they made this statement. Unfortunately those same intentions are now paving the road to hell.

**PhatPat** · 12/02/2007, 5:09 PM

Nostalgia for the rooney days...sorry times indeeed

. I wasent calling for any 'shake a shamrock' malarkey - just a need to build some momentum on this site for an effort to make the most of croker. I'm sure the FAI will be doing something cringeworthy with the usual dublin city ramblers soundtrack but if we got something going those lads at the Star fanzine might pick up on it or something (Btw their 'no bars in san marino' advice was a tad wide of the mark - I've the bruises/blackouts to prove it.)

reder · 12/02/2007, 6:19 PM

I have never worn any colours to an ireland football match in my life nor will I. There is nothing as sad as a grown adult dressed like an idiot in a green jersey with a jester hat.

Dressed casual, standing and singing your heart out for 90 mins is the only way as far as im concerned.

As for green cards, card mosaics are silly unless there is an appropriate motive. By that I mean a mosaic for the canal end set up by the fans saying "Delaney out" is appropriate at this moment and time.

One more thing, EL fans did get a section of tickets in the last few years. I know a few guys who get their tickets through it.

**theleprechaun** · 12/02/2007, 6:43 PM

Originally Posted by reder

I have never worn any colours to an ireland football match in my life nor will I. There is nothing as sad as a grown adult dressed like an idiot in a green jersey with a jester hat.

Dressed casual, standing and singing your heart out for 90 mins is the only way as far as im concerned.

toatlly disagree. it's the leprechaun suit for me

**soccerc** · 12/02/2007, 6:47 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Most fans feel more disconnected than ever
None that I'm aware of
Anyone ever hear back from the IrelandFans section on fai.ie?
Nope
Done away with?
Don't make me laugh
Erm, giant balls with legs, and some women sponsored by Heineken? Nothing else comes to mind.
And nope again

I'm sure they had good intentions when they made this statement. Unfortunately those same intentions are now paving the road to hell.

Very selective there tets but I did say 2003/2004.

Everything outlined in the original press statement happened but it all came to a halt after the Cyprus home game and the France away tie in autumn 2004..

Just becasue you were not aware of what was happening around you doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Where do you think your ticket for recent games came from?

**Not Brazil** · 12/02/2007, 7:02 PM

Originally Posted by soccerc

Then again you picked up on our 2003 and 2004 efforts

and don't forget some of your collegues sought direction on how to proceed.

The boys done good.

**Dazzy** · 12/02/2007, 8:15 PM

http://www.tifo.it/ce/prodotti.php3?foto=546DQ2L.jpg

Get a lot of them for the Canal End.

**Larks** · 13/02/2007, 8:13 PM

I disagree with wearing just casual wear . No harm in wearing an Ireland jersey. But as for flags like in stuttgart, its the game we are there to see, if you want everyone to have flags just go support Ireland in the eurovision

**Babysis** · 13/02/2007, 8:28 PM

I think any moves to try and gerate atmosphere at the game is a good thing.
But you will never get everyone in agreement, nor will they all join in sadly!

The green cards at Lansdowne didnt really do much (although I got mine signed by Paul McGrath so I think they were great

)

As for the whole colours v casuals debate - Does it really matter?
I usually go to games wearing colours but Ive gone in casuals too -
As far as Im concerned people can wear what they want, it doesnt stop you making some noise!

**citizenerased** · 15/02/2007, 12:41 AM

The only essential in my eyes is to bring ur singin voices...

**SuperDave** · 15/02/2007, 2:41 PM

Originally Posted by Babysis

I think any moves to try and gerate atmosphere at the game is a good thing.
But you will never get everyone in agreement, nor will they all join in sadly!

The green cards at Lansdowne didnt really do much (although I got mine signed by Paul McGrath so I think they were great

)

As for the whole colours v casuals debate - Does it really matter?
I usually go to games wearing colours but Ive gone in casuals too -
As far as Im concerned people can wear what they want, it doesnt stop you making some noise!

If you were a player would you not be intimidated by playing the dutch in amsterdam or rotterdam, surrounded by an oranje wall?

Dutch fans

More Dutch Fans

A Sea of Green would definitely intimidate. Though of course singing is not optional. A quiet wall of green would be much less intimidating than a screaming singing mass of irishmen.