What is the point of Part Time football

[Cymro]

Why is teh GAA such a success. You can always get new talent to replace anyone with an ego.

The GAA is very different to football. GAA is confined to Ireland and is an Irish thing, whereas football clubs can be found virtually anywhere.

If an Irish footballer isn't happy with what he's getting for his services, he can move to Scotland, England, Northern Ireland or Wales for his wedge. Can't do that in GAA.

[Cymro]

But the premier division teams have all the best part time players. The palyers 1st div teams are paying seem to be of a very low standard. As pointed out by a number of others on here, many of them seem very unfit, have big "beeer bellies" and can be seen out boozing at weekends.

Your level of fitness doesn't have a huge impact on your skills as a footballer. Read Gazza, Andy Reid, Neil Lennon etc for players at the top level (in their day) who liked their booze.

The best footballers usually end up at the clubs willing to pay the most for their services.

Also, going part time on a serious budget would enable a 1st div club to be of a similar level to those in the Premier Division. Being amateur they would never get the players from the local area to challenge the Premier teams.

I really don't know why I'm making such an effort to argue on an issue that affects me in no way whatsoever, but I can't believe that people think amateur football is a step forward as opposed to semi-pro.

Also, why would a player want to commit himself to a club for 2 years if he isn't getting anything for it. A big club might come in during that time and offer him a full time deal, but because he's on a contract his club won't let him go. It's madness to think that anyone would do that.

[pete]

If an Irish footballer isn't happy with what he's getting for his services, he can move to Scotland, England, Northern Ireland or Wales for his wedge. Can't do that in GAA.

I don't think you will see many LOI part-time footballers moving to the UK for earn more money.

It might be different in Dublin but Cobh Ramblers or Finn Harps players won't move across the country just to earn 300 euro extra playing part-time football. Part-time players are not sold anymore so making them amateur won't lose money for the club.

[GavinZac]

Part-time players are not sold anymore so making them amateur won't lose money for the club.

They just won't play.

[TommyT]

Your level of fitness doesn't have a huge impact on your skills as a footballer. Read Gazza, Andy Reid, Neil Lennon etc for players at the top level (in their day) who liked their booze.
.

It does affect your effectiveness as a football though. At an LoW/LOI 1st Div level of football I'd rather have a large squad of fit hungry young players than a smaller one of better less committed footballers.

[Dyl10]

If the first division went amateur there would be a mass exodus of players. People would not travel from Cobh to Wexford to Donegal week in week out to play for free. They would go to the LSL or the MSL for their football

[Mr A]

Clubs shouldn't pay out big money to guys only training two times a week.

My understanding is that Harps are training 4 nights a week this year.

[Cymro]

It does affect your effectiveness as a football though. At an LoW/LOI 1st Div level of football I'd rather have a large squad of fit hungry young players than a smaller one of better less committed footballers.

Cwmbran are de facto amateur (can't afford their wages now and haven't been able to for a few months) and have a large-ish squad of fit young hungry players, youth teamers mostly, plus a few from Newport County. Problem is they're all rubbish footballers and haven't won a point in several weeks. They'll probably go down now which is a shame as I rather like their ground and it actually meets UEFA criteria which is rare enough in the Welsh Premier!

At the end of the day if you don't have the talent there's not a lot that can be done about it. You can be as fit and as hungry as you want, but it won't mean anything when you're playing against players with a decent pedigree, who will pass you off the park.

I also don't personally think that semi-pros are likely to be any less committed because they're getting paid. To be honest if you're not earning money from it you're likely to take it less seriously than if you get a decent amount of money, which could make a difference to your quality of life.

Personal attitude does constitute a certain amount of it too.

[don ramo]

pay a syou play is a good idea until you can figure out a player and then hes moves to part-time, whenyou pay a player E100 a week that is E5000 a year on top of his workin wages,
also this year there suppose to bring in an education program where people playin for eircom league clubs will be put through college by either the league the club our both so it would help them get a beter carer when there footballin days are over, its a nice incentive to play for an eircom league club, but i dunno what you need to qualify for the program it not a FAS scheme its an actual college course, so id say you will have to make a fairly lenghty commitment the club to apply for it,

[monutdfc]

I would be fairly sure that the county footballers of Monaghan
and Kildare (just two examples) would be fitter than their EL counterparts.

Have you seen Rory Woods? We've had some fat gits at United, but nothing like him.

[passinginterest]

My understanding is that Harps are training 4 nights a week this year.

Same thing for Wexford Youths.

Plus all players are on strict diets and banned from drinking.

I do fear that the better players this season will be snapped up by clubs willing to pay them full time wages. Although I think many will stick around knowing that if they can be successful the rewards and money will arrive.

Also with the structure that Wallace is building ready made replacement players are coming through when anyone leaves.

The Wexford League under 18 side beat the Eircom League under 18 on Sunday to qualify for yet another All Ireland inter league final.

[Raheny Red]

My understanding is that Harps are training 4 nights a week this year.

Afaik Shels train Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday!