Drogheda/Cobh win Fair Play Leagues (Derry in Europe?)

**Dodge** · 22/11/2007, 10:53 AM

Drogheda United followed up their historic eircom League of Ireland title victory by landing the 2007 FAI Premier Division Fair Play competition this week, with Cobh Ramblers adding the First Division award to their own championship win.

Drogheda finished top of the table with 1035 points, just ahead of joint runners-up Derry City and St. Patrick’s Athletic, who were tied on 1034 points.

In a statement, Drogheda said the award was “testament to the honest, hard-working attitude instilled in all our players and management and the club are delighted with the announcement.”

The First Division table was also won by the league champions, Cobh Ramblers, with Dundalk finishing in second place.

The clubs to top the Premier Division and First Division receive €4,500 each. The clubs to finish second receive €2,000, although this sum has been shared by Derry City and St Patrick’s Athletic in the Premier Division.

The club to finish top of the domestic Fair Play tables faces the possibility of being entered into a draw to take part in the 2008/09 Uefa Cup, depending on the overall Republic of Ireland Fair Play coefficient, which will not be known until next April.

As Drogheda United have already qualified for next season’s Uefa Champions League, and St. Patrick’s Athletic have already qualified for the Uefa Cup, Derry City would be nominated for the draw for a place in the 2008/09 Uefa Cup.

The point totals are based on league fixtures only and are scored in accordance with Uefa guidelines. The assessment includes factors such as red and yellow cards, attacking play, behaviour of team officials and behaviour of players.

Premier Division Fair Play table 2007:

1. Drogheda United - 1035 (€4500)
2. Derry City, St Patrick’s Ath - 1034 (€1000 each)
4. Longford Town - 1032
5. Cork City - 1022
6. Galway United - 998
7. Shamrock Rovers - 995
8. Bohemians - 989
9. Bray Wanderers - 973
10. Waterford United - 948
11. Sligo Rovers - 941
12. UCD - 898

First Division Fair Play table 2007:

1. Cobh Ramblers - 1137 (€4500)
2. Dundalk - 1132 (€2000)
3. Finn Harps - 1120
4. Wexford Youths - 1118
5. Athlone Town, Limerick 37 - 1101
7. Kilkenny City - 1097
8. Monaghan United - 1091
9. Shelbourne - 1084
10. Kildare County - 1077

**Celdrog** · 22/11/2007, 11:20 AM

If we win the spot in the UEFA raffle does it go to the next team in the fair play league or the next team in the actual league?

**Magicme** · 22/11/2007, 11:21 AM

Fair Play to them.

Glad to see we have moved up the table a little. Think Burkey got less cards this season.

**razor** · 22/11/2007, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

by landing the 2007 FAI Premier Division Fair Play competition this week

Thats some achievement with Gartland in your team.

**Dodge** · 22/11/2007, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Celdrog

If we win the spot in the UEFA raffle does it go to the next team in the fair play league or the next team in the actual league?

As Drogheda United have already qualified for next season’s Uefa Champions League, and St. Patrick’s Athletic have already qualified for the Uefa Cup, Derry City would be nominated for the draw for a place in the 2008/09 Uefa Cup.

We've (the league) been in most of these draws and have yet to win a place. Its usually UCD so delighted they've finished last

**Celdrog** · 22/11/2007, 12:01 PM

Was looking for the executive summary

**OneRedArmy** · 22/11/2007, 12:49 PM

IIRC our chances of qualifying are slim, based on the probabilities the UCD lads worked out over the last few seasons, ie less than 10% ?

**Dodge** · 22/11/2007, 1:08 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

IIRC our chances of qualifying are slim, based on the probabilities the UCD lads worked out over the last few seasons, ie less than 10% ?

It depends on how many countries are in the runnig. One year there was 2 spots available and 8 teams going for them

**Schumi** · 22/11/2007, 1:11 PM

Ireland have picked up loads of cards in qualifying so I doubt Derry will even get into the draw.

**holidaysong** · 22/11/2007, 1:37 PM

Can't quite believe we came second in this but sure I'll not say no to the €2000..

**pineapple stu** · 22/11/2007, 1:44 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

We've (the league) been in most of these draws and have yet to win a place. Its usually UCD so delighted they've finished last

Actually, Ireland have been in less than half of the draws.

I see success is still breeding obessive bitterness and jealousy, even if it's just the Fair Play award!

**OneRedArmy** · 22/11/2007, 2:00 PM

Has anyone got a link to how they combine club and country results to structure the draw?

**pineapple stu** · 22/11/2007, 2:04 PM

They just take the national winners. If the country gets more than 8 in the Fair Play for the year, the national winners get in the draw.

Drogheda obviously aren't in the draw, but it's the highest team not in the UEFA Cup or Champions' League who go in.

The Fair Play standings are only ever published about twice a year by FIFA. Best off checking something like Bert Kassies' site and doing a search to see how it worked in previous years.