All Ireland League

**tiktok** · 28/05/2003, 2:40 PM

in fairness, i don't think i was being silly, why ask how many away games i'd been to, what has that to do with anything? but maybe i was too sensitive

read the article you highlighted (i do keep an open mind most of the time) and i'll admit it's good, the lad has obviously thought a lot about the topic and puts a lot of good points forward. having said that there are still a lot of flaws to his ideas (although many could be ironed out) e.g....

the relegation issue, if two northern or southern teams were to be relegated you can't just keep adding junior teams to the league.

the security issue, he admits that about the 12th of july could be problematic, but tensions would travel beyond a week in the summer, everyone so far has admitted that this is something that has to be addressed.

in the end i think a problem will lay with who runs it and where the money goes, the IFA and FAI are both poorly run from the point of view of their domestic leagues yet i can't see either organisation being organised enough to put this in place successfully.

I also think that people are overestimating the interest that an all-ireland league will create (even in the mid-term), will bohs/city get any extra fans in for the arrival of larne. maybe more importantly, what kind of extra 'fans' will they attract when linfield are down.

i take your point that hockey and rugby are run without political tensions, but that takes me back to the point that we have both the FAI and IFA and two distinct national teams, the adequate running of the league is a big question.

the ideas that are put forward in that article can be applied just as well to the LOI on it's own. especially the relegation from div 1, the youth structure to be put in place etc.

i don't think i blindly condemn it, i do voice what my concerns are. i am opposed to the idea for the forseeable future, but as i've said, if a cup competition can be successfully run, then maybe we can have a look at developing cross border soccer, but only in that case.

**TommyT** · 28/05/2003, 6:09 PM

Larne !!!

How big is this league going to be ? 30 teams?

I'm a big supporter of it because we could have a full-time league of teams from urban centres.
Dublin's 4 pro clubs, the two cities, Belfast's big two, Coleraine and Portadown. Plus between 2 and 4 others.

**A face** · 28/05/2003, 7:21 PM

What ever you opinion is on this topic, there is definitely not debate that if both leagues merged, that it would improve the standard of football. With the top 6-8 in this league and the top 6-8 in their league, the quality of football would be great.

That in itself would be a good reason to merge.

IFA and FAI would undoubtly have to communicate and work things out between them, of course. You would only expect that (if you didn't see it, you would then worry)

The security issue - It is an obstacle alright but not a brick wall, it can be overcome. To say it cant is cr�p. Unbelievable amount of effort would have to be put in and it would take a long time but it could be done.

Actually all the reason to say it couldn't be done are complete crap, if both league wanted to do it ... it could be done and that it, to say otherwise is cobblers.

**Macy** · 29/05/2003, 8:43 AM

I'm totally for an all ireland league (18 teams 9 from each), but think any talk is irrelevant at the moment... Even a cup competition would be hard considering we're now operating different calendars for our seasons.... Who'd make the move - them to summer football, or us back to winter?

**TommyT** · 29/05/2003, 9:46 PM

Us, summer in the north would be a no-no

**drummer boy** · 30/05/2003, 1:27 PM

an all- ireland cup would be a good idea. but you dont know how it could turn out. all the il teams could be knocked out in the first few rounds or even the other way around. i think if they were going to test it out the for the pre- season friendlies teams should get IL instead of LOI first division teams. it should be something that the fai organise instead of the teams themselves, if they want to see what the standards of the two leagues would be like. and if there is a huge difference theres really not much point in even thinking about an all ireland league.

**TommyT** · 31/05/2003, 9:31 PM

Originally posted by drummer boy
. but you dont know how it could turn out. all the il teams could be knocked out in the first few rounds or even the other way around.

Look the IL isn't great but neither are we. They're only a few places behind us in the UEFA rankings, and we only overtook them in 1999 having been behind for over a decade.

**southside bohs** · 31/05/2003, 10:59 PM

Glentoran recently had this same discussion on their message boards and most of them agreed that it is the only way forward even a few linfield supporters thought it was a good idea but there were a few who thought they would lose their identity.
in my opinion we need it but might regret it in the long term it would only make relations between north and south worse.bohs rovers games are bad enough without having to play linfield or coleraine or even loyal portadown.a cup competition should be considered before deciding a all ireland league.

p.s
would uefa go for it they might force us to have an all ireland team

**patsh** · 01/06/2003, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by southside bohs
p.s
would uefa go for it they might force us to have an all ireland team

That would be a major benefit, I think.

**TommyT** · 01/06/2003, 10:42 PM

Originally posted by oddboy
That would be a major benefit, I think.

I would've thought so too, however it might put some ogf the Nordies off

**Soko** · 04/06/2003, 4:08 AM

Originally posted by A face
You haven't a clue what you are on about .... everything you are saying is all hear say and none of it is fact.

Second division ..... More than likely it would be regionalised and as you not punishing people, you are doing that already with the crap you are talking. And if you dont want a second division ..... JUST HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO WORK IT OUT (i want an answer please)

"Look at this for example" ........... What do you mean example .... you have just singled out the most likely game where there would be trouble, that in my opinion is not a balancedc example and dont even try and tell me it is. Fool

It is all a forgone conclusion with you .... the end of the world type scenarios, the doomsday factor.

You are a muppet, blowing it all out of proportion, over reacting and it is fools like you that add to all the problems the league would encounter. You post almost welcomes the possiblity of trouble.

You are what this league doesn't need, not the added competition.

What a spanner. Of course it cannot be fact as it has never happened but by gauging other peoples reactions it has to be a genuine concern. Am I meant to give an example of every non-event of a match involving bog teams to 'balance' the arguement up or to dumb it down to your neanderthal level?

Linfield fans travelled down to support Rangers against $hels a few years back so I think they might be out in force when 'Fenians' travel to town.

According to you we should ignore all security issues as long as the league can be expanded and improve the product. I would love to see better football but not at that cost. We live relativley sheltered lives (you in particular) in the republic when sectarianism is concerened. The hatred is not the same and it has the potential to blow over.

As for the a second division, it was only a suggestion. I dont think I ever made a blueprint for how it would be run. A Fool, I think you should learn not to lose the run of yourself in the future and get someone else to tell you what the threads mean before you start any more ill-informed rants.

**gspain** · 04/06/2003, 7:54 AM

>>>
Linfield fans travelled down to support Rangers against $hels a few years back so I think they might be out in force when 'Fenians' travel to town.
>>>>

Remind me when - only times I remember Shels meeting Rangers were at Ibrox and Prenton Park in Tranmere.

That game only got moved when the ticket sales were poor.

**A face** · 04/06/2003, 2:50 PM

Originally posted by Soko
According to you we should ignore all security issues as long as the league

Did i say that (read back and prove me wrong, dont twist it, read back first and then answer)..... you muppet .... if you had your way we wouldn't cross the the road.

Dont have time to get into this but listen, if it were left up to you to do anything, there'd be little hope.

I, for the most part was throwing my tupence, but none of it was "relativley sheltered". I never claim to know it all but i am well informed. And i do recognise that the/any situation is better without people (see, i am not singling you out

) stirring the sh�te and making a mountain out of a mole hill.

I actually couldn't be �rsed arguing/dumbing out this topic. All i had as for was an open mind. (obviously you couldn't help, with you not being sheltered an all)

**tiktok** · 04/06/2003, 2:50 PM

Originally posted by gspain
>>>
That game only got moved when the ticket sales were poor.

I'll leave myself open to correction but i think the guards advised against it's being played in dublin, i think it was a safety issue, i doubt very much that they couldn't sell the tickets for it.

**southside bohs** · 04/06/2003, 4:51 PM

it was in 1984 when the linfield fans came down to support rangers against bohs how can anybody forget it bohs won 3-2 and there were riots in dublin after it with many injuries i do agree linfield cannot be trusted in our league and they problay feel the same about bohs,rovers,cork,waterford,derry and the rest and remember it in their view it was the south that left the league not them

**Soko** · 04/06/2003, 6:13 PM

Do you agree that security issues are probably the main stumbling block in developing an All Ireland league?

Well if so, then all possible scenarios must be taken into consideration and unfortunatley any games involving teams such as Linfield, Rovers etc... would be a huge potential flashpoint. I like to cross the road, sometimes without even looking right or left but would personally not like to do it any where near Windsor Park.

Your first response was hardly that of an open minded individual. Improving the league is always a huge task but I think we should explore other options through improving marketing the league and attracting new faces. These faces wont be seen if violence is a common problem on matchday around the country.

I did'nt want to start a tit for tat argument but I think that is how a lot of people would like the league to improve, through new players, better facilities, increased exposure etc.... not expansion with an inferior league.

**drummer boy** · 04/06/2003, 6:35 PM

i kinda agree not 100% though. if tv3 and sky are also in on the deal got off there backsides. im not saying the coverage is bad im just saying that there should be a game live at least every 2 weeks if not every week. we are a quarter way through the season now and only 1 game has been shown live. this would promote soccer big time. I wouldn like an ireland league but an all ireland cup would be a good idea

**southside bohs** · 04/06/2003, 10:23 PM

when you think about it how many dubliners will go to windsor park likewise how many linfield fans will come down here and the same with cork and portadown.southeners know the dangers and im sure many northern people are weary of dublin.but i have heard and saw comments wriiten by a minority of league of ireland fans saying an all ireland league is the only way of testing their strenght.
it is the only way forward but will lead to some devestating matches and i reckon the police or northern clubs would not go for it.national identidy will eventually come into.

**gspain** · 05/06/2003, 7:44 AM

Originally posted by tiktok
I'll leave myself open to correction but i think the guards advised against it's being played in dublin, i think it was a safety issue, i doubt very much that they couldn't sell the tickets for it.

A friend from Scotland was coming over for the game - Rangers had only 3 buses booked. tickets were �25 at the time and most
people weren't bothering as Pats were also charging the same to watch Celtic.

If my memory serves me correctly the game was to be moved to 12 noon on police advice and Shels decided to up sticks to Tranmere. Shels would have lost heavily on the game in Dublin and probably not got the Eurosport deal either.

**gspain** · 05/06/2003, 7:57 AM

Originally posted by southside bohs
it was in 1984 when the linfield fans came down to support rangers against bohs how can anybody forget it bohs won 3-2 and there were riots in dublin after it with many injuries i do agree linfield cannot be trusted in our league and they problay feel the same about bohs,rovers,cork,waterford,derry and the rest and remember it in their view it was the south that left the league not them

There was a scum element of the SuperProd culture from Northern Ireland causing trouble at the game. I know some Bohs fans blame rovers fans for the trouble from the Bohs end.

I think it is unfair to automatically associate that with Linfield Football Club. I doubt if many of them ever find their way to an Irish League ground. However the security question is valid as these types would be around for a Linfield v Rovers game.

I've openly supported Limerick at Ballymena, Bangor, Distillery & Donegal Celtic without any issues. Ditto for RoI youths at Glentoran and the U23 side at Poirtadown.

For the ordinary fans matches wouldn't be a problem but these games would attract an undesirable element.

However I'd still love to see an All Ireland Cup. As already stated the political problems with an All Ireland league make it a non runner at the moment.