Is this a joke? Dublin City Mark II

**Poor Student** · 21/07/2006, 12:57 AM

http://www.a2zsoccer.com/index.cfm/l...74DBE2C601.htm

We need men who can dream of things that never were - John F. Kennedy, Dublin, 1963

Statement

The words JFK uttered in our great capital thirty-three years ago resonate through its streets even now.

History preserves the names and honours the ideals of those who dared to dream of things that never were, who forged their own destinies and in doing so affected indelibly the lives of their contemporaries and subsequent generations. Nowhere is this more evident than in the social, cultural, literary and political history of Dublin.

It is with this tradition that the Dublin Cosmos now align ourselves. We aim to reflect the modern realities of a vibrant, thriving, culturally diverse city whilst remaining faithful to the principles upon which it was founded.

Sport is the adhesive which binds together the disparate elements of society, football its purest manifestation. Our objective, in an age of crass commercialisation and increasing popular alienation, is to bring the peoples' game back to the people. An ambitious aim, a noble aim, even a grandiose aim, but one for which we make no apology.

In the wake of Dublin City FC's recent and tragic demise and the consequent vacancy created in the eircom League Premier Division, we have deemed it opportune to unveil our embryonic project to the nation's sporting public. Although we fully acknowledge that red tape (in addition to our own ongoing development) may bar our immediate entry into the league, we nonetheless wish to assure administrators and fans that Dublin Cosmos have the nous, the unquenchable conviction and the firm financial footing to compete in the eircom League at an as yet unknown but imminent juncture.

Six years ago, supporters of several defunct Dublin clubs met in a city bar to discuss the possibility of entering a team into the Athletic Union League. It is to this humble gathering and its humble objective that the Dublin Cosmos project owes its genesis. We, more than anyone, are fully cognisant of the pitfalls which await any club endeavouring to muscle in on the already crowded marketplace which is eircom League football in our nation's capital.

Accordingly, we have taken a somewhat lateral approach, focusing on attracting support from abroad. Our biggest financial backers hail respectively from Greece and Poland, and with their support we have already opened preliminary negotiations with a squad-strength contingent of players drawn primarily from the Central and Eastern European leagues, including three former Greek internationals, as well as a 1998 African Cup of Nations winner.

We also propose to pursue a revolutionary fixture policy, rotating league matches between a planned, compact, modern stadium in North Dublin (initial capacity 6,500) and an existing facility in South County Dublin. A small fleet of coaches (already purchased and resplendent in Cosmos livery) will ferry supporters between the two venues.

Incidentally, Cosmos match-nights will resemble nothing ever seen in the eircom League (or Leinster Senior League, if forced to pursue that path) - but that will become abundantly apparent in time!

News conferences will be convened in the coming weeks (at which press packs, including sample jersies and club logos, will be available) with an official launch party planned for late August. The Dublin Cosmos website is currently in development and should be online by the end of the month.

Dublin Cosmos, as a club and an organisation, will uphold the highest standards of professional probity. The vices which so often have sullied the eircom League and blighted its reputation will have no place at our club. Sensationalists will search in vain for the familiar comforts of internecine squabbling, legalistic nitpicking and institutionalised hooliganism.

Unfortunately, this is all that can be divulged at this hectic time for all those involved in the project. Watch for further details in the coming weeks and months.

Prepare yourselves - The stars are coming to Dublin!

Are you Seery in disguise?

**LukeO** · 21/07/2006, 1:19 AM

I really think that this has to be wind-up.

**nshoop** · 21/07/2006, 1:20 AM

What the hell is that?I hope to god that that is a p*sstake!

**joema** · 21/07/2006, 1:39 AM

Cosmos match-nights will resemble nothing ever seen in the eircom League (or Leinster Senior League, if forced to pursue that path) - but that will become abundantly apparent in time!

Nice one - cheerleaders!!!

I hope this is true but it must be a wind up, surely?

**joema** · 21/07/2006, 1:40 AM

Originally Posted by nshoop

What the hell is that?I hope to god that that is a p*sstake!

Why do you hope its a joke? If its true (cant be, surely) interesting times ahead

**CharlesThompson** · 21/07/2006, 8:15 AM

I'd say if they were called Killarney Cosmos, they might stand a chance.

**BohsPartisan** · 21/07/2006, 8:21 AM

There's a team called Navan Cosmos in the Meath and District League.

**BohDiddley** · 21/07/2006, 8:38 AM

This project has more substance to it than DCHF had.
That said, when someone starts off with a stirring quote from JFK, it's a sign either of imagination deficit or wind-up.

**bigmac** · 21/07/2006, 8:55 AM

Sounds dodgy, but if they align themselves with all the immigrant communities then they'd have to be welcome. Will depend on whether any other team wants to join the EL now that there's a spot up for grabs.

**Dodge** · 21/07/2006, 8:59 AM

From http://www.stpatsfc.com

St. Patrick's Athletic, as a gesture of goodwill, would like to offer all fans of the Dublin Cosmos free season tickets for the rest of this season in order for them to acclimatise themselves with the eircom league.

In order to claim their free season ticket, patrons must provide their season ticket/membership card from Dublin Cosmos.

**Poor Student** · 21/07/2006, 9:13 AM

Does this remind anyone of that Simpsons episode where Gabo was coming?

Bigmac, clubs directly aligning themselves with immigrant communities proved terribly divisive in Melbourne and caused social problems.

**BohDiddley** · 21/07/2006, 9:23 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

From http://www.stpatsfc.com

St. Patrick's Athletic, as a gesture of goodwill, would like to offer all fans of the Dublin Cosmos free season tickets for the rest of this season in order for them to acclimatise themselves with the eircom league.

In order to claim their free season ticket, patrons must provide their season ticket/membership card from Dublin Cosmos.

This below-cost selling is just a means of undercutting the competition and should never have been allowed. Did you not see our Chinese fans at Richmond Park last week?

**bigmac** · 21/07/2006, 9:29 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Bigmac, clubs directly aligning themselves with immigrant communities proved terribly divisive in Melbourne and caused social problems.

Didn't mean that they'd market themselves as just a Polish club for example, meant more along the lines of pulling in people from several different groups - can see how it might cause problems though - would be better for existing clubs to make more of an effort.

**BohsPartisan** · 21/07/2006, 9:36 AM

Like this?
http://www.bohscommunity.com/Bohemians/

The last thing we need is another Dublin Club, Full Stop!

**DvB** · 21/07/2006, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

The last thing we need is another Dublin Club, Full Stop!

Agree!

**Schumi** · 21/07/2006, 1:06 PM

A decent pi$$-take. A less silly name than 'Cosmos' would have been more believable though.

We also propose to [rotate] league matches between a planned, compact, modern stadium in North Dublin (initial capacity 6,500) and an existing facility in South County Dublin.

More competition for Rovers in Tallaght?

**green-blood** · 21/07/2006, 1:10 PM

class

I like the line about 2 stadiums and a fleet of busses (already purchased dont ya know)

brilliant, where's that giveitsquare pr!ck

**pineapple stu** · 21/07/2006, 1:11 PM

Originally Posted by BohDiddley

This below-cost selling

There is no cost in running a football club. Just admin expenses.

**dcfcsteve** · 21/07/2006, 1:12 PM

Just seen this myself. More than likely a wind-up for one simple give-away reason.

They talk about launching their website imminently - yet 'Dublin cosmos.com/ie' and 'Dublincosmosfc.com/ie' havn't been bought (or at least, not by them).

Fairly strange that they wouldn't have taken the basic step of securing such obvious URL's for what they argue would be a well-run club with big money backing.

Either they're immensely stupid/sloppy in their administration or it reveals that this is just a wind-up. I suggest the latter...