Live Irish League Matches on T.V?

**SolitudeRed** · 14/06/2007, 4:24 PM

A Lisburn Distillery fan that I work with tells me that sky have made a deal to show some IL matches live next season! does anyone know more about this? I presume it will only be the games between the big two and the odd local derby.

**David** · 15/06/2007, 6:55 AM

Originally Posted by SolitudeRed

A Lisburn Distillery fan that I work with tells me that sky have made a deal to show some IL matches live next season! does anyone know more about this? I presume it will only be the games between the big two and the odd local derby.

Five live games will be shown as part of the deal with the IFA for Northern Ireland games.

**Steve Bruce** · 15/06/2007, 8:23 AM

As far as I know only a few grounds have adequete floodlight facilities for live sky tv.

Glenavon
Ballymena
Linfield
Newry.

**Dodge** · 15/06/2007, 8:25 AM

At the time of the announcement they said the Irish Cup final would be one of the live games

**Steve Bruce** · 15/06/2007, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

At the time of the announcement they said the Irish Cup final would be one of the live games

That is definatly a good thing. The ratings for the Irish Cup final have been very good, especially when Linfield has been involved.

**SolitudeRed** · 15/06/2007, 7:18 PM

Just the 5 games being shown live then. live matches will probably get the IL more exposure which is good but it may also cause a drop in attendances at these games.

**holidaysong** · 15/06/2007, 8:32 PM

Will the Linfield - Glentoran derby on St. Stephen's Day / Boxing Day get shown does anyone think?

**SolitudeRed** · 16/06/2007, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

Will the Linfield - Glentoran derby on St. Stephen's Day / Boxing Day get shown does anyone think?

I would be very suprised if both the Linfield-Glentoran league matches were not part of this deal they are two of the biggest games of the season! the rivalry between the two is fierce and bitter so much so that it often leads to violence as happened at the end of the 04/05 season at the oval!

**holidaysong** · 17/06/2007, 10:07 AM

I'm aware of the rivalry but I was just wondering if it would still be shown on December 26th? Does the English Premiership not have a full fixture list on this day? I'm sure Sky would be more concerned with showing some of these instead...

**David** · 17/06/2007, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

As far as I know only a few grounds have adequete floodlight facilities for live sky tv.

Glenavon
Ballymena
Linfield
Newry.

I had heard similar but then seen on Sky's website that they are showing the friendly between the Glens and Man Utd live.

**SolitudeRed** · 17/06/2007, 9:18 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

I'm aware of the rivalry but I was just wondering if it would still be shown on December 26th? Does the English Premiership not have a full fixture list on this day? I'm sure Sky would be more concerned with showing some of these instead...

I thought that the english FA managed to put a limit on the amount of games sky could show live (especially 3p.m k.o games) due to the fact thaty attendancesat the games were slipping!

**Steve Bruce** · 18/06/2007, 9:19 AM

Originally Posted by SolitudeRed

I would be very suprised if both the Linfield-Glentoran league matches were not part of this deal they are two of the biggest games of the season! the rivalry between the two is fierce and bitter so much so that it often leads to violence as happened at the end of the 04/05 season at the oval!

What rubbish. That was one isolated incident and the vast majority of games pass off with no incident.

**Steve Bruce** · 18/06/2007, 9:20 AM

Originally Posted by David

I had heard similar but then seen on Sky's website that they are showing the friendly between the Glens and Man Utd live.

That's during the summer and I would suspect there would be sufficent daylight for the game to pass without any use of floodlights.

**Steve Bruce** · 18/06/2007, 9:21 AM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

I'm aware of the rivalry but I was just wondering if it would still be shown on December 26th? Does the English Premiership not have a full fixture list on this day? I'm sure Sky would be more concerned with showing some of these instead...

Possibly put the games on earlier in the day.

**SolitudeRed** · 18/06/2007, 9:30 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

What rubbish. That was one isolated incident and the vast majority of games pass off with no incident.

well the use of often on my part was somewhat erroneous on my part, but in terms of calling it an isolated incident i would have to disagree, there is a history of trouble at such games IIRC it kicked off big time at the Linfield-Glentoran derby at windsor the last time Cliftonville won the league in 97/98. Seem to remember some other trouble in the early 2000s though i'm not as sure on that one it might have been Portadown and Glentoran fans.

But don't get me wrong I am not trying to make out that all trouble in the IL only happens when the Bluemen play the Glensmen! I am well aware of the presence of such idiots amongst other IL teams' fans including Cliftonville unfortunately.

**SolitudeRed** · 18/06/2007, 9:31 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Possibly put the games on earlier in the day.

Think your probably right there as the fixture list hasn't got confirmed times for boxing day matches yet.

**Steve Bruce** · 19/06/2007, 8:23 AM

Originally Posted by SolitudeRed

Think your probably right there as the fixture list hasn't got confirmed times for boxing day matches yet.

As far as I know, as part of the new rules on contentious matches, it will be an early kick off and all-ticket. I'll try and find out.

**Steve Bruce** · 19/06/2007, 8:33 AM

Originally Posted by SolitudeRed

well the use of often on my part was somewhat erroneous on my part, but in terms of calling it an isolated incident i would have to disagree, there is a history of trouble at such games IIRC it kicked off big time at the Linfield-Glentoran derby at windsor the last time Cliftonville won the league in 97/98. Seem to remember some other trouble in the early 2000s though i'm not as sure on that one it might have been Portadown and Glentoran fans.

But don't get me wrong I am not trying to make out that all trouble in the IL only happens when the Bluemen play the Glensmen! I am well aware of the presence of such idiots amongst other IL teams' fans including Cliftonville unfortunately.

In the 90s there was trouble quite regulary. But the trouble a few seasons ago was the first serious trouble for quite some time. There hasn't been anything worth noting since.

By and large, IL football is trouble free. Our biggest problem is Sectarian singing. Which I am glad to say, is getting less and less of a problem and Linfield(can only speak for ourselves) have made great strides towards removing it from our stands. Even when we played Glentoran, when we are most like to hear it, it was kept to a minimum.

We are not perfect, but we are getting their.