Summer Soccer V Winter Soccer

**Acornvilla** · 07/01/2010, 3:08 PM

Originally Posted by BYCTWD

But it hasn't done them any harm, thats my point. We can argue that summer football has or hasn't had caused improvement, but it can't be argued that going back will help anyone.

Agreed. But we will never regress to the level of hammerings of yore IMO.

it done us a lot of harm.. i can assure you that we had a lot of supporters from my area and even letrim and cavan who dont go anymore and it coencided with the switch... farmers and builders

**Acornvilla** · 07/01/2010, 3:31 PM

Originally Posted by BYCTWD

So get new fans! I don't want to sound trite, but why haven't they been replaced with the whippersnappers of Longford who can stay out when its bright?

because now were unattractive to watch unfortunitly, sucess brings fans, as your club has seen...... the attendance is dow over 1,000 than it was a few years ago.. thats a lot for us.. its a lot for any club

**Acornvilla** · 07/01/2010, 3:52 PM

Originally Posted by BYCTWD

And a return to winter football will arrest that decline?

ive never actually said that switching back was the sollution more that it atleast had an impact on our clubs fortunes...

but now that you mention it a lot of those lads i told you about have said that they would still be going but for the switch so meh..

**jinxy lilywhite** · 07/01/2010, 3:59 PM

Sorry but I have to go against the general mood and promote winter football. I think there is something unnatural about playing games in the middle of summer and the atmosphere at games imo are rubbish compared to floodlit games. Floodlit games i think provide tribal atmospheres and generally the placed is buzzing. There was nothing quite like standing in oriel in the ****ing rain, freezing cold wind watching a mediocre game of footy. it is what i call endurance.

I would compare summer football to playing a guitar with nylon strings. you just don't get the pain that proper strings provide you when you first learn

**irishultra** · 07/01/2010, 4:08 PM

well that is all great for you, but i go to matches to enjoy myself not to endure suffering. the reason the atmosphere is crap at games because it's hard for fans to care if they are playing bray wanderers for the 18th time in one season and loi grounds don't facilitate good atmosphere.

**Martinho II** · 07/01/2010, 4:10 PM

I would like the season to revert back to winter soccer for the following reasons:

1. xmas matches nothing like goin to a match at xmas with mates that havent being home in ages.

2. the atmosphere is a lot better and louder in the cold frosty air than the summer.

I rest my case...

**irishultra** · 07/01/2010, 4:17 PM

I would like to remain with summer football because:

1.More enjoyable experience. The LOI is depressing enough without being played in the depths of winter

2.Overshadowed by the English league and sadly even scottish leagues

3.More likely to travel-Ireland has poor transport, really poor and it be much harder to get to games in winter than it is in summer.

**Schumi** · 07/01/2010, 4:25 PM

Originally Posted by Acornvilla

but now that you mention it a lot of those lads i told you about have said that they would still be going but for the switch so meh..

Two thirds of the season is the same in the two seasons. Did they only go to games in December, January and February?

**Candystripe** · 07/01/2010, 4:25 PM

When Derry city come to Longford in the warm nights of summer next season I'm sure the atmosphere will be as good as any winter game that you's aspire too.

**Fr Damo** · 07/01/2010, 4:26 PM

I think people are hanging on to old romantic memories (certainly the longford lads as they were sucessful) where they remember the good days with a cup a soup in the hands. And that's fair enough. I remember ATFC and Sligo going for Div 1 title in 94/95, gates a couple of thousand were common place at St Mels then and indeed the deceider against Sligo in Mels was a nite to remember for me. Cold March evening which sligo won two nil. (the Slgo lads will remeber signing whers the stand gone, where the stand gone to the tune of where's ya mama gone) as it had been blown down in the winter storms!
So... Anyway, Div 1 is back again in March and while looking forward to the game after the break i'm not looking forward to the cold, wet march evening, the same type of weather i fondly remember of the 90s, but only cos we ain't as good as we were!

For the record, i'd perfer winter football.

**Acornvilla** · 07/01/2010, 4:30 PM

mods out of intrest could we have a poll on this?

**mypost** · 07/01/2010, 4:32 PM

Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

I think there is something unnatural about playing games in the middle of summer and the atmosphere at games imo are rubbish compared to floodlit games.

Later kos fix that problem.

There was nothing quite like standing in oriel in the ****ing rain, freezing cold wind watching a mediocre game of footy. it is what i call endurance.

It's what I call hell.

**passerrby** · 07/01/2010, 4:53 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

Yeah partly the farmers and partly "housewives bringing their children to the beach" if I remember rightly. The farmers thing has a basis in reality. We definitely lost a few when it came in but as for the housewives..

so all the young men are working on the farm while all the housewives are at the beach.. so we have gone from roddy collins to jackie collins

**Riddickcule** · 07/01/2010, 4:54 PM

I disagree with the dark cold night factor improving the atmosphere.

In my book, the atmosphere is top notch when its scorching and everyones either topless or got one layer on

**irishultra** · 07/01/2010, 5:27 PM

scoring in ireland? lol when.

**Macy** · 07/01/2010, 8:31 PM

Originally Posted by irishultra

2.Overshadowed by the English league and sadly even scottish leagues

But attendances are actually down during the UK close season rather than up.

A move back probably wouldn't change much, just as the move to summer football didn't change anything for the positive - as shown by people still trying to justify the switch with anecdotes and mistruths. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to football - it should be watched stood up, and in a winter season.

**irishultra** · 07/01/2010, 8:36 PM

well im not a traditionalists at all. the only reason we had football during winter is prob because britain did it. british traditions translated to other leagues but it doesn't make them sacred. my opinion.

**Acornvilla** · 07/01/2010, 9:12 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

But attendances are actually down during the UK close season rather than up.

A move back probably wouldn't change much, just as the move to summer football didn't change anything for the positive - as shown by people still trying to justify the switch with anecdotes and mistruths. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to football - it should be watched stood up, and in a winter season.

standing in the old guiness shed

**Riddickcule** · 08/01/2010, 12:25 AM

I can't make up my mind in this argument,

Summer produces better conditions on the pitch and it gives you something to do in the summer.
Winter would get you through those cold, dark days in January which has nothing else to offer, however the conditions would decline (eg. the current weather)