Have never posted on one of these football threads before so take it easy on me.
Used to be an avid reader of the old 606 and regret that I never joined in the many interesting debates and great banter regarding Irish League football. Don’t know how many times I was wound up, or burst out laughing at the antics on there.
Had great hopes for this site and was looking to joining in, (after a long time pondering) but very very few on here appear to be interested, or have any basic knowledge, of the Local Game. The other Forums including ILS are just pretentious rubbish compared to the old 606.
Do any of you know where those proper characters, Earl, POEB, Frank, Fatlad, Windsor, etc etc have disappeared to.
Have they joined another Forum, or can anyone contact them. Really would like to make this new site work, but this requires real Football people and not point scoring, whinging, my da is bigger than your da, Pot tossing eejits.
Hopefully some of the old crew will appear. I look forward to winding them all up, as the Super Crues are going to clean up this season.
You heard it here first
Irish League Football
posted on 20/7/11
Think the Irish League would benefit if they moved to playing in the summer months. Crowds would be up and money would be generated.
You think of the 1000s of people playing amateur league football on a Saturday afternoon at the same time the Irish League is going on , these are potential customers.
I would go down to the Shore Road and watch the Crues , but cant since im away playing every sat.
posted on 20/7/11
The summer football is a strange one. Like the LOI results in Europe have definetly improved since the change, but I'm not sure attendances have improved.
posted on 20/7/11
Welcome RONAN to your 606 posting career!
Im for at least giving the All Ireland League(AIL) a try out. As Ronan says things have gone a bit stale with Linfield winning it nearly every year(nothing against the Blues). People would have to be reassured that there were no hidden political agendas and that it was purely a sports decision as in rugby.
I say a "try out" because, though an AIL would certainly add more spice and colour, it would also present significant challenges particularly ones of an economic and political nature.
Economic: Times are hard. Sponsorship is scarce. Crowds are not particularly big.
Political: Not stirring here, but lets face it certain fixtures have huge potential for civil unrest, eg Derry/Dundalk v Linfield or any number of present IL clubs. Sad but true.
Euro Limiting: I imagine it would be highly likely that the UEFA would view Ireland as one entity, so we would have half the Euro representatives, ie. only one Irish representative in Champions League instead of current two, etc.
Lead to All Ireland FA: Im sure an AIL would encourage FIFA to think about a single All Ireland FA. Some of us would be happy, some not! Potential for bother.
Regarding Summer footie, I tend to agree with ALEX, nothing like playing or watching footie on a fine summers evening. However, regarding potential customers there is the clear danger that the amateurs would follow the League players example and switch to summer footie too meaning that you would be back to square one with them both on at the same time!
We could also place our Euro representatives in the disadvantageous position of having to play more of their Euro fixtures "out of season".
I agree with FRANK that the subject is a strange one and very difficult to call. Perhaps a bit of more serious research with the potential of initiating a trial period.
posted on 20/7/11
Some great points there Shen. And before i start on them , apologies for yesterdays outbursts and digs at ya. Uncalled for to be honest.
Shen is right about watching a good game of footie on a nice summers day/night (although in this country sometimes they are limited), cant beat it and i am sure it would be possible to do with correct planning etc.
The amateurs would be a different kettle of fish i think , due to the large number of fixtures and planning. The (NAFL)Northern Amateur Football League wouldn't be able to pull it off and i think most amateur players enjoy playing in the winter.
Shen touched on civil unrest if there was an All-Ireland league and i am agreeing with him , too many potential clashes to be had. Not just with Linfield, but with the Glens,Crues,Ports/B'mena etc too. Although i dont think there has been too much trouble with Donegal Celtic since they have joined the IL again.
The FIFA/UEFA thing is a hard one to read but if they came up with some sort of agreement with them , stating that there is 2 separate football associations and to keep it that way.
Anyway good topic and welcome to ja606 Ronan.
posted on 20/7/11
Thanks for the warm welcome.
Not sure how this turned into an All Ireland League and maybe need to start another article to discuss this.
Will settle to see the Crues winning the Irish League first of all and then can take on the best from down South.
Have to get past those skitters at Windsor first and they have unfortunately brought in some shrewd signings.
However so have we so it could be an interesting season ahead.
posted on 20/7/11
As for summer football remember a on;y few seasons ago when the country was flooded and the Westlink closed.
That was August.
51 weeks of Rain and 1 week of sunshine in May
posted on 21/7/11
Ronan -firstly hello.
Secondly my initial thoughts are and I dont really every say this 'I dont like you'
Fraud.
posted on 21/7/11
ALEX:
Thanks for the kind thoughts, but really there is no need to apologise. As you said yourself, "We are all big boys here" and I didnt take any serious offence. As regards "outbursts" and "digs", isnt that what a lot of us come on here for!
posted on 22/7/11
Mick
Bit harsh there.
Dont worry though, cant see me hanging around as I am really just interested in Irish League Football chat which is non existent anyhow
And as for a fraud, perhaps it takes one to know one
posted on 22/7/11
Oh Dear! Whats going on you two?