With all due respect to Linfield fans the Irish League means nothing to anyone save about 5000 blues fans.
It attracts crowds that Dundela and H+W Welders used to bring in and doesn't look like it will get any better.
Growing up it wasn't at all uncommon for Linfield v Glens to get 15,000- 20,000 to a game, same Coleraine v Ballymena maybe 10,000. Even Bangor v Ards would get a crowd any team now would adore.
Now you could count crowds in the 100's.
This is a shame but I feel there are a lot of contributing factors.
Main one of course is the disparity in finances, only one team runs at any kind of profit.
Players now if they are any good are in England when they are 16 so quality has dropped also.
Other sports have eaten into fan base? Ulster Rugby are a decent team and get 10,000 to games. GAA is the biggest supported team sport and gets 10,000 to club finals and 40-50,000 to Ulster finals.
I feel parents no longer bring kids to games to indoctrine them as hardcore fans and let them watch English or Scottish games for that bonding.
Planes,buses and ferries leave Ireland every Friday and Saturday with more fans than will go to Irish league games to cheer on their teams in EPL or SPL.
Unless something changes pretty quick there will be no difference between the IFL and the Amateur League.
Felix Healy and Coleraine winning the Irish Cup infront of 30,000 seems like light years away.....
If another few teams could win the league it may kick start fanbase in the right direction but will that happen? No chance.
Real Linfield fans must be able to see the writing on the wall?
Irish league is a non factor.
posted on 27/8/11
No ones up in arms over GSTQ being sung at Windsor Park. The general consensus is as long as it is as used at the National Anthem for the NIreland Football team Nationalists will continue to not support the NIreland side !!!
Maybe GSTQ is as offensive to Nationalists as people like Kevin Lynch is to you. So going by your logic the IFA could also be accused of being biggoted as well
posted on 27/8/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 28/8/11
Ha ha Hit a nerve there i see.
posted on 28/8/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 28/8/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 30/8/11
Well hose have you dried out lol.....................
posted on 30/8/11
Megan. The GAA is not sectarian organization and taking little sidebars to prove it is is childish.
Using that logic I can prove Andy Goram was in the LVF or Alex Higgins in the UDA.
You don't like the GAA because its steeped in Irish tradtions and attracts crowds the IFA can only dream about.
posted on 30/8/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 31/8/11
Megan, the GAA is the governing body of all traditional sports Football, Hurling, Camogie and Handball.
Some games are boring but compared to the average IL game they are light years ahead.
You ranted and raved about a subject you clearly know nothing about.
If your half as big as your say you are you should give Gaelic Football a chance? Right up your alley shoulder charging and harrasing people.
posted on 31/8/11
I watch Gealic Football and hurling the odd time as I'm a sports lover............
The football usually gets switched of after about 10 mins as its like kids in the playground.............
The hurling lasts a bit longer................