what about the amateur league? that could also be the main reason for it instead of blaming it on english or scottish leagues. there is a huge amateur league in ulster and alot of the kids here want to play instead of watching it.
i went to a glentoran v cliftonville match on a friday night last season and the oval had a really good crowd there from both sets of supporters. could this be the solution?
Neither Utv or BBC NIreland seem to care about the Irish League. The only action ever shown is a 5 minute segment after Final Score on BBC.
Compare that to RTE. RTE have an excellent One hour highlights show on Monday Nights (MNS) where highlights are shown from each League of Ireland game and a panel discuss each sides performance.
With due respect Home and Hosed, I didnt know you had it in you to write an article like this, so fair play to you.
The Irish League is indeed in a state at the moment and is on a slow downward spiral. There are still quite a few people interested in our local game but will never get back to the old days, due to the appeal of the English Leagues.
The SPL is in terminal decline too which maybe is due to the same boring 2 horse race every season.
There are 2 other main factors for the decline
There is the problem of so many Junior games being played on a Saturday afternoon, which means that many, including myself, are unable to attend games.
The recession is really biting everyone.
Attendances are dramatically down in all Sports and not just Irish League Football.
Local Rugby has been hit hard, and the GAA authorities have been aware of a dramatic decline in all but the very top games.
As for your last point what do expect the Blues to do. Step aside ?
Hose is a bit of a non factor lol.......
Another very interesting contribution from Mr Megans/Darren/Bolloxchops etc. etc..
Earl, Linfield are in catch 22. Win the league every year and please their fans (who are becoming less and less by the year?) or let someone else win and displease their fans but stoke up the fire of the Irish league which at best is a burning ember?
9 More is correct, the TV coverage is pathetic at best and detracts rather than enhances....remember ESPN was a little local Conneticut sports station 25 years ago and now its biggest and most profitable media outlet in the world.
If UTV had a sports channel and covered all local sports including IFL, GAA, Rugby etc I'm sure all those sports would see a significant increase. Unfortunately the powers that be wont take a chance and give local sports 5 minute snippits to include all games.
What makes it better as a fan is to suffer somewhat and thin win a trophy when all seemed lost....check out Boston Red Sox 2004?
If Liverpool win a Premiership in the next few years it will be their best ever trophy and be very good for English Football, not many Manure fans will agree but it will make that intense rivalry even more red hot...
Linfield are killing the IFL but what are they supposed to do? Tough situation but for the sake of local soccer something better give real quick....
There is the problem of so many Junior games being played on a Saturday afternoon, which means that many, including myself, are unable to attend games.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Earl -you still pretending your young enough to run round a pitch for 90 minutes?
Mick - I wish.
Those days are long past now
Running (or ruining) a couple of wee teams on a Saturday.
Shattered already and the season hasn't even started
Nice result for DC on Saturday. Hope it cheered you up after the previous weeks mauling.
Home - Have long given up on the main broadcasters backing the Irish League with more television coverage although BBCNI sports website has improved greatly
Will ask big Davy to take a year out with the team
Perhaps he could loan me one or two
Think the Amateur League plays a huge part in this , ive played 15 odd years in it. There a lot of guys(at our club)that say they would go and watch the IL if it wasnt for playin themselves on a Sat.
Either the IL moves to a Fri night or summer time league , or the Amateur League moves to a sunday. No doubt the "bible bashers" would love that ffs
Another question (sorry for hijacking your topic Home) , politics aside , are there any IL clubs that would be good enough and big enough to play in the LOI?
No need for an apology Alex it is a valid question.
Linfield, Glens, Crues and Cliftonville would all be able to meet the criteria but neither the IFA or FAI would ever let it happen as they would lose their fingers in the pie.
Something got to change quick and the IFA are sitting on their hands. At least the usually inept FAI have changed to a summer league and seems to be paying huge dividends.
Play Friday nights? Mondays too. Maybe change format? Ask Derry City to come back? Thinking outside the box here but get Belfast Celtic to reform and get the other half of Belfast involved ? As presently constituted this league is doomed.
Home what about the live sky matches that are on each year? surely they will get the league a some publicity and money aswell. like i stated at the start amateur league is the only real problem. the fact that people play on a saturday and also parents who take a big intrest in there kids who also play.
im a glenman and your statement " linfield is killing the IFL " is nonsence. we encourage the challenge and for most teams it can only better their players playing against them every week. yes they have a big squad with most of the best players but that really isnt there fault. ( hope it comes crashing down on them tho lol )
Bouncy, reading a snippit and then commenting is futile. I said Linfield are ruining the league and gave the reasons why I thoughts so, I also said it through no fault of their own.
League numbers are down, interest is lost or gone, I'm sure wages are also down.
I order to run something sucessfully it has to be profitable. The Irish League could make way more money and have way more interest from casual fans if there was parity.
The same winner every year is a major reason why the numbers are falling.
BTW, the Glens are becoming less and less relevent are are now the 4th team in Belfast. So I admire you still support them but can you see them winning the league soon?
BTW, the Glens are becoming less and less relevent are are now the 4th team in Belfast. So I admire you still support them but can you see them winning the league soon?
============================================================
this started off as a proper football debate then you come off with this silly statement. the glens wont win the league this year but they will pretty soon. as for being the 4th best team in belfast!! you based this on just last season. we are a better squad this year and IMO have a good enough squad to challenge linfield. the crues will be challenging all the way also. it will be closer than people like yourself think.
as for following the glens i have done for the last 26 years through good times and bad times. recently started taking my son aswell and nothing will ever change. we will be there every week.
It is a pity about our league but I do feel that people swaning off to see Rangers or Celtic every week, or an English club, has contributed greatly to the fall in attendances here. People pay £1000's every year to watch those sides instead of going to their local club who actually need the money and can get a season ticket for about £150.
Sky tv has also not helped cause lots of people would rather watch their matches on a saturday or mid week than go and see a live game down the road.
Guys Hosed hates OWC the N.I team and the GAWA lol..............
He hates the I.L and all the British symbols their fans hold dear lol...............
Treat the WUM with the contempt he deserves lol...............
Megan I'm not a NI fan but I like the IL .... you need to finish every sentence with lol? It may be a symptom of torrets?
whats torrets lol...............
Everytime i see lol it makes me laugh out loud
Why is that ?
earl whats you honest opinion about this saturday. glens v blues.?
Bouncy
Its always a hard call this game, but am as confident as i have been in a long time.
Due to other football commitments have only seen us twice this season and are looking very good.
Downside is the suspension of Garrett and the possibility that Mulgrew may still be out injured, so that will give your mob great heart.
Fancy a 2-1 win for us. If Mulgrew plays 3-1
Whats your thoughts ?
the glens always seem to play better at windsor and after getting hammered by a bunch of paint and decorators last week we will have no choice but to go for it.lol
id be happy with a draw but its more than likely a 2-1 win for linfield. glens will go 1 up through boyce though. glad to see garret suspended. he is a mouth piece but the last couple of times he played against us he taught our midfield how to play.
but sure. it will be a good game and looking forward to it. do u manage a junior team earl?
Garretts a super little player. Rate him very highly.
Do manage a Junior team, its hard work and costs a fortune.
Got promoted in our 1st season and have so many players have started a B team too.
Not sure if I'm wise in the head sometimes
Earl, being a manager or someone who runs a team is a vocation. Not everyone can do it but those who do are the life blood of the grass roots game.
I did it for a while and had some success but couldn't deal with ego's and petty squabbles "why is he playing?" "I'm not coming back" "can't make training ever but don't drop me" type of thing.
Looking back on my youth and early adulthood I appreciate all the time my managers put in for no financial gain and all they got was abuse.
All the best run amatuer clubs have a strong foundation of people who put all the thankless work in. They are run like an extended family and thrive because of this.
The most important piece in these clubs is not the top goal scorer or the prima donna midfielder who could have played in England but was too lazy....its the guy who washes the jerseys, gets the fees paid, raises the money and gets everyone to and from the game.......
So Earl while "Not sure if I'm wise in the head sometimes" is always on your mind trust me only a few can do what you do and when you give it up you'll miss it...
The great thing about rugby and football is that they are inclusive sports and open to all, as opposed to GAA which is a divisive non-inclusive organisation.................
Sign in if you want to comment
Irish league is a non factor.
Page 1 of 2
posted on 23/8/11
what about the amateur league? that could also be the main reason for it instead of blaming it on english or scottish leagues. there is a huge amateur league in ulster and alot of the kids here want to play instead of watching it.
i went to a glentoran v cliftonville match on a friday night last season and the oval had a really good crowd there from both sets of supporters. could this be the solution?
posted on 23/8/11
Neither Utv or BBC NIreland seem to care about the Irish League. The only action ever shown is a 5 minute segment after Final Score on BBC.
Compare that to RTE. RTE have an excellent One hour highlights show on Monday Nights (MNS) where highlights are shown from each League of Ireland game and a panel discuss each sides performance.
posted on 23/8/11
With due respect Home and Hosed, I didnt know you had it in you to write an article like this, so fair play to you.
The Irish League is indeed in a state at the moment and is on a slow downward spiral. There are still quite a few people interested in our local game but will never get back to the old days, due to the appeal of the English Leagues.
The SPL is in terminal decline too which maybe is due to the same boring 2 horse race every season.
There are 2 other main factors for the decline
There is the problem of so many Junior games being played on a Saturday afternoon, which means that many, including myself, are unable to attend games.
The recession is really biting everyone.
Attendances are dramatically down in all Sports and not just Irish League Football.
Local Rugby has been hit hard, and the GAA authorities have been aware of a dramatic decline in all but the very top games.
As for your last point what do expect the Blues to do. Step aside ?
posted on 23/8/11
Hose is a bit of a non factor lol.......
posted on 23/8/11
Another very interesting contribution from Mr Megans/Darren/Bolloxchops etc. etc..
posted on 23/8/11
Earl, Linfield are in catch 22. Win the league every year and please their fans (who are becoming less and less by the year?) or let someone else win and displease their fans but stoke up the fire of the Irish league which at best is a burning ember?
9 More is correct, the TV coverage is pathetic at best and detracts rather than enhances....remember ESPN was a little local Conneticut sports station 25 years ago and now its biggest and most profitable media outlet in the world.
If UTV had a sports channel and covered all local sports including IFL, GAA, Rugby etc I'm sure all those sports would see a significant increase. Unfortunately the powers that be wont take a chance and give local sports 5 minute snippits to include all games.
What makes it better as a fan is to suffer somewhat and thin win a trophy when all seemed lost....check out Boston Red Sox 2004?
If Liverpool win a Premiership in the next few years it will be their best ever trophy and be very good for English Football, not many Manure fans will agree but it will make that intense rivalry even more red hot...
Linfield are killing the IFL but what are they supposed to do? Tough situation but for the sake of local soccer something better give real quick....
posted on 23/8/11
There is the problem of so many Junior games being played on a Saturday afternoon, which means that many, including myself, are unable to attend games.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Earl -you still pretending your young enough to run round a pitch for 90 minutes?
posted on 23/8/11
Mick - I wish.
Those days are long past now
Running (or ruining) a couple of wee teams on a Saturday.
Shattered already and the season hasn't even started
Nice result for DC on Saturday. Hope it cheered you up after the previous weeks mauling.
Home - Have long given up on the main broadcasters backing the Irish League with more television coverage although BBCNI sports website has improved greatly
Will ask big Davy to take a year out with the team
Perhaps he could loan me one or two
posted on 23/8/11
Think the Amateur League plays a huge part in this , ive played 15 odd years in it. There a lot of guys(at our club)that say they would go and watch the IL if it wasnt for playin themselves on a Sat.
Either the IL moves to a Fri night or summer time league , or the Amateur League moves to a sunday. No doubt the "bible bashers" would love that ffs
posted on 23/8/11
Another question (sorry for hijacking your topic Home) , politics aside , are there any IL clubs that would be good enough and big enough to play in the LOI?
posted on 23/8/11
No need for an apology Alex it is a valid question.
Linfield, Glens, Crues and Cliftonville would all be able to meet the criteria but neither the IFA or FAI would ever let it happen as they would lose their fingers in the pie.
Something got to change quick and the IFA are sitting on their hands. At least the usually inept FAI have changed to a summer league and seems to be paying huge dividends.
Play Friday nights? Mondays too. Maybe change format? Ask Derry City to come back? Thinking outside the box here but get Belfast Celtic to reform and get the other half of Belfast involved ? As presently constituted this league is doomed.
posted on 24/8/11
Home what about the live sky matches that are on each year? surely they will get the league a some publicity and money aswell. like i stated at the start amateur league is the only real problem. the fact that people play on a saturday and also parents who take a big intrest in there kids who also play.
im a glenman and your statement " linfield is killing the IFL " is nonsence. we encourage the challenge and for most teams it can only better their players playing against them every week. yes they have a big squad with most of the best players but that really isnt there fault. ( hope it comes crashing down on them tho lol )
posted on 24/8/11
Bouncy, reading a snippit and then commenting is futile. I said Linfield are ruining the league and gave the reasons why I thoughts so, I also said it through no fault of their own.
League numbers are down, interest is lost or gone, I'm sure wages are also down.
I order to run something sucessfully it has to be profitable. The Irish League could make way more money and have way more interest from casual fans if there was parity.
The same winner every year is a major reason why the numbers are falling.
BTW, the Glens are becoming less and less relevent are are now the 4th team in Belfast. So I admire you still support them but can you see them winning the league soon?
posted on 24/8/11
BTW, the Glens are becoming less and less relevent are are now the 4th team in Belfast. So I admire you still support them but can you see them winning the league soon?
============================================================
this started off as a proper football debate then you come off with this silly statement. the glens wont win the league this year but they will pretty soon. as for being the 4th best team in belfast!! you based this on just last season. we are a better squad this year and IMO have a good enough squad to challenge linfield. the crues will be challenging all the way also. it will be closer than people like yourself think.
as for following the glens i have done for the last 26 years through good times and bad times. recently started taking my son aswell and nothing will ever change. we will be there every week.
posted on 24/8/11
It is a pity about our league but I do feel that people swaning off to see Rangers or Celtic every week, or an English club, has contributed greatly to the fall in attendances here. People pay £1000's every year to watch those sides instead of going to their local club who actually need the money and can get a season ticket for about £150.
Sky tv has also not helped cause lots of people would rather watch their matches on a saturday or mid week than go and see a live game down the road.
posted on 24/8/11
Guys Hosed hates OWC the N.I team and the GAWA lol..............
He hates the I.L and all the British symbols their fans hold dear lol...............
Treat the WUM with the contempt he deserves lol...............
posted on 24/8/11
Megan I'm not a NI fan but I like the IL .... you need to finish every sentence with lol? It may be a symptom of torrets?
posted on 24/8/11
whats torrets lol...............
posted on 25/8/11
Everytime i see lol it makes me laugh out loud
Why is that ?
posted on 25/8/11
earl whats you honest opinion about this saturday. glens v blues.?
posted on 25/8/11
Bouncy
Its always a hard call this game, but am as confident as i have been in a long time.
Due to other football commitments have only seen us twice this season and are looking very good.
Downside is the suspension of Garrett and the possibility that Mulgrew may still be out injured, so that will give your mob great heart.
Fancy a 2-1 win for us. If Mulgrew plays 3-1
Whats your thoughts ?
posted on 25/8/11
the glens always seem to play better at windsor and after getting hammered by a bunch of paint and decorators last week we will have no choice but to go for it.lol
id be happy with a draw but its more than likely a 2-1 win for linfield. glens will go 1 up through boyce though. glad to see garret suspended. he is a mouth piece but the last couple of times he played against us he taught our midfield how to play.
but sure. it will be a good game and looking forward to it. do u manage a junior team earl?
posted on 25/8/11
Garretts a super little player. Rate him very highly.
Do manage a Junior team, its hard work and costs a fortune.
Got promoted in our 1st season and have so many players have started a B team too.
Not sure if I'm wise in the head sometimes
posted on 25/8/11
Earl, being a manager or someone who runs a team is a vocation. Not everyone can do it but those who do are the life blood of the grass roots game.
I did it for a while and had some success but couldn't deal with ego's and petty squabbles "why is he playing?" "I'm not coming back" "can't make training ever but don't drop me" type of thing.
Looking back on my youth and early adulthood I appreciate all the time my managers put in for no financial gain and all they got was abuse.
All the best run amatuer clubs have a strong foundation of people who put all the thankless work in. They are run like an extended family and thrive because of this.
The most important piece in these clubs is not the top goal scorer or the prima donna midfielder who could have played in England but was too lazy....its the guy who washes the jerseys, gets the fees paid, raises the money and gets everyone to and from the game.......
So Earl while "Not sure if I'm wise in the head sometimes" is always on your mind trust me only a few can do what you do and when you give it up you'll miss it...
posted on 25/8/11
The great thing about rugby and football is that they are inclusive sports and open to all, as opposed to GAA which is a divisive non-inclusive organisation.................
Page 1 of 2