Antrim Football Thread

[theskull1]

The biggest problem facing many clubs is the huge decline on playing numbers.

Huge?? Is that a headline or a fact bannside?

[bannside]

Put it this way Skull. I have spoken to a lot of people involved in clubs who talk of diminishing numbers to the extent that they won't be able to field teams at certain age groups at juvenile level. A trawl through primary school numbers highlights this even further.

Even in some traditionally strong heartlands of Derry football it's exactly the same, especially in middle to small rural parishes.

[Spike]

decline on available players could lead to a different type of amalgamated championship, such as the one in Kerry.  Without a town to feed it or a very large parish collection area, rural clubs could struggle. But if a few talented kids are being produced every year then the problem may not be as bad.

Cargin had a couple of years of lean numbers, lads around the 18 year old age, but have recovered and are fine now at all the other underage groups. 

Bannside, that does seem like very low numbers available. Are Ahoghill numbers holding or how will it affect the Sean Stinsons?

[imtommygunn]

Would clubs like Ahoghill not go in cycles?

If you look at their senior team they are dominated by the likes of Grahams and O'Connells. There will be a period of time in the next 10ish years where there will be a gap and then the next generation of them will come through.

Rural clubs tend to be backboned by families so when the current players go there's usually a gap till the next generation of the family. It's not specific to Ahoghill. Portglenone now seem to be backboned by a certainly family too BS;-) I think you have a larger population to pick from mind but the same names tend to crop up for you too.

[NAG1]

Would clubs like Ahoghill not go in cycles?

If you look at their senior team they are dominated by the likes of Grahams and O'Connells. There will be a period of time in the next 10ish years where there will be a gap and then the next generation of them will come through.

Rural clubs tend to be backboned by families so when the current players go there's usually a gap till the next generation of the family. It's not specific to Ahoghill. Portglenone now seem to be backboned by a certainly family too BS;-) I think you have a larger population to pick from mind but the same names tend to crop up for you too.

That is the challenge for these types of clubs is to attract kids from non traditional families into the club and keep them involved. Not even talking our unionist brethren but just families who wouldnt normally have been involved with the club.

[Spike]

if numbers keep dropping then it certainly has to be an option to attract the non-traditionalists?

Has any club had any particular joy with that?  there are anecdotal rumours around that approaches are usually rebuffed by the primary schools but Ballymena seem to have had some success with it

[country bumpkin]

Cargin give away league title......who wants it..........Gall's or L Dearg..................wanna bet MR2?

[Milltown Row2]

Cargin give away league title......who wants it..........Gall's or L Dearg..................wanna bet MR2?

Well if we win it we are throwing our medals in the Blackie river!!

[country bumpkin]

U are indeed the man MR2.................

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

Would clubs like Ahoghill not go in cycles?

If you look at their senior team they are dominated by the likes of Grahams and O'Connells. There will be a period of time in the next 10ish years where there will be a gap and then the next generation of them will come through.

Rural clubs tend to be backboned by families so when the current players go there's usually a gap till the next generation of the family. It's not specific to Ahoghill. Portglenone now seem to be backboned by a certainly family too BS;-) I think you have a larger population to pick from mind but the same names tend to crop up for you too.

That is the challenge for these types of clubs is to attract kids from non traditional families into the club and keep them involved. Not even talking our unionist brethren but just families who wouldnt normally have been involved with the club.

Thats the big one there. Clubs need to be attracting families who wouldnt usually attend gaa matches and get their kids interested. The bigger challenge is also to get the parents involved in helping how the clubs run as well.

Our underage structure now has kids there on a sat morning for the U6/8 etc hurling and football on a sat morning whos parents i know well. Most never were into the GAA when i was younger but now have their young ones there each week without fail.

Getting the kids regular wee tournaments throughout the year and also competing in the indoor leagues is a must if you want to keep them hooked on the game.

[country bumpkin]

Poor Oisin wanted to bring Cargin to Crossmaglen.......................but those spoilsports in the Ulster Council CCC said NO........sad

[Spike]

Rumour has it Crossmaglen pull this nonsense every year they have a home draw.  not sure what benefit getting turned down does for them.  serious test for Cargin. If they play as they against st galls they've a good chance but only played in spells in the other 2 matches. maybe its a good thing having that gear change available to them

[Spike]

Would clubs like Ahoghill not go in cycles?

If you look at their senior team they are dominated by the likes of Grahams and O'Connells. There will be a period of time in the next 10ish years where there will be a gap and then the next generation of them will come through.

Rural clubs tend to be backboned by families so when the current players go there's usually a gap till the next generation of the family. It's not specific to Ahoghill. Portglenone now seem to be backboned by a certainly family too BS;-) I think you have a larger population to pick from mind but the same names tend to crop up for you too.

That is the challenge for these types of clubs is to attract kids from non traditional families into the club and keep them involved. Not even talking our unionist brethren but just families who wouldnt normally have been involved with the club.

Thats the big one there. Clubs need to be attracting families who wouldnt usually attend gaa matches and get their kids interested. The bigger challenge is also to get the parents involved in helping how the clubs run as well.

Our underage structure now has kids there on a sat morning for the U6/8 etc hurling and football on a sat morning whos parents i know well. Most never were into the GAA when i was younger but now have their young ones there each week without fail.

Getting the kids regular wee tournaments throughout the year and also competing in the indoor leagues is a must if you want to keep them hooked on the game.

A dedicated youth structure is a must these days for success or the chance of success (if not relying on transfers at senior level). Fantastic to see so many kids down playing the games at the pitch and helps the club/community spirit also. Step 1 is getting the people who weren't that involved previously down with their kids. the 2nd (and much bigger challenge) is getting our Unionist brethren from the parish interested in it.  As was see in Moneynick this week, there is still much resentment to the GAA in SW Antrim - big challenge to change that and I would say whoever does will reap the rewards for their club.

[brokencrossbar1]

Rumour has it Crossmaglen pull this nonsense every year they have a home draw.  not sure what benefit getting turned down does for them.  serious test for Cargin. If they play as they against st galls they've a good chance but only played in spells in the other 2 matches. maybe its a good thing having that gear change available to them

Pull this nonsense?  We have played a lot of first round games in our home pitch as it is a designated County ground.  When the Athletic Grounds was closed down for years our ground was used by Armagh repeatedly for county games and all the county finals and we actually played St Galls there in 2010 and took their Ulster and AI title off them.   But at the end of the day a pitch is a pitch and won't be the difference in us winning but I've no doubt any club would try the same 'nonsense' if it will give them any advantage.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

Unionist people will never embrace the GAA so long as their elected representatives continue to spout hate against it. They have spent years demonising the organisation and those that either play it or help it.

We dont have to change anything we do, they have to accept that is what this organisation is about. The promotion of our game, our identity and culture. We cant just decide to drop the flag, the anthem, lose the Irish language to appease another person. They want us to change the club names, the trophy names, the club colours. Do they make that same gesture? of course not.