Antrim Football Thread

[Milltown Row2]

Have city teams not entered reserve teams in the ACFL?

4 belfast clubs out of 10 in Reserve Div 1
0 Belfast clubs out  7 in reserve div 2

Tells it's own tale I suppose.

Swings and roundabouts really, I can remember our club had 3 senior teams playing all county and two senior hurling teams playing all county, plus our divisional teams.

You'll probably find in most cases the club can't find anyone to commit to looking after the team, he's the guy that actually gets the lads out, the players are there, just lost interest and need to be brought back!

[JimStynes]

Have city teams not entered reserve teams in the ACFL?

4 belfast clubs out of 10 in Reserve Div 1
0 Belfast clubs out  7 in reserve div 2

What teams have entered?

[delgany]

Have city teams not entered reserve teams in the ACFL?

4 belfast clubs out of 10 in Reserve Div 1
0 Belfast clubs out  7 in reserve div 2

What teams have entered?

St Paul's/ st galls/ st brigids/ GnaM/ ....

[Rodger Mona]

i think from my own experience there would be more of an appetite to play reserves if the leagues were structured back the way they were. there are many good players within some of the bigger clubs who could play against div 2/3 teams. i remember St.Galls, Cargin and johnnies reserves playing the likes of ahoghill, st.treseas and st.brigids seniors in Div 3. Theres no incentive for div 1 reserve players to go and train to play before a senior game against an opposition reserve team with 13 men or a team who have pulled men out of retirement to fulfill a fixture. Which has happened. Not good for antrim football and doesnt give young lads a stepping stone to play senior football. Credit to the likes of Portglenone who have been successful at fielding two really strong senior and reserve teams when alot of the bigger clubs have failed to get keep players on board.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

it seems to be a problem now for a lot of years and is affecting both codes.

I rem playing reserve football when i was just out of minor when we were a Div 1 team and there was a load of fixtures to be played (quite some time ago). We dont have a reserve team now due to a lack of numbers sadly and a decline in football in general in the club which has been turned around a bit.

This season we have 2 U12 hurling teams and 2 U14 hurling teams competing in A & B leagues but just the one in each code for football. there isn't the desire for the football in the same vain as hurling within the club.

Ive always put it down to the fact that football just isn't as good a game as hurling is for the kids. they prefer to play hurling over football and that continues right up to adult level as well. If your not a dual club well then you wont have that sway.

[BigBallWeeBall]

Have city teams not entered reserve teams in the ACFL?

4 belfast clubs out of 10 in Reserve Div 1
0 Belfast clubs out  7 in reserve div 2

Tells it's own tale I suppose.

Swings and roundabouts really, I can remember our club had 3 senior teams playing all county and two senior hurling teams playing all county, plus our divisional teams.

You'll probably find in most cases the club can't find anyone to commit to looking after the team, he's the guy that actually gets the lads out, the players are there, just lost interest and need to be brought back!

I have a suggestion. Why don't we just agree to pay the reserve team managers - seems to be OK for senior teams

[Rodger Mona]

Agree.

[Belfast GAA man]

Have city teams not entered reserve teams in the ACFL?

4 belfast clubs out of 10 in Reserve Div 1
0 Belfast clubs out  7 in reserve div 2

What teams have entered?

St Paul's/ st galls/ st brigids/ GnaM/ ....

I think Belfast clubs are putting their 2nd teams into the South antrim league to save on traveling - don't think there is same set up in SW?

[Milltown Row2]

Have city teams not entered reserve teams in the ACFL?

4 belfast clubs out of 10 in Reserve Div 1
0 Belfast clubs out  7 in reserve div 2

Tells it's own tale I suppose.

Swings and roundabouts really, I can remember our club had 3 senior teams playing all county and two senior hurling teams playing all county, plus our divisional teams.

You'll probably find in most cases the club can't find anyone to commit to looking after the team, he's the guy that actually gets the lads out, the players are there, just lost interest and need to be brought back!

I have a suggestion. Why don't we just agree to pay the reserve team managers - seems to be OK for senior teams

You might just get the nod then

[Gold]

i think from my own experience there would be more of an appetite to play reserves if the leagues were structured back the way they were. there are many good players within some of the bigger clubs who could play against div 2/3 teams. i remember St.Galls, Cargin and johnnies reserves playing the likes of ahoghill, st.treseas and st.brigids seniors in Div 3. Theres no incentive for div 1 reserve players to go and train to play before a senior game against an opposition reserve team with 13 men or a team who have pulled men out of retirement to fulfill a fixture. Which has happened. Not good for antrim football and doesnt give young lads a stepping stone to play senior football. Credit to the likes of Portglenone who have been successful at fielding two really strong senior and reserve teams when alot of the bigger clubs have failed to get keep players on board.

No incentive to train div 1 and then play reserve v a gather up and line some 50 year old who looks like hes 5 mins from having a heart attack. 1 week your own reserve team could be decent and the next a gather up. Its shit and falling apart, mad the Johnnies have no team now

[BrendanAntrim]

There are some 50 year olds who lined out last season and are a few years off a heart attack yet!

[Milltown Row2]

There are some 50 year olds who lined out last season and are a few years off a heart attack yet!

I'm 48, lined out in a few games last year! Age is only a number 

[BrendanAntrim]

Same here. Except for the 48 bit 

[Milltown Row2]

Same here. Except for the 48 bit 

Good on ya!

[imtommygunn]

Big derby in the club c'ship bs.

Not sure too many standout fixtures early on.