Warrenpoint Town FC

[T Fearon]

Victory over Ards yesterday puts Warrenpoint in a great position to grab a place in the Irish League's Premier Division.Remarkable achievement for a club formed only 25 years ago,and only claimed a place in Irish League's top divisions last season,where they won promotion from Division 2 in their first year.Also ironic that nearby Newry City,a club with decades long history and where the likes of Pat Jennings started,went belly-up last year.

[ranch]

Victory over Ards yesterday puts Warrenpoint in a great position to grab a place in the Irish League's Premier Division.Remarkable achievement for a club formed only 25 years ago,and only claimed a place in Irish League's top divisions last season,where they won promotion from Division 2 in their first year.Also ironic that nearby Newry City,a club with decades long history and where the likes of Pat Jennings started,went belly-up last year.

If they do finish in a promotion spot I can't see them having the facillities to play in the top flight. Their floodlights aren't even of the required standard and they'd need a segregated area for away fans as well as a stand that meets certain standards.
It should also be pointed out that last season in Championship 1 they were lucky to avoid relegation. It's only since the demise of Newry City in September that they've pushed on due to the amount of Newry players they swooped to sign. Rambo Hughes for example (plays GAA with Corrinshego in Armagh) was undoubtedly the top player in the division last year with Newry and is in even better form this year for example.

That said, in 25 years they've come a long way, especially for a club from a massive GAA area.

[T Fearon]

They'll get a grant to refurbish facilities.Magnificent achievement all the same in such a short space of time,and hopefully Newry will be back too.

[Lecale2]

Could they play at the showgrounds in Newry? It's only 6 mile up the road and it's not currently being used.

[ranch]

Could they play at the showgrounds in Newry? It's only 6 mile up the road and it's not currently being used.

The 'new' Newry will be using it next season. I've heard talk of a ground share however so time will tell. It's all hypothetical at this stage anyway as Warrenpoint currently still have a lot to do to achieve promotion. Poor results against Larne and H&W Welders in their 2 games before beating Ards could let them down.

[SHEEDY]

think thats 11 or 12 league games unbeaten. on a nice wee run at the minute.

[michaelg]

They'll get a grant to refurbish facilities.Magnificent achievement all the same in such a short space of time,and hopefully Newry will be back too.

If Newry struggled to get much support, does the area need 2 Irish League clubs?

[ardtole]

They'll get a grant to refurbish facilities.Magnificent achievement all the same in such a short space of time,and hopefully Newry will be back too.

If Newry struggled to get much support, does the area need 2 Irish League clubs?

How much support do you need in the irish league, some games I doubt would get 300 paying supporters.

[michaelg]

They'll get a grant to refurbish facilities.Magnificent achievement all the same in such a short space of time,and hopefully Newry will be back too.

If Newry struggled to get much support, does the area need 2 Irish League clubs?

How much support do you need in the irish league, some games I doubt would get 300 paying supporters.

Average attendance for 2012-13 is 918.  Highest is Linfield with 2050 and lowest is Donegal Celtic with 293. 
Newry City's average attendance in 2010-11 was 367.

[Lecale2]

Where did you get those attendance figures?

[michaelg]

Irish League Supporters forum.  Has attendances for last 3 or 4 seasons.
www.irishleaguesupporters.com/forums/

[T Fearon]

Thriving junior scene in the Newry area.Would certainly get bigger gates if they played on Friday nights or Sundays,so as not to clash with junior fixtures,and would of course be further boosted by on field success.

[thewobbler]

Thriving junior scene in the Newry area.Would certainly get bigger gates if they played on Friday nights or Sundays,so as not to clash with junior fixtures,and would of course be further boosted by on field success.

Load of nonsense Tony. Friday night lights have tried and failed at Newry more times than you can count.

The problem in Newry is simple... the club has no connection with the people. Partly because they play soccer in a rubbish, sectarian league, partly because of GAA prominence in the Newry, but most of all because Newry have had an active policy going back generations of seeking everywhere but Newry town itself for players.

[dec]

Thriving junior scene in the Newry area.Would certainly get bigger gates if they played on Friday nights or Sundays,so as not to clash with junior fixtures,and would of course be further boosted by on field success.

The thriving junior scene is because of lots of people who enjoy playing soccer. The same people probably don't want to watch the fairly mediocre variety on display from Irish league teams.

[Norf Tyrone]

Warrenpoint weren't overly impressive in the Intermediate Cup a few weeks back against Newbuidlings.