GPA issues members with a ballot for strike!

[behind the wire]

bottom line is that the GPA want pay for play, in other words professionalism. but anyone with any sense will know that a country with only 5m people cannot support professional sport. there are 5m people in north london alone - just a comparison.

without a purely amateur ethos the gaa is dead.

[Bogball XV]

Puckoon - with regards to revenue after your playing career ends that is just for the elite few.....do you see any Mayo hurlers or Kilkenny footballers etc getting the same benefits?

No, but in fairness do they put in the work during their careers that the likes of Brolly, Tohill et al do?  Or are they perhaps county footballers/hurlers solely by accident of birth?

[lynchbhoy]

let them strike
let the county boards bring in the u21 teams or next best players in the county.
The novelty alone would delight players and supporters.

Let these gpa twits see that they are not going to hold the association to ransom.
If money is what they want, then just give up football to concentrate on work.

[clarshack]

let them strike
let the county boards bring in the u21 teams or next best players in the county.
The novelty alone would delight players and supporters.

Let these gpa twits see that they are not going to hold the association to ransom.
If money is what they want, then just give up football to concentrate on work.

well said. these greedy gits cant hold our association to ransom.
dont they realise that if they strike the public will turn against them big time?

[Bogball XV]

If money is what they want, then just give up football to concentrate on work.

Exactly, sure don't most of us give up work to concentrate on the board!!

[Captain Scarlet]

Well wouldn't it be a nice kick in the hole for all the sods who support Club Tyrone too!
that would be great to see them strike and the people pull out of the scheme, then we'd see the GPA stung

[Newbridge Exile]

let them strike
let the county boards bring in the u21 teams or next best players in the county.
The novelty alone would delight players and supporters.

Let these gpa twits see that they are not going to hold the association to ransom.
If money is what they want, then just give up football to concentrate on work.

Agree 100% with you,there may have been a time in the past when County players weren't looked after the way they should have been but not any more.In a similar vein the benefits that many County Players enjoy are plain to be seen in areas such as employment , how many of us do not know a County player who has gained a  job that  he would struggle to get if he were not a County man ;Bank officials, Sales Reps, Guards,Publicans ,Sports Coaches and Quantity Surveyors  come Teachers(See Paddy Bradley)
.

[Rois]

Well wouldn't it be a nice kick in the hole for all the sods who support Club Tyrone too!
that would be great to see them strike and the people pull out of the scheme, then we'd see the GPA stung

What's your problem with Club Tyrone? 

[Captain Scarlet]

Think you picked me up wrong!

I think Club Tyrone is a brilliant initiative which gives players superb treatment.
I'm just saying that the people who support them will get a kick in the arse if the men they supported out of their own pockets decide to go on strike.

[Rois]

Think you picked me up wrong!

I think I did too 

Without the likes of these operations the players wouldn't have received the benefits they do - the county boards just wouldn't have the money. 

I think the players are supportive of Club Tyrone/Down/Derry/Louth etc and would think twice about "biting the hand that feeds them".

[Bogball XV]

I'm still waiting to hear from one player who can categorically state that he's out of pocket playing for his county. AFAIK in most counties all expenses are seen to, new gear is handed out as well as spending money on trips abroad for some. I know some counties are wealthier than others in GAA terms but I'd love to hear from some who feel they need the extra dosh.

Maybe if we were all county players and had been whipped into an hypnotic frenzy by Farrell and his crew we'd feel different.

Did you not see the actuarial report?  Apparently, the average inter-county player is out of pocket to the tune of €150K during the course of his inter-county career, and just because it was commissioned by the GPA does not mean it is wholly unbelievable and utter nonsense, but you have the right to judge it that way if you like.  (Wonder does it take in book earnings?)

[Rois]

Just joining in this thread late - where can I see this actuarial report?

[Puckoon]

I'm still waiting to hear from one player who can categorically state that he's out of pocket playing for his county. AFAIK in most counties all expenses are seen to, new gear is handed out as well as spending money on trips abroad for some. I know some counties are wealthier than others in GAA terms but I'd love to hear from some who feel they need the extra dosh.

Maybe if we were all county players and had been whipped into an hypnotic frenzy by Farrell and his crew we'd feel different.

Then theres the revenue to be made after your playing career ends - Brolly, O'Rourke, Tohill, Burns - all making plenty of money in broadcasting. Theres the writing of newspaper columns, the public speaking circuit - the generation of jobs just to keep players happy. Id be surprised if PTG leaves the house for an official public speaking engagement for under a grand - and thats all fair game!
Talk of strike is just going too far. Let them go. Theres many champing at the bit to be in their shoes.

Puckoon - with regards to revenue after your playing career ends that is just for the elite few.....do you see any Mayo hurlers or Kilkenny footballers etc getting the same benefits?

Its not the elite few (maybe in the case of tv punitry you are correct -) - most county players I know of, are extremely well looked after during their county careers. Let them produce the balance sheet that demonstrates regular hardship because of playing. Anyone (brian McGuigan) can have unfortunate circumstances forced upon them. It is however the exception rather than the rule. Let us not forget that playing for your county is a privilege - not a right. Before we know it kids will be running around their back yards claiming to "One day daddy - Im going to get a sports grant" instead of "I cant wait to play at croke park daddy"!

I'm still waiting to hear from one player who can categorically state that he's out of pocket playing for his county. AFAIK in most counties all expenses are seen to, new gear is handed out as well as spending money on trips abroad for some. I know some counties are wealthier than others in GAA terms but I'd love to hear from some who feel they need the extra dosh.

Maybe if we were all county players and had been whipped into an hypnotic frenzy by Farrell and his crew we'd feel different.

Did you not see the actuarial report?  Apparently, the average inter-county player is out of pocket to the tune of €150K during the course of his inter-county career, and just because it was commissioned by the GPA does not mean it is wholly unbelievable and utter nonsense, but you have the right to judge it that way if you like.  (Wonder does it take in book earnings?)

Good lord.

150K on mileage alone? and thats an average? So we are expected to believe that some players are out more than that? I was born at night, but it wasnt last night.

[Bogball XV]

Good lord.

150K on mileage alone? and thats an average? So we are expected to believe that some players are out more than that? I was born at night, but it wasnt last night.

Sorry, not actually all out of pocket expenses, this mythical figure includes potential earnings missed out on due to being a footballer - you know, overtime, promotions, investments missed out on........

Rois, I was reading the report earlier, it was on the GPA website (I was thinking of joining up, as I'd like direct access Bertie too), but I can't find it just now, will have another look.

[deiseach]

I don't find it implausible that a certain level of inter-county footballer / hurler is a lot worse off in monetary terms from playing Gaelic games. But it's no different to saying I would have gotten a better degree if only I'd had the time to go to the library rather than out socialising. If players are finding the opportunity cost of their sport is too much, then they're making bad choices. They shouldn't expect the world to shift around them just because they're not willing to make the hard decisions.