I heard that some of the criteria to rank the IFA clubs were attendances at matches. Is there anywhere you can find out this information? I have always been interested in real attendances at local soccer matches, but can never find it anywhere. Ever.
Well, they wouldn't be hard to count. Portadown's omission from the IFA's Premier League is the lead story and features throughout this week's Portadown Times. An alien visitor could be forgiven for thinking people give a fcuk ???
Quote from: T Fearon on May 16, 2008, 02:06:28 PM
Well, they wouldn't be hard to count. Portadown's omission from the IFA's Premier League is the lead story and features throughout this week's Portadown Times. An alien visitor could be forgiven for thinking people give a fcuk ???
well you must for one
you started a thread and continued to argue for 14 pages !!
Quote from: T Fearon on May 16, 2008, 02:06:28 PM
Well, they wouldn't be hard to count. Portadown's omission from the IFA's Premier League is the lead story and features throughout this week's Portadown Times. An alien visitor could be forgiven for thinking people give a fcuk ???
You obviously gave sufficient of a "fcuk" to at least browse the paper and report back here on it. Did you actually
buy the Portadown Times, or is it a freesheet? ;)
lads lads, settle down now! I'll repeat the question. Are the attendance figures used by the IFA available to Joe Public?
It always was something that confused me... from Premier League to the Scottish third division you are given the attendance... BUT ...Irish League..Nowt.....is it a big secret? Surely it's not hard to keep a count...... I phoned Distillery one Saturday last season to ask what time their match began at?.... to which the guy replied.."What time can you be here at?"
Quote from: Feckitt on May 16, 2008, 02:15:56 PM
lads lads, settle down now! I'll repeat the question. Are the attendance figures used by the IFA available to Joe Public?
Simple answer is "No". I suspect this is because the IFA/Irish League would be embarrassed by it becoming public how much soccer crowds in NI have declined in recent years under their watch, whilst soccer crowds elsewhere have at least stabilised, if not grown.
Brendan Crossan has a right go at the points system used by the IFA to pick the teams for this new league. Which apparently the IFA don't even know whether there will be relegation from next season. What a joke. Here's the article anyway:
IFA needs to get priorities right – for DC's sake
The Boot Room
By Brendan Crossan
16/05/08
SORRY Donegal Celtic. We've made a terrible mistake. We don't know how it happened. Our mathematics employee hit the wrong button on her calculator. She hasn't quite figured out the minuses and the pluses on the keypad. It's a new state-of-the-art calculator, you see.
Anyway, your points tally should have read, let me see, 643 – and not a measly 543. Frightfully sorry! So, come join us in our snug little 12-team utopia. There's always room for you boys way out west. It wouldn't be the same without you.
If the IFA asked, Donegal Celtic delivered. Whether it was a Northern Ireland Schools FA final, Co Antrim FA final, Junior International training session, or even the senior 'Norn Iron' team, Suffolk Road's gates were always open (I wonder were there any ranking points on offer for big, wide open gates?).
Unless there is a speedy and satisfactory explanation coming from Windsor Avenue, it looks a dead cert that Donegal Celtic FC will be heading to the courts. They threatened to do so a few years ago, crying religious discrimination, and the Irish Football League waved them in from the cold.
Anyone who has followed the fortunes of Donegal Celtic over the years will know that they've had to fight every step of the way to reach football's top tier in the north.
Two years ago, they won a two-legged promotion play-off against Institute to become the first Celtic club since the legendary Belfast Celtic to reach senior football.
It was a tough debut year for them, but this season they reached the Irish Cup semi-finals and finished a commendable 11th place in the Premier Division. They were beginning to find their feet.
But after just two seasons, Donegal Celtic is no longer a senior club. Apparently, they didn't score enough points in the convoluted criteria outlined by the IFA to get into the new 12-team Invitational League.
Last summer the club had accrued 610 points, but when the final rankings were released on Tuesday night they only had 543, and finished in 13th place.
The Irish Football Association needs to explain to DC where the missing points have gone.
The various IFA criteria were broken into six wide-ranging categories: 'Success on the field', 'Finance', 'Personnel', 'Business Planning', 'Attendances' and 'Infrastructure'.
WHEN you strip away all the guff, the only category that really mattered was 'Infrastructure' which, in layman's terms, relates to your facilities.
It didn't matter if, like DC, you had underage teams ranging from U10 to U18, because it wasn't a great point-scorer.
The IFA said that for every youth team you boast, you could claim 10 ranking points. There was one snag, however. You could only claim up to 30 points in total; so there was no point, really, in having any more than three youth teams at your club.
Each of Celtic's youth teams is replete with a UEFA-qualified coach. And coaches mean points. You could pick up five points per UEFA-qualified coach at your club. But get this: the maximum you could claim in this category was 10 points.
So, there's no point, really, in having any more than three youth teams and two UEFA-qualified youth coaches at your club. You start to get the picture?
That's why Donegal Celtic officials insist they've been gerrymandered out of senior football.
When you delve into this turgid waffle, you come to the conclusion that the IFA criteria has nothing, or at least very little, to do with sporting excellence and a lot to do with having a nice, all-seated stand and big, bright floodlights.
Indeed, you could claim up to 60 points in the floodlight category, which makes floodlights more valuable to the IFA than coaching hundreds of kids every night of the week.
The 'Success on the field' category was another piece of creative genius in giving clubs like Donegal Celtic false hope.
For instance, Paddy Kelly's side reached the semi-finals of the Irish Cup this season and received a grand total of 20 points.
Bangor, who haven't played senior football in 12 years, finished third in the intermediate-status First Division.
Where Bangor scored highly was in the gold-plated 'Infrastructure' category where a new covered stand and all the trappings – first aid room, toilet facilities, dressing rooms, etc., – can fetch a whopping 450 points.
In short, the IFA criteria was clearly weighted heavily in favour
of the old elite, those long-serving Irish League members, who look down their noses at 'nouveau riche' clubs.
Had the IFA agreed to downsize its executive earlier this season, then £8m of government funding would have been released to clubs such as Donegal Celtic to make infrastructural improvements.
DC has £800,000 sitting idle in the NI Sports Council's bank to build a new stand, but it couldn't be released because IFA members couldn't agree among themselves. They dithered, and dithered some more, and the money was withheld. Because of IFA incompetence, clubs like Donegal Celtic suffered.
The north is a pretty unique place. It is no ordinary society. In fact, it remains very much a divided one. Church leaders, politicians, community groups and sporting organisations have played invaluable roles in making this society a better one.
For instance, the GAA was often criticised by unionism and liberal nationalism for not making a civic contribution to society.
Moral pressure was brought to bear on the Association, which resulted in Rule 21 and Rule 42 being deleted and changed, respectively. The GAA is a better organisation for those changes today.
Therefore, it seems reasonable to expect that the Irish Football Association should play a more innovative civic role and consider its moral obligations to the 100,000 people that live in west Belfast, and not reduce football to some abstract criteria.
Senior football is the life-blood of Donegal Celtic Football Club – and its members deserve better.
"Moral obligation to the 100,00 people that live in West Belfast"...........I didnt know DC had such a following.
Quote from: Feckitt on May 16, 2008, 02:15:56 PM
lads lads, settle down now! I'll repeat the question. Are the attendance figures used by the IFA available to Joe Public?
Under the Freedom of Information Act, they should be.
Quote from: ziggysego on May 16, 2008, 05:10:24 PM
Quote from: Feckitt on May 16, 2008, 02:15:56 PM
lads lads, settle down now! I'll repeat the question. Are the attendance figures used by the IFA available to Joe Public?
Under the Freedom of Information Act, they should be.
The IFA aren't a public body (and the clubs certainly aren't) so I doubt an FoI request would work.
Prehaps not, but I shouldn't think it should be too difficult to get the numbers.
I do not follow local football that closely, so if I'm wrong be sure and hollar.
However, isn't the idea of this to get the 12 biggest local Clubs in a league together - by biggest I mean ground / resources / potential support, and the criteria used to get the top 12, reflecting that?
If that is the case, why are they worrying about Portadown being late - they would be the biggest outside Belfast (I think) and more than match the set criteria. If they are being that choosey, why don't they just overlook Poradown's faux pas? Is it the threat of legal action?
Quote from: Feckitt on May 16, 2008, 02:15:56 PM
lads lads, settle down now! I'll repeat the question. Are the attendance figures used by the IFA available to Joe Public?
At a guess from TV pictures, press reports and attendance at some down the years
Linfield - 3,000
Glens & Ports- 2-3,000
Ballymena - 1500 - 2000
Coleraine - 1200 - 1500
Newry & Distillery circa 1000
Cliftonville 2-3,000
DC - 1000 - 1500
Armagh & Larne - 250 - 300 maximum
Dunganon & Glenavon 750 - 1000
Quote from: Rufus T Firefly on May 16, 2008, 05:22:47 PM
I do not follow local football that closely, so if I'm wrong be sure and hollar.
However, isn't the idea of this to get the 12 biggest local Clubs in a league together - by biggest I mean ground / resources / potential support, and the criteria used to get the top 12, reflecting that?
If that is the case, why are they worrying about Portadown being late - they would be the biggest outside Belfast (I think) and more than match the set criteria. If they are being that choosey, why don't they just overlook Poradown's faux pas? Is it the threat of legal action?
Portadown would have passed the criteria (I think somebody said they would have been 4th or 5th) but they weren't even considered, due to not getting their application on time. If the IFA backtracked and let them in then the club in 12th (currently Institute) would have been excluded, even though they'd done everything correctly. So they probably would have taking the IFA to court and won, which would have left a hell of a mess.
Quote from: Rufus T Firefly on May 16, 2008, 05:22:47 PM
If that is the case, why are they worrying about Portadown being late - they would be the biggest outside Belfast (I think) and more than match the set criteria. If they are being that choosey, why don't they just overlook Poradown's faux pas? Is it the threat of legal action?
I think the idea is, like the LoI two years ago, to eliminate the backroom deals and looking the other way culture and run the thing right. If that means making an example of Portadown, so be it.
Not fair having DC's ranking points drop so drastically in the last year, especially having a team which finished third in the first division ahead of them?? Stupid
Also puts their hopes of expanding the stadium in jeapordy, whats the point of having a load of emtpy seats/terrraces for an intermediate club?
Did Newry make into this Premier League yeah?
Quote from: Our Nail Loney on May 16, 2008, 07:03:53 PM
Not fair having DC's ranking points drop so drastically in the last year, especially having a team which finished third in the first division ahead of them?? Stupid
Also puts their hopes of expanding the stadium in jeapordy, whats the point of having a load of emtpy seats/terrraces for an intermediate club?
The problem is that they keep announcing plans to do things but haven't got round to doing any of them. They knew exactly what the criteria were and what things would get them extra points but didn't bother to do any of them. DC are claiming that they were denied some grant or other and if that's true then they might be able to appeal, on the grounds that they wanted to do the work but the IFA didn't provide the money.
Quote from: Doogie Browser on May 16, 2008, 05:25:57 PM
Quote from: Feckitt on May 16, 2008, 02:15:56 PM
lads lads, settle down now! I'll repeat the question. Are the attendance figures used by the IFA available to Joe Public?
At a guess from TV pictures, press reports and attendance at some down the years
Linfield - 3,000
Glens & Ports- 2-3,000
Ballymena - 1500 - 2000
Coleraine - 1200 - 1500
Newry & Distillery circa 1000
Cliftonville 2-3,000
DC - 1000 - 1500
Armagh & Larne - 250 - 300 maximum
Dunganon & Glenavon 750 - 1000
Strange that owcees didn't jump on these figures and make some corrections.
I think you are being very generous with those figures.
It was reported somewhere that Coleraine had about 800 average.
Would DC have any more than a few hundred?
How many fans did DC bring to the Irish cup semi final?
Quote from: Evil Genius on May 16, 2008, 02:45:04 PM
Quote from: Feckitt on May 16, 2008, 02:15:56 PM
lads lads, settle down now! I'll repeat the question. Are the attendance figures used by the IFA available to Joe Public?
Simple answer is "No". I suspect this is because the IFA/Irish League would be embarrassed by it becoming public how much soccer crowds in NI have declined in recent years under their watch, whilst soccer crowds elsewhere have at least stabilised, if not grown.
Wouldn't be entirely surprised if there was a bit of a tax fiddle going on at some clubs.
Quote from: Main Street on May 17, 2008, 05:14:43 PM
Quote from: Doogie Browser on May 16, 2008, 05:25:57 PM
Quote from: Feckitt on May 16, 2008, 02:15:56 PM
lads lads, settle down now! I'll repeat the question. Are the attendance figures used by the IFA available to Joe Public?
At a guess from TV pictures, press reports and attendance at some down the years
Linfield - 3,000
Glens & Ports- 2-3,000
Ballymena - 1500 - 2000
Coleraine - 1200 - 1500
Newry & Distillery circa 1000
Cliftonville 2-3,000
DC - 1000 - 1500
Armagh & Larne - 250 - 300 maximum
Dunganon & Glenavon 750 - 1000
Strange that owcees didn't jump on these figures and make some corrections.
I think you are being very generous with those figures.
It was reported somewhere that Coleraine had about 800 average.
Would DC have any more than a few hundred?
How many fans did DC bring to the Irish cup semi final?
I work in coleraine alongside a number of coleraine fans they say the average gate at coleraine would be 5-600. Linfield and the glens bring a good crowd with them maybe 1200-1500 at those two games. Most other sides bring less than 100 fans. The coleraine ones did bring a fair few to the irish cup semis they guessed about 1500 to 2000 coleraine but only about 400 DC fans turned up on the Saturday and less on the wednesday night. Irish league fotball is dying on its ass with attendances plummeting. Those figures above look about right for 10-15 years ago but not now with live premiership on saudi satellite TV in every bar in every town across the north on a saturday afternoon.
Quote from: slow corner back on May 17, 2008, 07:34:41 PM
I work in coleraine alongside a number of coleraine fans they say the average gate at coleraine would be 5-600. Linfield and the glens bring a good crowd with them maybe 1200-1500 at those two games. Most other sides bring less than 100 fans. The coleraine ones did bring a fair few to the irish cup semis they guessed about 1500 to 2000 coleraine but only about 400 DC fans turned up on the Saturday and less on the wednesday night. Irish league fotball is dying on its ass with attendances plummeting. Those figures above look about right for 10-15 years ago but not now with live premiership on saudi satellite TV in every bar in every town across the north on a saturday afternoon.
So even if attendances were not released as suggested, because of a fiddle rather than embarrassment, it would be a fiddle of petty cash proportions.
Yes Dnr , they made it in handy enough.
Ports to face Rangers in friendly
Portadown will face a Rangers side in a glamour pre-season friendly at Shamrock Park on Thursday 30 July.
The Scottish champions will bring a fringe squad to Northern Ireland for the game, with the Ibrox club's first team regulars on duty in Germany.
The game is likely to attract thousands of fans.
Portadown will begin their pre-season training on 5 July as they prepare for their return to the top flight of local football after a one-year absence.
Good fixture for the ports to secure. Should be a good boost to the clubs finances.
Cannt wait,whens the tickets out? ;)
Glens to face Rangers in friendly
Alan McDonald's side will face SPL champions Rangers
League champions Glentoran have become the second Irish League club to arrange a pre-season friendly against a Rangers XI this summer.
The Glens will host the high profile match at The Oval on Sunday 2 August, with a 1500 BST kick-off time.
Portadown will play the SPL champions three days earlier, on Thursday 30 July, at Shamrock Park.
Rangers will bring a fringe squad to Northern Ireland for the games, with first team regulars on duty in Germany.
Quote from: ifa fan on June 24, 2009, 10:10:00 PM
Glens to face Rangers in friendly
Alan McDonald's side will face SPL champions Rangers
League champions Glentoran have become the second Irish League club to arrange a pre-season friendly against a Rangers XI this summer.
The Glens will host the high profile match at The Oval on Sunday 2 August, with a 1500 BST kick-off time.
Portadown will play the SPL champions three days earlier, on Thursday 30 July, at Shamrock Park.
Rangers will bring a fringe squad to Northern Ireland for the games, with first team regulars on duty in Germany.
Can you expect a heavy DUP and bible bashing idots with placards outside the ground
Quote from: Hoof Hearted on June 24, 2009, 10:14:52 PM
Quote from: ifa fan on June 24, 2009, 10:10:00 PM
Glens to face Rangers in friendly
Alan McDonald's side will face SPL champions Rangers
League champions Glentoran have become the second Irish League club to arrange a pre-season friendly against a Rangers XI this summer.
The Glens will host the high profile match at The Oval on Sunday 2 August, with a 1500 BST kick-off time.
Portadown will play the SPL champions three days earlier, on Thursday 30 July, at Shamrock Park.
Rangers will bring a fringe squad to Northern Ireland for the games, with first team regulars on duty in Germany.
Can you expect a heavy DUP and bible bashing idots with placards outside the ground
yea, not everyone agrees to football on a sunday, and its within their rights to protest against it.
Should they not be at Mass or something instead of complaining about it?
Quote from: Evil Genius on May 16, 2008, 02:45:04 PM
Quote from: Feckitt on May 16, 2008, 02:15:56 PM
lads lads, settle down now! I'll repeat the question. Are the attendance figures used by the IFA available to Joe Public?
Simple answer is "No". I suspect this is because the IFA/Irish League would be embarrassed by it becoming public how much soccer crowds in NI have declined in recent years under their watch, whilst soccer crowds elsewhere have at least stabilised, if not grown.
And thats a shame.
Hopefully the Setanta cup wont go.
It was a good fundraiser for clubs, and a nice away trip to foreign lands for the fans.
Quote from: Archie Mitchell on June 24, 2009, 10:26:38 PM
Should they not be at Mass or something instead of complaining about it?
They'd be kicked out of the party if Ian heard they were at Mass.
Attendances for the IFA Premiership in 2008-09 were actually 10% up on attendances in what was then the Irish Premier League in 2007-008.
Quote from: MW on June 25, 2009, 12:11:12 AM
Attendances for the IFA Premiership in 2008-09 were actually 10% up on attendances in what was then the Irish Premier League in 2007-008.
How do they tell this when records aren't keep?
IFA Fan, when you state that the Portadown V Rangers Reserves fixture "should be a good boost for the club's finances" do you mean Rangers' finances? Have Portadown agreed to split the gate money with them?
Quote from: Norf Tyrone on June 25, 2009, 12:55:21 AM
Quote from: MW on June 25, 2009, 12:11:12 AM
Attendances for the IFA Premiership in 2008-09 were actually 10% up on attendances in what was then the Irish Premier League in 2007-008.
How do they tell this when records aren't keep?
It is not that they do not keep records of attendances etc, rather that they do not (usually)
publish them.
Quote from: T Fearon on June 25, 2009, 11:02:51 AM
IFA Fan, when you state that the Portadown V Rangers Reserves fixture "should be a good boost for the club's finances" do you mean Rangers' finances? Have Portadown agreed to split the gate money with them?
Unlikely. More usually when a club which can attract a decent gate goes on tour, they charge an appearance fee*, whilst the host side keeps the gate money etc. Therefore the risk is on the home side i.e. whether they will sell enough tickets to make a profit.
In this particular case, since the Rangers 1st team squad is elsewhere, I doubt whether they are charging very much for their 2nd string to appear at Shamrock Park. Indeed, they may be doing it for expenses (or even gratis), since a lot of the Scottish-based fans they might normally take to NI may be travelling to Germany, they presumably want the practice for their 2nd string, plus such trips are as much a "goodwill" thing for their fans in NI as anything else.
But my guess is that IFA Fan is correct when he calls it a "money-spinner" for PFC, since the name alone will likely attract a decent crowd.
* - It is a little-known fact that Man Utd. charge for their youth teams to appear in the Milk Cup every year (as they do for other youth tournaments, afaik). The organisers pay it, on the basis that not only does the name attract interest and support etc throughout Ireland etc, but it also attracts other clubs from all around the world to enter their youth teams in turn.
Quote from: Archie Mitchell on June 24, 2009, 10:26:38 PM
Should they not be at Mass or something instead of complaining about it?
Is protesting allowed on a Sunday?
The Portadown gate might be surprisingly small. I remember the fallout in the mid 90s when the full Man Ure team (Cantona and all) visited Portadown, and the spectators were charged exorbitant prices to be packed in like sardines and treated even worse than Sardines.
I believe Newry and Donegal Celtic were charging something like 20 quid each for tickets to their friendly games with Celtic Reserves last summer. Surely people can not be so gullible.
PS I recall as a young boy the night Gordon Banks played at Shamrock Park for Stoke City in a friendly. If memory serves me right Stanley Matthews (who has retired four or five years previously) also made an appearance in that game for a short time
Quote from: T Fearon on June 25, 2009, 04:01:19 PM
The Portadown gate might be surprisingly small. I remember the fallout in the mid 90s when the full Man Ure team (Cantona and all) visited Portadown, and the spectators were charged exorbitant prices to be packed in like sardines and treated even worse than Sardines.
I believe Newry and Donegal Celtic were charging something like 20 quid each for tickets to their friendly games with Celtic Reserves last summer. Surely people can not be so gullible.
I daresay if PFC were trying to "gouge" the fans with excessive admission prices, then it would backfire on them. However, at £10 (or £6 for concessions) they seem to be keeping prices realistic:
http://www.portadownfc.co.uk/home.htm
I'd say if they get decent weather and a quiet "marching season" etc, they'll do OK.
Remember, too, that (the mostly re-built) Shamrock Park is now well on its way to be being a much better, more comfortable stadium than 15 years ago:
http://www.portadownfc.co.uk/Ground_Plans.htm
(Some decent crowd/stand pics if you scroll down this: http://www.portadownfc.co.uk/2008-09_Match_Reports/NIu21_v_Ukraineu21-31-03-09-PICS.htm )
I see Portadown FC's Club Doctor (Sean Mc Dermott) bears the exact same name as one of the 1916 Easter Rising leaders. Will this preclude the attendance of Nelson Mc Causland at any events at Shamrock Park? :D
Quote from: T Fearon on June 25, 2009, 04:51:53 PM
I see Portadown FC's Club Doctor (Sean Mc Dermott) bears the exact same name as one of the 1916 Easter Rising leaders. Will this preclude the attendance of Nelson Mc Causland at any events at Shamrock Park? :D
Maybe Dr. McDermott only administers to the Catholic players; if a Protestant player needs treatment, they call in Dr. Paisley?
P.S. If they really wanted to keep McCausland away, they need only list the good doctor as
Seán Mac Diarmada...
Did anyone attend this game? Good to see so much promise coming through the ranks.
Portadown 1 Rangers XI 6
Friday, 31 July 2009
Walter Smith hasn't spent a penny in the transfer market this summer — and Rangers' young hopefuls showed that they are ready to step up if the manager doesn't buy with a slick performance against Portadown last night.
The Ibrox reserves hit Portadown for six as they showed that there is strength in depth available to the manager as he aims to retain the Scottish Premier League title.
Israeli midfielder Gil Blumstein — currently on trial with Rangers — did his chances of being offered a deal at Ibrox no harm at all when he struck the opening goal.
Transfer listed Alan Gow grabbed the second before Portadown got one back, in pretty fortunate circumstances.
Richard Clarke's goal-bound effort from the halfway line caught out goalkeeper Mark Weir, leaving him red faced.
The goals flowed in the second-half with Blumanshtein adding to the lead when he struck again from the penalty spot to put Rangers 3-1 up at the break.
John Fleck fired home number four and Gow then showed why he was on the verge of full international honours just a couple of years ago when he made it a handful of goals for the young Gers side.
With Portadown running out of steam the visitors rounded off the half-dozen in the closing stages.
"Without question there was a gulf in class, with Rangers having first-team players and under-21 internationals in the team," said Portadown manager Ronnie McFall.
"It was a very good work-out for us though ahead of the season."
PORTADOWN: Miskelly, O'Hara, Redman, McCullough, Convery, Kelly, A Teggart, McCutcheon, Clarke, Braniff, Mouncey. Subs: Haire, Armstrong, Baker, Coleman, G Topley, J Topley, Lecky, Porter, Hunter.
RANGERS: Weir, Lowing, Kinniburgh, McMillan, Wilson, Ness, Stirling, Gow, Fleck, Blumstein, Lennon. Subs: Inglis, Emslie, Bendiksen, Loy, Perry, Wylde, Bagci.
Referee: J Haire.
Newrys average attendance would be nowhere near the 1000 estimated on previous pages! I would say they would be lucky to get 500 on a match day!
Quote from: Hoof Hearted on June 24, 2009, 10:14:52 PM
Quote from: ifa fan on June 24, 2009, 10:10:00 PM
Glens to face Rangers in friendly
Alan McDonald's side will face SPL champions Rangers
League champions Glentoran have become the second Irish League club to arrange a pre-season friendly against a Rangers XI this summer.
The Glens will host the high profile match at The Oval on Sunday 2 August, with a 1500 BST kick-off time.
Portadown will play the SPL champions three days earlier, on Thursday 30 July, at Shamrock Park.
Rangers will bring a fringe squad to Northern Ireland for the games, with first team regulars on duty in Germany.
Can you expect a heavy DUP and bible bashing idots with placards outside the ground
A Rangers 11 Lol because that other 11 got played off the park at the Emirates yesterday!
Quote from: The Watcher Pat on August 03, 2009, 12:22:54 PM
Quote from: Hoof Hearted on June 24, 2009, 10:14:52 PM
Quote from: ifa fan on June 24, 2009, 10:10:00 PM
Glens to face Rangers in friendly
Alan McDonald's side will face SPL champions Rangers
League champions Glentoran have become the second Irish League club to arrange a pre-season friendly against a Rangers XI this summer.
The Glens will host the high profile match at The Oval on Sunday 2 August, with a 1500 BST kick-off time.
Portadown will play the SPL champions three days earlier, on Thursday 30 July, at Shamrock Park.
Rangers will bring a fringe squad to Northern Ireland for the games, with first team regulars on duty in Germany.
Can you expect a heavy DUP and bible bashing idots with placards outside the ground
A Rangers 11 Lol because that other 11 got played off the park at the Emirates yesterday!
Good to see your team open its doors to the SPL champions anyway Pat!!
about the only champions which the Emirates will see for a while ;)
Quote from: fred the red on August 03, 2009, 12:30:24 PM
Quote from: The Watcher Pat on August 03, 2009, 12:22:54 PM
Quote from: Hoof Hearted on June 24, 2009, 10:14:52 PM
Quote from: ifa fan on June 24, 2009, 10:10:00 PM
Glens to face Rangers in friendly
Alan McDonald's side will face SPL champions Rangers
League champions Glentoran have become the second Irish League club to arrange a pre-season friendly against a Rangers XI this summer.
The Glens will host the high profile match at The Oval on Sunday 2 August, with a 1500 BST kick-off time.
Portadown will play the SPL champions three days earlier, on Thursday 30 July, at Shamrock Park.
Rangers will bring a fringe squad to Northern Ireland for the games, with first team regulars on duty in Germany.
Can you expect a heavy DUP and bible bashing idots with placards outside the ground
A Rangers 11 Lol because that other 11 got played off the park at the Emirates yesterday!
Good to see your team open its doors to the SPL champions anyway Pat!!
about the only champions which the Emirates will see for a while ;)
Why UTD not playing at the emirates this yr?
lol
Quote from: The Watcher Pat on August 03, 2009, 12:36:58 PM
Quote from: fred the red on August 03, 2009, 12:30:24 PM
Quote from: The Watcher Pat on August 03, 2009, 12:22:54 PM
Quote from: Hoof Hearted on June 24, 2009, 10:14:52 PM
Quote from: ifa fan on June 24, 2009, 10:10:00 PM
Glens to face Rangers in friendly
Alan McDonald's side will face SPL champions Rangers
League champions Glentoran have become the second Irish League club to arrange a pre-season friendly against a Rangers XI this summer.
The Glens will host the high profile match at The Oval on Sunday 2 August, with a 1500 BST kick-off time.
Portadown will play the SPL champions three days earlier, on Thursday 30 July, at Shamrock Park.
Rangers will bring a fringe squad to Northern Ireland for the games, with first team regulars on duty in Germany.
Can you expect a heavy DUP and bible bashing idots with placards outside the ground
A Rangers 11 Lol because that other 11 got played off the park at the Emirates yesterday!
Good to see your team open its doors to the SPL champions anyway Pat!!
about the only champions which the Emirates will see for a while ;)
Why UTD not playing at the emirates this yr?
lol
No, its next year, 2010 ;)
Glentoran player attacked by fan
(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46212000/jpg/_46212444_hamiltonfight.jpg)
Glentoran forward Gary Hamilton was attacked by a Portadown supporter at the end of the Carling Premiership match at Shamrock Park.
Hamilton, a former Portadown player, had just scored a late winning goal.
The fan came on and attempted to punch Hamilton before being grabbed by stewards and hauled to the ground.
Glentoran fans broke down a gate to get on to the pitch and Glens boss Alan McDonald and some players helped usher them away and calm things down.
A 17-year-old youth has been charged with disorderly behaviour and will appear at Craigavon Youth Court on Tuesday.
Police and Portadown officials have been examining CCTV footage.
Glens boss McDonald said there had been concerns about the strength of the security measures ahead of the match.
"It is bad when a Portadown supporter can get on and attack Gary Hamilton," he said.
"Hopefully lessons will be learned because there will be further high profile matches down here.
"It is sad for the game. Our fans would not have reacted the way they did had they not seen Gary Hamilton being assaulted.
"I am angry and disappointed because I am a football man through and through and I do not like to see scenes like that."
Source: BBC
Quote from: stiffler on August 16, 2009, 12:53:26 PM
Glentoran player attacked by fan
(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46212000/jpg/_46212444_hamiltonfight.jpg)
Glentoran forward Gary Hamilton was attacked by a Portadown supporter at the end of the Carling Premiership match at Shamrock Park.
Hamilton, a former Portadown player, had just scored a late winning goal.
The fan came on and attempted to punch Hamilton before being grabbed by stewards and hauled to the ground.
Glentoran fans broke down a gate to get on to the pitch and Glens boss Alan McDonald and some players helped usher them away and calm things down.
A 17-year-old youth has been charged with disorderly behaviour and will appear at Craigavon Youth Court on Tuesday.
Police and Portadown officials have been examining CCTV footage.
Glens boss McDonald said there had been concerns about the strength of the security measures ahead of the match.
"It is bad when a Portadown supporter can get on and attack Gary Hamilton," he said.
"Hopefully lessons will be learned because there will be further high profile matches down here.
"It is sad for the game. Our fans would not have reacted the way they did had they not seen Gary Hamilton being assaulted.
"I am angry and disappointed because I am a football man through and through and I do not like to see scenes like that."
Source: BBC
What way did his fans react?
They should've let the fan stay on, and have a pop at Hamilton. Then let Hamilton go toe to toe with him.
The local media gave this ultra low key treatment.
Now if that had happened at a GAA match ....
Quote from: Leo on August 17, 2009, 01:36:05 PM
The local media gave this ultra low key treatment.
Now if that had happened at a GAA match ....
I would say wait until tonight's Newsline before making comment. That is when the Irish league stuff gets most coverage.
Disgraceful scenes, Gary Hamilton and the Glentoran players deserve great credit for their efforts at stopping their scum bag supporters coming onto the pitch.
Apparently there is no fence at the front f a new stand at Shamrock Park and a (loose) stone pathway between it and the pitch, providing a ready made supply of ammunition for would be trouble makers.
Great to see Glens win all the same, and if they beat Linfield/IFA tomorrow night the league's as good as over ;D
Well Tyronies, if Cork beat us the mora, we should all get the old Dungannon Swifts tops on. Played 4 won 4, and top of the league.
Far be it from me to wallow in the demise of the six county soccer league, but these results are pretty poor...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21660713 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21660713)
Quote from: Orior on March 04, 2013, 09:25:28 PM
Far be it from me to wallow in the demise of the six county soccer league, but these results are pretty poor...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21660713 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21660713)
Glentoran fielded a weakened, second string team I believe, although the Blues would probably have been at full strength as the Setanta Cup is their only chance of a trophy this year.
Other six county teams didn't have great results either.
Quote from: michaelg on March 04, 2013, 09:43:43 PM
Quote from: Orior on March 04, 2013, 09:25:28 PM
Far be it from me to wallow in the demise of the six county soccer league, but these results are pretty poor...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21660713 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21660713)
Glentoran fielded a weakened, second string team I believe, although the Blues would probably have been at full strength as the Setanta Cup is their only chance of a trophy this year.
Other six county teams didn't have great results either.
It looks worse for the Six County teams when the Airtricity League is still in pre season. League starting next weekend.
Quote from: Leo on August 17, 2009, 01:36:05 PM
The local media gave this ultra low key treatment.
Now if that had happened at a GAA match ....
Absolutely, was thinking the same thing myself!
Quote from: stew on March 04, 2013, 11:02:05 PM
Quote from: Leo on August 17, 2009, 01:36:05 PM
The local media gave this ultra low key treatment.
Now if that had happened at a GAA match ....
Absolutely, was thinking the same thing myself!
Did they not cover the incident? I can't remember.