Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[Silver hill]

On that podcast about Derry and Tyrone demographics Kenny Archer completely dismissed Cahair's take on GAA in the city. A few days later the BBC did a voxpop in the city to get people's thoughts on the naming of Celtic Park to FindInsurance Celtic Park. Most people said they didn't really have much of an opinion as they were more soccer people. It completely backed the point O'Kane was making a few days earlier.

Well across the city there are around 6k playing underage soccer. There are 4k playing Gaelic football. One of the reasons why soccer is far bigger in the city is because of Derry City FC. Probably 2nd biggest club in Ireland behind Shamrock Rovers? Linfield up there too. Of course people are going to be drawn to such a big club right on their doorstep. Playing in the Southern league cant be underestimated either.

But something that is never ever discussed is the difficulty of playing Gaelic football in an urban area. Most people live in terraced housing with very little space, particularly back or front gardens. Space is at a premium. Even outside space is at a premium. It's far easier to stick two jumpers down as goalposts and play some soccer in street. Great strides have been made in the last decade with underage teams. It will always be 2nd fiddle in the city though. Just how it is.

Don't think that's the case, when was the last time you saw kids playing soccer in the street....anywhere?

[Wildweasel74]

There is not 4k playing Gaelic football, where u get that?

[Wildweasel74]

I seen Bryson play and he a good footballer but we enough small forwards and hes in that bracket.we need a few bigger forwards like Higgins. The lad Curran playing midfield Vales best player, think he was on the panel 8/9yrs bck.

[Stickittotheman]

There is not 4k playing Gaelic football, where u get that?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60164401

Its a few years old now but around 4k is probably close to it.

[Stickittotheman]

On that podcast about Derry and Tyrone demographics Kenny Archer completely dismissed Cahair's take on GAA in the city. A few days later the BBC did a voxpop in the city to get people's thoughts on the naming of Celtic Park to FindInsurance Celtic Park. Most people said they didn't really have much of an opinion as they were more soccer people. It completely backed the point O'Kane was making a few days earlier.

Well across the city there are around 6k playing underage soccer. There are 4k playing Gaelic football. One of the reasons why soccer is far bigger in the city is because of Derry City FC. Probably 2nd biggest club in Ireland behind Shamrock Rovers? Linfield up there too. Of course people are going to be drawn to such a big club right on their doorstep. Playing in the Southern league cant be underestimated either.

But something that is never ever discussed is the difficulty of playing Gaelic football in an urban area. Most people live in terraced housing with very little space, particularly back or front gardens. Space is at a premium. Even outside space is at a premium. It's far easier to stick two jumpers down as goalposts and play some soccer in street. Great strides have been made in the last decade with underage teams. It will always be 2nd fiddle in the city though. Just how it is.

Don't think that's the case, when was the last time you saw kids playing soccer in the street....anywhere?

Well obviously the last ten years in particular has seen kids glued to tablets and game consoles, but still plenty about where I live who play soccer out in the street. Traditionally there wasn't the space available to be playing Gaelic football was my point. Far easier to fire two jumpers down as goalposts and go from there. Even finding somewhere to do that could be a challenge at times. I should know since I grew up in the heart of the city.

[oakleaflad]

There is not 4k playing Gaelic football, where u get that?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60164401

Its a few years old now but around 4k is probably close to it.

That's the Derry City and Strabane council area. Not even remotely the same numbers as the city, and a large number not even in the same county.

[Stickittotheman]

There is not 4k playing Gaelic football, where u get that?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60164401

Its a few years old now but around 4k is probably close to it.

That's the Derry City and Strabane council area. Not even remotely the same numbers as the city, and a large number not even in the same county.

What, the GAA heartlands of Newbuildings? Or Artigarvan with a population of about 200. There are almost 5k playing Gaelic football in the council area- shave off about 1k outside of the city. It isn't as if the areas have massive populations and Strabane would be primarily a soccer town as well.

[93-DY-SAM]

On that podcast about Derry and Tyrone demographics Kenny Archer completely dismissed Cahair's take on GAA in the city. A few days later the BBC did a voxpop in the city to get people's thoughts on the naming of Celtic Park to FindInsurance Celtic Park. Most people said they didn't really have much of an opinion as they were more soccer people. It completely backed the point O'Kane was making a few days earlier.

Well across the city there are around 6k playing underage soccer. There are 4k playing Gaelic football. One of the reasons why soccer is far bigger in the city is because of Derry City FC. Probably 2nd biggest club in Ireland behind Shamrock Rovers? Linfield up there too. Of course people are going to be drawn to such a big club right on their doorstep. Playing in the Southern league cant be underestimated either.

But something that is never ever discussed is the difficulty of playing Gaelic football in an urban area. Most people live in terraced housing with very little space, particularly back or front gardens. Space is at a premium. Even outside space is at a premium. It's far easier to stick two jumpers down as goalposts and play some soccer in street. Great strides have been made in the last decade with underage teams. It will always be 2nd fiddle in the city though. Just how it is.

Don't think that's the case, when was the last time you saw kids playing soccer in the street....anywhere?

Well obviously the last ten years in particular has seen kids glued to tablets and game consoles, but still plenty about where I live who play soccer out in the street. Traditionally there wasn't the space available to be playing Gaelic football was my point. Far easier to fire two jumpers down as goalposts and go from there. Even finding somewhere to do that could be a challenge at times. I should know since I grew up in the heart of the city.

Just to clarify, I've no axe to grind with any club or any North v South split in the county. That does f all good for anyone. I was just pointing out the facts of where things are, given the discussion that was had during that podcast and that Cahair wasn't far off in his assessment of things in the county.

Personally, I couldn't give a damn where any player comes from. If you are good enough, you are good enough, regardless of club or location. Simple as that.

[CookieMonster]

Not sure the North/South bias actually exists. If you're good enough you'll compete for your place regardless of which side of the glenshane you're on. We've a North Derry man doing very well for himself in the AFL and I think we all wish he'd come home and pull the red and white jersey on again.

[Hoof Hearted]

there never really was a north/south rivalry in derry.
You should come across the bann and see how a motorway can divide a county.

[tbrick18]

There is not 4k playing Gaelic football, where u get that?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60164401

Its a few years old now but around 4k is probably close to it.

That's the Derry City and Strabane council area. Not even remotely the same numbers as the city, and a large number not even in the same county.

What, the GAA heartlands of Newbuildings? Or Artigarvan with a population of about 200. There are almost 5k playing Gaelic football in the council area- shave off about 1k outside of the city. It isn't as if the areas have massive populations and Strabane would be primarily a soccer town as well.

Strabane is in Tyrone - so immediately the figures are skewed.

[CookieMonster]

There is not 4k playing Gaelic football, where u get that?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60164401

Its a few years old now but around 4k is probably close to it.

That's the Derry City and Strabane council area. Not even remotely the same numbers as the city, and a large number not even in the same county.

What, the GAA heartlands of Newbuildings? Or Artigarvan with a population of about 200. There are almost 5k playing Gaelic football in the council area- shave off about 1k outside of the city. It isn't as if the areas have massive populations and Strabane would be primarily a soccer town as well.

Got spat on in Newbuildings years ago wearing a Derry jersey lol

[Brendan]

There is not 4k playing Gaelic football, where u get that?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60164401

Its a few years old now but around 4k is probably close to it.

That's the Derry City and Strabane council area. Not even remotely the same numbers as the city, and a large number not even in the same county.

What, the GAA heartlands of Newbuildings? Or Artigarvan with a population of about 200. There are almost 5k playing Gaelic football in the council area- shave off about 1k outside of the city. It isn't as if the areas have massive populations and Strabane would be primarily a soccer town as well.

Got spat on in Newbuildings years ago wearing a Derry jersey lol

Lucky thats all they did, vile wee hole