Battle of the Uniteds

Baile Brigín 2 · March 31, 2026, 09:15:33 PM

https://m.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/croke-park-to-host-manchester-united-and-leeds-in-august-pre-season-friendly/a1211409904.html

Not sure what to make of this

Firstly the soccer lads will be furious. Those two foreign teams games are a barstooler tax. This is 100% GAA profit, so good work.

But is anyone in Croker aware they will travel in numbers and kick 7 shades of shite out of each other. Is Croker designed to segregate fans?

I can see a de facto ban on soccer in Croke Park because Yorkshire v Lancashire wrecked the place.

Armagh18 · March 31, 2026, 10:18:27 PM

First the bastards take Carton house, now Croker? Typical English give them an inch they'll take a mile

AustinPowers · March 31, 2026, 10:31:10 PM

QuoteFirst the bastards take Carton house, now Croker? Typical English give them an inch they'll take a mile

It'll be like Strongbow all over again

The Boy Wonder · March 31, 2026, 11:22:05 PM

Could this be a premature April Fool's Day joke ?

Mixed feelings about this if it's for real.
Will definitely pack Croker but many of us still hanker for Championship games in Croke Park in August and September.

snoopdog · April 01, 2026, 08:22:26 AM

They will have to segregate. There will be a large volume of supporters travel over for that.they hate eachother. Prob easy enough to segregate give united the hill and at the canal end. Job done. Leeds showed their popularity last year selling out the much smaller aviva.
If it were April fool would they not havw wen utd v pool

Baile Brigín 2 · April 01, 2026, 09:23:57 AM

Quote from: snoopdog on April 01, 2026, 08:22:26 AMThey will have to segregate. There will be a large volume of supporters travel over for that.they hate eachother. Prob easy enough to segregate give united the hill and at the canal end. Job done. Leeds showed their popularity last year selling out the much smaller aviva.
If it were April fool would they not havw wen utd v pool

How do you do that?

The clubs won't be selling tickets. Anyone can buy any ticket they want.

Rossfan · April 02, 2026, 11:16:39 AM

This nonsense seems to be definitely going ahead, 12th August.

"Tickets will go on general sale through Ticketmaster at 10am on April 10.

How much will tickets cost?
Ticket prices start from €50 for an Adult and €25 for under-16s, plus booking fees"

How many of those who moan about GAA ticket prices will fall over themselves to buy tickets for this meaningless challenge match?

Baile Brigín 2 · April 02, 2026, 12:28:03 PM

Quote from: Rossfan on April 02, 2026, 11:16:39 AMThis nonsense seems to be definitely going ahead, 12th August.

"Tickets will go on general sale through Ticketmaster at 10am on April 10.

How much will tickets cost?
Ticket prices start from €50 for an Adult and €25 for under-16s, plus booking fees"

How many of those who moan about GAA ticket prices will fall over themselves to buy tickets for this meaningless challenge match?

Are they the same target demographic? At least half the crowd will be English, tickets go to season ticket holders and registered fans first and what's left go on general sale.

I predict a riot

thewobbler · April 02, 2026, 01:27:23 PM

I'm not anti-soccer. I'm quite happy that Croke Park generates revenue from concerts. I'm always happy when it acts as the de facto national stadium of Ireland. I'd love to see a CL final in Dublin.

But the Croke Park concept was never envisaged to host friendly games between premier league soccer clubs i.e. welcoming and providing the most convenient opportunity for 90k odd Irish to become a little less Irish, a little more British.

I'm not anti British either by the way.

But this just doesn't sit well with me at all.

snoopdog · April 02, 2026, 10:50:09 PM

I believe leeds are being fenced in on the hill.

Rossfan · April 02, 2026, 10:59:18 PM

Seems our ex Cathaoirleach was instrumental in bringing Leeds. He's a big fan apparently and is also on some Croker committees.

Tubberman · April 03, 2026, 07:25:23 AM

Quote from: The Boy Wonder on March 31, 2026, 11:22:05 PMCould this be a premature April Fool's Day joke ?

Mixed feelings about this if it's for real.
Will definitely pack Croker but many of us still hanker for Championship games in Croke Park in August and September.

My thoughts precisely. The height of summer in what used to be prime GAA season, and all that will be seen in croker is a friendly soccer match between two English clubs.
There'll be wall to wall newspaper and radio build up and coverage.
And my own son will be mad to go, so I'll probably be there myself

Rossfan · April 03, 2026, 08:48:01 AM

Meanwhile back in the real world there will be maybe 2,500 Club Championships games that week between underage, adult, hurling, football.

RedHand88 · April 03, 2026, 09:06:23 AM

Be a great way to grow the game here. Not a fan of either club but might take the young one. Haven't been to a soccer game in Croke Park so it'll be interesting to see what way the atmosphere carries.

Baile Brigín 2 · April 03, 2026, 09:31:30 AM

Quote from: RedHand88 on April 03, 2026, 09:06:23 AMBe a great way to grow the game here. Not a fan of either club but might take the young one. Haven't been to a soccer game in Croke Park so it'll be interesting to see what way the atmosphere carries.

Grow what game? Soccer? This literally rips money out of soccer, not one cent goes to the grassroots and casual fans who might have gone to a real soccer game will go here instead.

The FAI need to sign off on this game and provide referees. If they have they will be questioned internally. If not we could see some craic.