GPA - Giz a job

[JMohan]

Surely there is a slight issue with this idea in terms of discrimination. If companies or recruiters are actively touting for GPA members (which it could easily be interpreted that they are by placing an ad on the website) it means that a county footballer is more likely to get a position than an ordinary Joe. This is similar to the statement accredited to Colm O'Rourke when he said that employers should be looking after county footballers. Does that mean that if a job comes up in St Pat's Navan that a county footballer is certain to get it regardless of whether he is the best candidate? The first time that happens I can see a day a a labour tribunal coming up for Mr O'Rourke et al. It's a shame to see county players out of work, but it also a shame to see college grads unable to get work and the father of four unable to get work. Having lived overseas for years and been involved in the GAA in various parts of the world, I can assure any out of work county player that his services will be welcome and appreciated wherever he goes. In won't be the end of the world, in fact it could be the beginning of a whole new one. Who knows, London or New York might even win a Championship match if the trend continues.

How do you think he got to where he is?

[irunthev]

The question here though is why are county players more deserving of additional help than people who aren't? I myself see no reason at all, although I will acknowledge the GPA initiative, but I think we spend too much time pitying players when the country is falling down around the place. I can assure you if the perceived worst comes to the worst for these lads  there will be plenty of room on the NY and London teams for these players and they can still carry on playing inter-county sport, espeically in London with the added advantage of the NFL and NHL. You never know, Mickey Harte might even get the World Cup he keeps rambling on about.

[Off The Fence]

The question here though is why are county players more deserving of additional help than people who aren't? I myself see no reason at all, although I will acknowledge the GPA initiative, but I think we spend too much time pitying players when the country is falling down around the place. I can assure you if the perceived worst comes to the worst for these lads  there will be plenty of room on the NY and London teams for these players and they can still carry on playing inter-county sport, espeically in London with the added advantage of the NFL and NHL. You never know, Mickey Harte might even get the World Cup he keeps rambling on about.

Exactly.

Should businesses bow the knee to county players who are out of work and give them any job they want without even been interviewed?  I know its highlighting the plight currently been faced but county players are in the same boat as hundreds of thousands of other people at the minute

[heganboy]

oh god I think I'm about to take Dessie's side in a GPA related discussion:

why shouldn't they put together a job site on the GPA? no-one is giving these guys a free ride, its not as if its "Hey Mr county player you rock here have a job running my 10million a year business you've a sweet left foot so you must be good at managing 200 people".
There are huge benefits to employing county players in customer facing jobs, people want to talk to them and you have a competitive advantage in hiring one, there are downsides relating to training, weekends and overtime but in many case thats more than compensated for by the new business they can bring in.
Smart move if you ask me... (which nobody did but anyway)

[kevmy]

Well the GPA are only trying to look after there members. I'm sure the unions are trying to get their members work as well etc etc. The idea of the GPA is to look after the welfare of county players. I think this falls into that category

[scud]

The question here though is why are county players more deserving of additional help than people who aren't? I myself see no reason at all, although I will acknowledge the GPA initiative, but I think we spend too much time pitying players when the country is falling down around the place. I can assure you if the perceived worst comes to the worst for these lads  there will be plenty of room on the NY and London teams for these players and they can still carry on playing inter-county sport, espeically in London with the added advantage of the NFL and NHL. You never know, Mickey Harte might even get the World Cup he keeps rambling on about.

Exactly.

Should businesses bow the knee to county players who are out of work and give them any job they want without even been interviewed?  I know its highlighting the plight currently been faced but county players are in the same boat as hundreds of thousands of other people at the minute

Nothing stopping the hundreds of thousands of others promoting themselves better. Lets get real, this isn't going to result in jobs being thrown at inter-county players at the expense of ordinary joe on the street. Its a good initiative but even better PR for the GPA in their drive to become 'keeper of the player-welfare flame' at croke park's expense

[magpie seanie]

If this creates even one job for a player that otherwise wouldn't have arisen it will be worthwhile, and I believe it will do a lot better than that.

Well done Dessie and the GPA for coming up with this initiative.

Hound - this type of thing has been going on for donkeys years unofficially in the country. Dessie didn't think of it. It might get jobs for a few lads and fair play if it does but its a side issue in the GPA's battle to get their hands on GAA revenue.

Seanie, that's so disingenious that I should be surprised. But I'm not.

The GPA doing anything it can to help our intercounty players is great in my view.

The anti-GPA sentiment on here is nothing to do with anti-pay for play.

There will never been pay for play in our generation. Anyone can ask for it, and debate it, but there isnt a hope in hell of it coming through. Only an idiot would think the GAA might vote for pay for play.

The anti-GPA sentiment on here has no rational basis, it is pure green-eyed monster jealousy.

That the inter-county players receive better treatment that other volunteers in the GAA.

"don't they get enough with their fancy holidays"
"who do they think they are?"
"look at yer man, think's he's god's gift coz he's on the county panel".

My message to Dessie is the same I've given to other people doing their best but coming up against obstacles:

"Fook the begrudgers and keep'er lit !!"

1 - sorry if I don't meet your standards. I don't think its disingenuos though.

2 - agree with the sentiment unless its to the detriment of the association e.g. getting pay for play, removing county players totally from club 

3 - disagree 100%. It has everything to do with it

4 - there will be and in truth there is already. The grants, ahem, expenses are effectively payment for playing intercounty football or hurling and this was voted for by congress.

5 - I'll group all this in together, the so-called jealousy argument. I can only speak truly for myself that my opposition to the GPA has nothing to do with jealousy. The only jealousy I have towards county footballers/hurlers is that they are good enough to play at the highest level and I wasn't. I would have given anything, or certainly a lot to be good enough but I wasn't. They're well entitled to gear, expenses, holidays etc for the committment they give and I know no-one who thinks otherwise. Hound - you are usually fairly on the money but this jealousy argument is completely false.

[The GAA]

I always have a good chuckle at the holiday one, given that its so frequently cited as the payback for missed time at work / inability to do overtime / etc. how many counties actually get holidays? i know that armagh, considered a top ten county i'd say, haven't had a holiday in 6 years i believe.