GAA may bring in players names on shirts

[Celt_Man]

From rte.ie


GAA may bring in players names on shirts

GAA Director General Paraic Duffy has revealed that the organisation may introduce players names on the back of shirts, in a bid to assist referees in identifying players.

The mandatory usage of helmets in hurling is expected to lead to problems in identifying players and Duffy confirmed that having names on shirts is one proposal the GAA are looking into.

'Going forward it's something we might look at,' Duffy told the Examiner.

'At the moment our primary concern is to get everyone wearing a helmet, that's our first goal. Marketing the games comes after that.

'But it is a valid point. It's been an issue for quite a long time that hurlers are not as easily recognisable as footballers.'

[Celt_Man]

Me and Joe are against it anyway...


Canning against names on jerseys


Joe Canning has expressed his opposition to plans to put hurlers' names on the back of jerseys now that the wearing of helmets has become compulsory.

Speaking at the launch of the Marc Sports new hurling helmet scrappage scheme at Croke Park yesterday, the Galway sharpshooter said: "I'd rather just come off the field and be the same as everyone and not many people know you and you can walk around and live a normal life.

"I suppose it is a thing for the reporters getting to know the players on the pitch. It is similar with the jerseys and the way the numbers were also put on the front of the jerseys.

"If it is in, it is in. If it is not, it's not. It is not a big deal for me anyway."

Revealing the Association's plans to put names on the back of jerseys, GAA director-general Paraic Duffy admitted that hurling has always suffered from a lack of recognition of its top players as most wear helmets.

He said: "Going forward, it's something we might look at. At the moment, our primary concern is to get everyone wearing a helmet, that's our first goal. Marketing the games comes after that.

"But it is a valid point. It's been an issue for quite a long time that hurlers are not as easily recognisable as footballers but at the minute we don't have any plans to do that."

[An Laoch]

Don't see anything there about Canning being against it. He clearly indicates it doesn't matter to him.

Headline writers should be sent out to grit the roads naked.

I think its a good idea to put the names on shirts.

[Celt_Man]

Don't see anything there about Canning being against it. He clearly indicates it doesn't matter to him.

Headline writers should be sent out to grit the roads naked.

I think its a good idea to put the names on shirts.

It seems he isn't for it but won't lose any sleep over it whatever way it goes

...the Galway sharpshooter said: "I'd rather just come off the field and be the same as everyone and not many people know you and you can walk around and live a normal life.

"If it is in, it is in. If it is not, it's not. It is not a big deal for me anyway."

I know Hurling is different with the helmets but I wouldn't like to see names on the back of some of the egos jerseys.  I reckon it could lead to all kinds of soccer-esque celebrations - after scoring pointing to your name etc - which isn't the GAA at all

[An Laoch]

indeed Celt Man. the gaa is about teamsheets with half the players missing from them, pa guys that stay silent for every substitution and fellas coming on the pitch wearing number 24 and no one has a clue who they are.

[Celt_Man]

indeed Celt Man. the gaa is about teamsheets with half the players missing from them, pa guys that stay silent for every substitution and fellas coming on the pitch wearing number 24 and no one has a clue who they are.

Good man, An Laoch, you got my point exactly... I was worried for a second that you might take it up the wrong way and I would have to explain it again..

[Canalman]

Designated squad jersey no's to follow I suppose. 1 to 15 jerseys (in theory anyway) starting a match to be a thing of the past.

[RogerMilla]

indeed Celt Man. the gaa is about teamsheets with half the players missing from them, pa guys that stay silent for every substitution and fellas coming on the pitch wearing number 24 and no one has a clue who they are.

least of all the manager who just sent them on 

[Ulick]

Sounds like another ill thought out marketing ploy by the GAA. Next think you will have the players or the GPA crying about image rights and looking a cut of jersey sales.

[lynchbhoy]

whatever about the gpa looking for a cut
the tv comentators would surely welcome names on jerseys - as they might get the player on the ball half right the odd time if this went ahead...
no need for them to know their trade and actualy be able to identify a player by sight (most of us without knowledge of a player before a game would recognise them by half time or 45 mins into a match at least)

[Bud Wiser]

RTE said on the wireless this morning that this was going ahead.  Will the names be in Irish or in the Queens English.

What will be the shortest name, O'Se?  Who will have the longest name that won't fit.  Stuart McKensie-Smyth?

[AidyMac]

Am almost certain An Lub had their names on their top in the Ulster minor championship about 15 years ago

[johnneycool]

with teams being changed right up until the last minute ala Gerlock in his Clare days, it'll have to mean squad numbers as O'Neills struggle to produce a set of jerseys in 6 weeks, let alone 6 days.

I'm not on for it myself as it's just apeing the premiership and rugby.


Wiil the GPA lads be looking a cut of the replica jersey market as well?

[Hardy]

Another small step.

[Bud Wiser]

Wiil the GPA lads be looking a cut of the replica jersey market as well?

No, we, sorry, they, the GPA are quite happy to see this being introduced. It makes our work far easier because now we don't have to decide what county players qualify for our generous annual welfare payments, all we have to do now is send a cheque to each county board to be allocated against each name on all jerseys up to number 30.  Saves us all the hassle of playing around with names when making payments.

As long as there is no abuse of the replica like for example showing a shot on Crimeline saying "the raider was carrying an axe and was wearing x colour jersey with x persons name on it like the soccer thugs in England then all should be fine. Our overall plan would be to let the GAA insist on this and agree to introduce it first and then when there are about 10 Million Euro worth of them out there we will decide what direction we are going to take - but surely you can guess.