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.