New IFA Premier League

[stew]

lads lads, settle down now!  I'll repeat the question.  Are the attendance figures used by the IFA available to Joe Public?

Simple answer is "No". I suspect this is because the IFA/Irish League would be embarrassed by it becoming public how much soccer crowds in NI have declined in recent years under their watch, whilst soccer crowds elsewhere have at least stabilised, if not grown.

And thats a shame.

[ifa fan]

Hopefully the Setanta cup wont go.

It was a good fundraiser for clubs, and a nice away trip to foreign lands for the fans.

[ziggysego]

Should they not be at Mass or something instead of complaining about it?

They'd be kicked out of the party if Ian heard they were at Mass.

[MW]

Attendances for the IFA Premiership in 2008-09 were actually 10% up on attendances in what was then the Irish Premier League in 2007-008.

[Norf Tyrone]

Attendances for the IFA Premiership in 2008-09 were actually 10% up on attendances in what was then the Irish Premier League in 2007-008.

How do they tell this when records aren't keep?

[T Fearon]

IFA Fan, when you state that the Portadown V Rangers Reserves fixture "should be a good boost for the club's finances" do you mean Rangers' finances? Have Portadown agreed to split the gate money with them?

[Evil Genius]

Attendances for the IFA Premiership in 2008-09 were actually 10% up on attendances in what was then the Irish Premier League in 2007-008.

How do they tell this when records aren't keep?

It is not that they do not keep records of attendances etc, rather that they do not (usually) publish them.

[Evil Genius]

IFA Fan, when you state that the Portadown V Rangers Reserves fixture "should be a good boost for the club's finances" do you mean Rangers' finances? Have Portadown agreed to split the gate money with them?

Unlikely. More usually when a club which can attract a decent gate goes on tour, they charge an appearance fee*, whilst the host side keeps the gate money etc. Therefore the risk is on the home side i.e. whether they will sell enough tickets to make a profit.

In this particular case, since the Rangers 1st team squad is elsewhere, I doubt whether they are charging very much for their 2nd string to appear at Shamrock Park. Indeed, they may be doing it for expenses (or even gratis), since a lot of the Scottish-based fans they might normally take to NI may be travelling to Germany, they presumably want the practice for their 2nd string, plus such trips are as much a "goodwill" thing for their fans in NI as anything else.

But my guess is that IFA Fan is correct when he calls it a "money-spinner" for PFC, since the name alone will likely attract a decent crowd.


* - It is a little-known fact that Man Utd. charge for their youth teams to appear in the Milk Cup every year (as they do for other youth tournaments, afaik). The organisers pay it, on the basis that not only does the name attract interest and support etc throughout Ireland etc, but it also attracts other clubs from all around the world to enter their youth teams in turn.

[Main Street]

Should they not be at Mass or something instead of complaining about it?

Is protesting allowed on a Sunday?

[T Fearon]

The Portadown gate might be surprisingly small. I remember the fallout in the mid 90s when the full Man Ure team (Cantona and all) visited Portadown, and the spectators were charged exorbitant prices to be packed in like sardines and treated even worse than Sardines.

I believe Newry and Donegal Celtic were charging something like 20 quid each for tickets to their friendly games with Celtic Reserves last summer. Surely people can not be so gullible.

PS I recall as a young boy the night Gordon Banks played at Shamrock Park for Stoke City in a friendly. If memory serves me right Stanley Matthews (who has retired four or five years previously) also made an appearance in that game for a short time

[Evil Genius]

The Portadown gate might be surprisingly small. I remember the fallout in the mid 90s when the full Man Ure team (Cantona and all) visited Portadown, and the spectators were charged exorbitant prices to be packed in like sardines and treated even worse than Sardines.

I believe Newry and Donegal Celtic were charging something like 20 quid each for tickets to their friendly games with Celtic Reserves last summer. Surely people can not be so gullible.

I daresay if PFC were trying to "gouge" the fans with excessive admission prices, then it would backfire on them. However, at £10 (or £6 for concessions) they seem to be keeping prices realistic:
http://www.portadownfc.co.uk/home.htm
I'd say if they get decent weather and a quiet "marching season" etc, they'll do OK.

Remember, too, that (the mostly re-built) Shamrock Park is now well on its way to be being a much better, more comfortable stadium than 15 years ago:
http://www.portadownfc.co.uk/Ground_Plans.htm
(Some decent crowd/stand pics if you scroll down this: http://www.portadownfc.co.uk/2008-09_Match_Reports/NIu21_v_Ukraineu21-31-03-09-PICS.htm )

[T Fearon]

I see Portadown FC's Club Doctor (Sean Mc Dermott) bears the exact same name as one of the 1916 Easter Rising leaders. Will this preclude the attendance of Nelson Mc Causland at any events at Shamrock Park? 

[Evil Genius]

I see Portadown FC's Club Doctor (Sean Mc Dermott) bears the exact same name as one of the 1916 Easter Rising leaders. Will this preclude the attendance of Nelson Mc Causland at any events at Shamrock Park? 

Maybe Dr. McDermott only administers to the Catholic players; if a Protestant player needs treatment, they call in Dr. Paisley?

P.S. If they really wanted to keep McCausland away, they need only list the good doctor as Seán Mac Diarmada...

[ifa fan]

Did anyone attend this game? Good to see so much promise coming through the ranks.




Portadown 1 Rangers XI 6

Friday, 31 July 2009


Walter Smith hasn't spent a penny in the transfer market this summer — and Rangers' young hopefuls showed that they are ready to step up if the manager doesn't buy with a slick performance against Portadown last night.


The Ibrox reserves hit Portadown for six as they showed that there is strength in depth available to the manager as he aims to retain the Scottish Premier League title.

Israeli midfielder Gil Blumstein — currently on trial with Rangers — did his chances of being offered a deal at Ibrox no harm at all when he struck the opening goal.

Transfer listed Alan Gow grabbed the second before Portadown got one back, in pretty fortunate circumstances.

Richard Clarke's goal-bound effort from the halfway line caught out goalkeeper Mark Weir, leaving him red faced.

The goals flowed in the second-half with Blumanshtein adding to the lead when he struck again from the penalty spot to put Rangers 3-1 up at the break.

John Fleck fired home number four and Gow then showed why he was on the verge of full international honours just a couple of years ago when he made it a handful of goals for the young Gers side.

With Portadown running out of steam the visitors rounded off the half-dozen in the closing stages.

"Without question there was a gulf in class, with Rangers having first-team players and under-21 internationals in the team," said Portadown manager Ronnie McFall.

"It was a very good work-out for us though ahead of the season."

PORTADOWN: Miskelly, O'Hara, Redman, McCullough, Convery, Kelly, A Teggart, McCutcheon, Clarke, Braniff, Mouncey. Subs: Haire, Armstrong, Baker, Coleman, G Topley, J Topley, Lecky, Porter, Hunter.

RANGERS: Weir, Lowing, Kinniburgh, McMillan, Wilson, Ness, Stirling, Gow, Fleck, Blumstein, Lennon. Subs: Inglis, Emslie, Bendiksen, Loy, Perry, Wylde, Bagci.

Referee: J Haire.

[supersub]

Newrys average attendance would be nowhere near the 1000 estimated on previous pages! I would say they would be lucky to get 500 on a match day!