10

All-Ireland League still just a dream

In my admittedly short period supporting the National League, or now the eircom League, I can safely say that never before now has there been so much mutterings and thoughts expressed about the advent of an All-Ireland League.

Throughout the final weeks and months of the last century, journalists, Team Managers and other soccer analysts voiced their opinions on the oft-mentioned "All-Ireland League". The views of the various commentators were well founded, most of which certainly gave the impression that the formation of a nation-wide League would be a great help to soccer in general on the island.

However, the crucial point worth noting is that all the comments and thoughts were from people involved in or writing on the eircom League, with no reference to the assertions of soccer folk in the 6 counties.

Essentially, that founds my perception that an All-Ireland League in the near future is completely unrealistic. The fact that people in the North are essentially ignoring the proposal doesn't bode well for its future if it has any.

Let me start off by writing my own thoughts about an All-Ireland League. Perceptively in agreement with most eircom League supporters, I support such a proposal and would love to see it come into fruition. There are many reasons.

Firstly, I am of the opinion that an All-Ireland League would help eradicate the problems that blight both the eircom League and the Irish League. Such a League would contain ideally 16-18 teams, meaning that poor sides in the eircom League Premier Division for example would not be good enough to be in the All-Ireland League Premier Division, due to their former place being filled by better quality Irish League sides. Therefore, the quality of such a League would be undeniably better than the eircom league or Irish League. Each team could play each other twice, rather than three times (which is awkward) and four times (which is too many).

Additionally, the fact then that the League should really comprise of 16 decent clubs in the context of this island could help trigger a new era of professionalism, with many minimum requirements perhaps being in place so as to allow any team in. The benefits of this are obvious - the quality of the product should improve and the humiliation that is the European question could maybe be solved accordingly.

It is also extremely likely that the formation of an All-Ireland League would be hugely publicised, thus giving much publicity for the clubs. The Media would surely focus in on the new League, with the newspapers, magazines, television and radio all treating it with much respect. The Irish media, North and South, would perhaps tone down their damaging coverage of foreign soccer, preferring coverage of the new nation-wide set-up and the help this would give in altering warped mindsets among Irish soccer fans would be enormous.

If UTV, BBC, RTÉ, TV3 and perhaps TG4 could agree on televised coverage of the League, there would definitely be better coverage of Irish soccer than there currently is. These games would arouse passion among the various fans and this would translate into excitement for the viewer, thus an interest in the League.

As a firm believer and advocator of All-Ireland products, I firmly think the League has potential and the benefits would be huge.

That is the dream; as is so often the case the reality is hardly as rosy.

I'll now proceed to explain why I cannot foresee an All-Ireland League forming in the near future.

I recently discussed the said proposition with a Dundalk fan, Stephen Duffy, who crucially resides in Belfast. Duffy frequently debates issues with fans of the Irish League and his own observations certainly cast huge doubts over what many southerners want. If one looks carefully at the reasons for Northern apprehension, one would definitely respect the decision of Northern Ireland soccer fans who would not want an All-Ireland League.

Many issues are "an obstacle" for such a League, one of which is unsurprisingly the current political status on this island. Said Stephen Duffy, of the mindsets of many soccer fans in the North, "Down south is Irish, here it is British, so why would we join with them"? Of course among the Catholic population this view would be hardly likley to be entertained, but one must remember that most of the major clubs currently in the Irish League would be considered "Protestant clubs".

Duffy needless to say mentoned security, as another relevant reason against an All-Ireland League. It is impossible to foresee no sectarianism, or violence, on the terraces. Alcohol consumption in excess prior to games makes many soccer fans lose the run of themselves and uncharacteristic behaviour can be the result. Past events prove how dangerous this could be. Duffy commented "The events of the Dundalk-Linfield European match in 1979 are well documented. However, it would probably be fairer to examine the trouble that surrounded the last All-Ireland competition, The Tyler Cup. I can recall very serious crowd trouble at matches between Dundalk and Glenavon, and Dundalk and Crusaders. I also recall numerous incidents involving Glentoran supporters returning from games in the West. Based on history, security is a major problem." Remember, it takes but one mindless comment to trigger mayhem, and while I myself regard this problem as preventable, the reservations some may have are certainly founded. Match day also involves more than just the match and trouble away from the ground would probably happen.

The difficulties Irish League personnel have with this proposal don't stop there. Said Duffy, "Ireland currently has 6 clubs playing in European club competitions each season; if there was an All-Ireland League then this number would be halved. But more significantly, Irish League folk point out that there is no precedent in the world for one league to have two international teams and they fear, with a lot of merit is has to be said, that pressure would come from African nations, through FIFA, for one international team for all of Ireland". An All-Ireland international team is something Northern people wouldn't even consider, with the exception of the Catholic community, while the fact that only three teams could make Europe is something very off-putting for the strong Northern clubs and understandably.

Along the same lines, consider what actual benefits weak Northern sides would enjoy was an All-Ireland League born. Struggling Premier Division outfits in the 6 counties need big games with the likes of Linfield or Glentoran to help attract crowds. If an All-Ireland League occured, the southern opposition for these teams would be hardly as eye-catching, as Stephen Duffy pointed out.

One other enormous stumbling block is the extremely questionable perception among Northern folk that the Irish League is a good deal stronger than the eircom League. Duffy explained: "I have discussed the National League with fans North of the border and they appear to be in a position of complete ignorance. Nearly everybody I talked to, despite the fact that they have never been to a National League match, are of the opinion that the Irish League is of a far higher standard than the National League and they are of the view that southern soccer has little or nothing to offer the North. As a person who attends matches in both jurisdictions, I am firmly of the opposite opinion, with the Southern game being of higher standard in my view". Sligo Rovers boss Tommy Cassidy also made the same admission; he elaborated in saying that while the football in the 6 Counties was perhaps more skillful than that of the eircom League, the players this side of the border were stronger and faster. Northerners are obviously influenced by liary propaganda from newspapers like the Belfast Telegraph. A recent article in this newspaper, which is very popular among the Unionists of the North, proclaimed that National League clashes were decided by which of the two sides could hoof the ball furthest. This sort of codology will have an influence on these people; how can they make assertions like they make on the eircom League without having watched it? Need I add that the Sports Editor of the paper is a strong critic of the proposed nation-wide League.

Stephen Duffy also made a very interesting observation vis a vis this debate. "In the South, the view has been ventured that if there was an All-Ireland cup competition, then this could be used as a transition to a more extensive All-Ireland arrangement. For a competition of this nature to work, clubs will have to take the competition seriously and field full strength teams. The last All-Ireland competition, The Tyler Cup, fell by the wayside, when Waterford United, despite qualifying, refused to play in the last competition for financial reasons. Their refusal to enter drew considerable and bitter criticism from Northern Clubs and spelt the end of the competition. People will argue that clubs will take it seriously if the prize money is good enough. One need only look at the case of Drogheda United who got to this year's League Cup quarter final and only had to overcome Athlone Town at home to get to book a semi-final home tie against non-League Rockmount. Did they then defeat this non-League side, they would be consequently guaranteed a minimum of £5,000. The money seemed no incentive, with Drogheda fielding a reserve team and losing the quarter-final as a result. I am sure with the pressure of the leagues, the same thing would happen to any All-Ireland competition."

However, if the FAI Cup and the IFA Cup were merged, both of which are extremely significant competitions, there certainly would be no half-heartedness. The problem of who would get into Europe could be solved by allowing both finalists in, if the final was contested by two teams from opposite sides of the Border. Clubs should look at this and Irish League sides don't need to view it as a stepping stone to an All-Ireland League.

In conclusion however, an All-Ireland League will not happen in the next few years. There are too many things going against it. Added to the threat of violence, the perceived lack of quality of the eircom League, the political stumbling block, as well as general well known Northern resistance, travel would also be an item of debate. Cork City for example would really burn up miles on the road, and all the IL clubs would have to travel more. Cliftonville are perhaps the biggest "Catholic club" in the Irish League. It is believed that not only is their Chairman opposed to an All-Ireland League, but he also wants Derry City back in the IL.

Too many barriers. I believe that it should happen, as while I accept the reprocussions, the advantages would outweigh the disadvantages. And surely, Nationalistic clubs in the IL would try sow the seeds of this idea. Nevertheless though, there are too many things that'll make this idea go to sleep for a while again.

The IFA and the FAI have met recently with increasing frequency. This, allied with some of the IL's recent games being played uncharacteristically on Sunday's, perhaps suggests that it may happen eventually. And if the eircom League sides and the FAI give many concessions to the IFA, mindsets could be altered.

However, it will take a long time. A very long time, in fact. Those who believe that an All-Ireland League will precede a United Ireland have little to support their assertion. Martin Luther King had "a dream"; so have most eircom League people, but the dream is not shared by Irish League folk and again it seems that politics are going to help get in the way of what could arguably be a brilliant proposal. Tiocfaidh Ár Lá, but don't wait up for it.

NOTE: A special thanks to Stephen Duffy whose indispensable co-operation made this article possible. Thanks again, Stephen.