THE REASONS WHY It is quite easy to recognise that the advent of supporting English soccer is an easy way out for Irish people. With English soccer, the soccer fans sa tír seo can watch a game without ever having the danger of getting wet, i.e. on the airmchair or the barstool, can easily buy their teams kit, and can observe all the events as they happen from their armchair. All of this is a deterrent. The eircom League of Ireland is a grossly underachieving product. The fact that English soccer is so popular here has proven one of the main factors in explaining why more people do not support the NL. Not only that, but the inevitably superior quality of English soccer can create a damaging mentality in the minds of its Irish supporters. Unjustified and unfounded comparisons are made between the Premiership and the eircom League which has further negative effects. After a NL game I attended last year, which happened to be broadcast live on RTE, a few Premiership "supporters" who watched the game on television were grunting about the poor quality of the game. This amazed me as I argued that it was a decent game. To end the argument, I proposed that the aforementioned Premiership "supporters" read the match report in a daily paper the following day. In the paper I purchased, the game was described, by a NL writer, as "a thriller". This bore testament to my perception that constant watching of English football can decree that its Irish fans cannot appreciate a NLOI game. What can you do? You can constantly and continuosly criticise English soccer fans about their allegiance. The truth is the only arms necessary. Since I, and other Galway United fans have started to voice our opinions, many fans have been converted, and others have lost interest in the Premiership. Ignorance can prove counter – productive. There are many ways in which you can promote the NL over the Premiership. Here are my stances, I am sure you have your own ideas also. 1 – Never discuss the Premiership at all. When it is necessary, do not do so in a positive manner. 2 – Suggest to Premiership fans that they are extremely unpatriotic and that they have no right to support Ireland over England in International soccer. 3 – Propose to him/her that he/she can never call himself/herself a dedicated supporter of an English club if he/she has never seen this Premiership club in the flesh. 4 – Continue to promote all positives aspects of the eircom League of Ireland. 5 – Keep berating about the unwarranted allegiance towards the Premiership by many Irish media folk. All of this will work in time. People may criticise me for these opinions and if so, I respect your views. Get on the Message Board with your opinion. We must witness the death of English soccer "support" in this country. Otherwise, Irish soccer will continue to underachieve. Above all, the F.A.I. MUST recognise this. Click here to view the names of the Irish "patriots" of our time... Click here to view another reason to support the Premiership... Johnny Ward, Editor