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[Natter]

Ah to be sure now begorrah and isn't education a wonderful thing to be learning someting new everyday and that is that top football in Ireland is played March to November. Thank you Hookey I didn't know that and top o' the morning' to yah.

Seriously though,do you know for how long the Irish season has been arranged like that?

Do you think it has been done that way not so much because of climate but to avoid the competition provided by British and European football especially on TV or is Gaelic football or hurling big enough distractions in their own right?

[coupwotcoup]

..and they didn't bottle it. No 'Sacro egoismo' in the Netherlands...

 

[Hookey]

Hi Natter, this will be their 4th March to November season. It was done for a number of reasons, firstly to reduce weather caused cancellations but more importantly to improve crowds.

 

Fans prefer to watch sport on warm summer afternoons and evenings than cold wet winter nights. When it was first introduced, it took a while to be accepted but now crowds are up. It was also competing with Rugby, which is huge in Ireland and is the home of the Celtic League and RBU.

 

I was talking to Jack O'Neill (Bray Wanderers FC Chief Exec) last summer and he said it was a success. He said that what started out as an experiment was now to become permanent.

 

One other benefit is that some players from Britain and Europe often go there on loan in the summer months to get fit for the winter season.

[Natter]

Thanks for that Hookey - goes to show that it pays not to be a stick-in-the-mud

[TB&G]

Originally Posted By: Natter

Thanks for that Hookey - goes to show that it pays not to be a stick-in-the-mud

Or even a 'stick-in-the-bog'!