Galway United

lavaghball

Just wondering what the public opinion on League of Ireland soccer is? As a frequenter of Terryland Park i find it astonishing that a city of over 75 thousand people, plus however many live in the county, can only attract a crowd of 1,400 max for home games.
Is it the Friday kickoff that people dont fancy or is Galway too much of a GAA town?

JIZZLORD

pesky foreign sports!

Ronan|Raven

lavaghball wrote: »

Just wondering what the public opinion on League of Ireland soccer is? As a frequenter of Terryland Park i find it astonishing that a city of over 75 thousand people, plus however many live in the county, can only attract a crowd of 1,400 max for home games.
Is it the Friday kickoff that people dont fancy or is Galway too much of a GAA town?

It is because sadly the entire country doesnt care about its own league and is more bothered about "irish" teams like Liverpool, Manchester United and whoever is winning this week.

snubbleste

If they gave away free tickets I'd go. Otherwise i can see mediocre soccer on the television or in the local playing fields.

biko

I'm just not a soccer fan.

biscuits1981

there will b a bigger crowd in terryland on sunday to watch west united play in the connacht cup final at 3,the reason why is cause its a local team there is not enough local lads up with galway united thats why no crowd imo

howyanow

its a pity the crowds are poor as they will be in real danger of going out of business im told by an insider.the standard of football is graudually improving but the club is lacking real characters and entertainers,wouldn pay to watch most of that squad but i wish them well,we'd miss them if the club had to fold.galway city in general tends to be very poor/fickle supporters even if its hurling/football/rugby.going to try get up to terryland mayb three times before season ends.

The standard is appalling, terrible to watch.

Tickets are pricey too imo for the spectacle on offer

gd1987

Poor quality football, its difficult to sit in the cold and watch it.

galwayrush

I go when i can, i like supporting local.:cool:

Foxx92

gd1987 wrote: »

Poor quality football, its difficult to sit in the cold and watch it.

With all respects, the standard is not as poor as people think. Last year Drogheda came within inches of knocking out Dinamo Kiev who got to the Uefa Cup semi-final. The majority of people who say the standard is poor are the people who have never gone to Terryland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXPd66mDLsQ This is a vid I made on GUFC this season so far...Believe me the standard is quite high!

sgthighway

JIZZLORD wrote: »

pesky foreign sports!

+1

Will go to a Football or Hurling game everyday if I could but wouldn't go across the road to see a soccer game but if people supported Irish Soccer Clubs instead of English ones more money would be put into it here instead of sending all your €€€s abroad.

Is Galway United considered a business? - who owns it?

Mr Maroon

rarnes1 wrote: »

The standard is appalling, terrible to watch.

Tickets are pricey too imo for the spectacle on offer

The standard really isn't that low. As it stands we're 3 points off a Europa League qualification place. Also, United play some of the best football in the League, it's really not bad to watch at all.

gd1987 wrote: »

Poor quality football, its difficult to sit in the cold and watch it.

The Old Stand is actually much warmer than the New Stand. Because of the sides and it not being as high up I suppose.

biscuits1981 wrote: »

there will b a bigger crowd in terryland on sunday to watch west united play in the connacht cup final at 3,the reason why is cause its a local team there is not enough local lads up with galway united thats why no crowd imo

11 members of the squad are local.

sgthighway wrote: »

Is Galway United considered a business? - who owns it?

Yes, it is a business. I couldn't tell you who owns it. Members of the board I suppose (who are all, or mostly, local businessmen).

civis_liberalis

biscuits1981 wrote: »

there will b a bigger crowd in terryland on sunday to watch west united play in the connacht cup final at 3

Complete nonsense. Of course there won't.

FreeOSCAR

rarnes1 wrote: »

The standard is appalling, terrible to watch.

Tickets are pricey too imo for the spectacle on offer

No true at all, this comment usually comes from the same barstoolers who watch the Premier**** week in week out. It amazes me how people hate the England national team yet support EPL teams.

Happy Monday

It's to do with glamour.

The Premier League and CL offering is sexy, nubile and exotic.

The League of Ireland is slow witted, out of shape and TOO local.

I can remember watching Galway United play in Europe in 1985/6 and that's as close as we ever got to it.

There is no comparison between Torres and Gerrard and the donkeys plying their trade at Terryland! :pac:

Sea Devils

biscuits1981 wrote: »

there will b a bigger crowd in terryland on sunday to watch west united

LMAO. That was pretty funny.

Diabhal Beag

Its not the Premier League or anything but it is still a high standard of football and it is a more realistic way of being a pro-footballer than dreams of playing for Real and United

IrishWhiskeyCha

I'm a blow-in and live 20miles outside Galway and I try to go to a few games when I can. Cup matches are great.

I too love to watch the Premiership but cannot understand why then we don't watch our own league. All very sad and that is why our clubs are struggling.

I agree with the voices who say the standard is not bad ... of course it will not be of Champions league standard but it can be just as entertaining.

If everybody who watches the premiership goes to just one match it would be a huge help.

Give it a chance and see ...

Shaniev

biscuits1981 wrote: »

there will b a bigger crowd in terryland on sunday to watch west united play in the connacht cup final at 3,the reason why is cause its a local team there is not enough local lads up with galway united thats why no crowd imo

Best of luck to west in the final.. But the last bit is complete rubbish and your talking sh1t, there is:
* Ger Hanley - Salthill
* Seamus Conneely - Connemara
* Paul Sinnott - Renmore
* David Cooke - Salthill
* John Russell - Moycullen (vice captain)
* Cian Mc Brien - Salthill
* Vinny Faherty - Moycullen
* Jason Molloy - Mervue
* Mark O'Toole -
* Neil Walsh - I know they are local but not 100% where though
(sorry I don't know what area)

out of a squad of 18....

Happy Monday wrote: »

It's to do with glamour.

The Premier League and CL offering is sexy, nubile and exotic.

The League of Ireland is slow witted, out of shape and TOO local.

I can remember watching Galway United play in Europe in 1985/6 and that's as close as we ever got to it.

There is no comparison between Torres and Gerrard and the donkeys plying their trade at Terryland! :pac:

As for that statement what a load of crap you rather be a stupid lazy fan in front of a tv and watch a tv screen than go and have a night supporting your local team. They have had a great start to the league this year it annoys me so much when people put down galway utd they have a great side a great young manager with a squad that has the youngest average age in the league

1 Bohemians 10 7 2 1 17 / 2 23
2 Cork City 10 6 2 2 11 / 7 20
3 Derry City 10 5 3 2 15 / 8 18
4 Shamrock Rovers 10 4 3 3 12 / 10 15
5 Galway United 10 4 3 3 11 / 10 15
6 St Pat's Athletic 10 4 0 6 8 / 16 12
7 Bray Wanderers 10 2 5 3 9 / 11 11
8 Sligo Rovers 10 2 4 4 7 / 10 10
9 Dundalk 10 3 1 6 9 / 14 10
10 Drogheda United 10 0 3 7 3 / 14 3


At least go one friday evening and im sure when your there you will have a great night and hopefully the next time you'll bring a friend and so on.

Mars Bar

With the way Galway have started, I wish I did go to a couple but Friday evenings are just bad. My Dad finishes work at 5 and guess where he works?! The Waterworks, right beside the pitch! But he'd have to come out and collect me (whilst passing Claregalway, mad traffic), to go back in. And have something to eat in between.
Saturdays would be SO much better. I went to one game 2 or 3 seasons ago, against Athlone. Was 0-0, boring match.
I much prefer soccer to GAA though...

leeroybrown

I've zero interest in LoI soccer. I grew up sufficiently far from a LoI club that I couldn't realistically have supported one if I wanted to. Due to this, I (along with more than half the country) follow one of the bigger Premier League teams. I've actually watched dramatically more Junior League soccer than LoI soccer. At this stage I've got too many other interests to bother making time for LoI soccer. Also, even if I wanted to make time, I'm a Connacht Rugby season ticket holder which isn't exactly compatible with being a regular attendee at Terryland Park.

On top of that I dislike the kind of attitude that some LoI supporters have towards people who don't regularly support a local team and instead support a foreign one. They're just as bad as the worst of the EPL/SPL tards they complain about. If it's still going there's a huge sprawling thread over on Soccer that's no doubt full of both sides.

Ultimately, without sustained major success, building a fan base is a very long term thing.

Wompa1

Sacked Don O'Riordan without justification. New owner decided he was excess to their needs. Boooo on them. Not a big Galway United fan, but I'm a big David Cooke fan..Cookie Monsters are we!...anyone else want to start a David Cooke fan club?

Shaniev

Wompa1 wrote: »

Sacked Don O'Riordan without justification. New owner decided he was excess to their needs. Boooo on them. Not a big Galway United fan, but I'm a big David Cooke fan..Cookie Monsters are we!...anyone else want to start a David Cooke fan club?

Cookie the legend ha ha!

SYLT

IrishWhiskeyCha wrote: »

I'm a blow-in and live 20miles outside Galway and I try to go to a few games when I can. Cup matches are great.

I too love to watch the Premiership but cannot understand why then we don't watch our own league. All very sad and that is why our clubs are struggling.

I agree with the voices who say the standard is not bad ... of course it will not be of Champions league standard but it can be just as entertaining.

If everybody who watches the premiership goes to just one match it would be a huge help.

Give it a chance and see ...

I always use to put off my first game, saying it would be **** or whatever... Now I go to every game, home and away

Mr Maroon

Wompa1 wrote: »

Sacked Don O'Riordan without justification. New owner decided he was excess to their needs. Boooo on them. Not a big Galway United fan, but I'm a big David Cooke fan..Cookie Monsters are we!...anyone else want to start a David Cooke fan club?

Last Monday he scored the goal that got us through to the League Cup quarter final, knocking out the defending champions Derry City.

ErnieBert

I am a Galway United Season Ticket holder. I enjoy the games and even go to a few away games every year. I meet the same bunch of lads at all home games and we have the craic.

Terryland is a fine stadium and the standard of football is often quite high but the Premiership it is not and never willl be.

Most of the players are local and all but one are culchies (Jay O'Shea is a Dub). All the rest are from Kilkenny, Kerry, Offaly, Mayo etc. All players live in Galway.

I don't watch the Champions League anymore due to an overload of football on TV in recent years. I dumped Sky 3 years ago which gave me a new lease of life!!! The only live football I watch is Galway United.

That said, I look forward to the games in Teryland every 2nd Friday. I have never been to a Connacht Rugby game and it is years since I went to a GAA game in Pearse Stadium but I follow all codes and read about them in the papers and on the net.

I can't ever see Galway United winning the League. Most seasons are dog fights but I love it. If you haven't been to a few games then you cannot make a judgement.

.

Wompa1

Mr Maroon wrote: »

Last Monday he scored the goal that got us through to the League Cup quarter final, knocking out the defending champions Derry City.

Yeah I saw that. He's a handy player, hopefully he gets more of a chance this time around. I've just singled him out as the random player to rise to superstardom. Got talkin to him when he was warming up at half time during his first run...I haven't supported Galway United since O'Riordan got sacked but would go to see live soccer (Yes I call it soccer..its not my football)

I gave him a bit of abuse and he seemed kind of upset about it so I've felt a bit bad. Think we should start a fan club...Photoshop his face onto a Cookie Monster sign..Cookie Monsters Unite!

bigeasyeah

Ive gone up to see them a few times,it was good craic. It clashes with Connacht playing up at the Sportsground so I dont see them too often.

fergiesfolly

I've been a Man Utd for 30 years, but last fridays game against St Pats was a lot more exciting than either of the Champions League semis against Arsenal. The club could probably be run better and a BAR would be a bonus, but the lads on the pitch give their all(most of the time) and they deserve a bigger crowd than they're getting at the moment IMO.Also, quite a few of our most famous players got their start in LOI, so you might get to point at some Premier League star on the telly one day and say "I saw him above in Terryland when..."

civis_liberalis

fergiesfolly wrote: »

I've been a Man Utd for 30 years, but last fridays game against St Pats was a lot more exciting than either of the Champions League semis against Arsenal.

I've seen much more exciting games in Terryland than last Friday's, but point taken all the same.

fergiesfolly wrote: »

The club could probably be run better and a BAR would be a bonus

I do believe the club could be structured better. A bar isn't really an option at the moment. The units underneath the stand have yet to be finished due to the grants allocated towards them being cut. A bar is something I would like to see, perhaps making Terryland a sort of social hub would encourage growth in attendances and revenues.

fergiesfolly wrote: »

but the lads on the pitch give their all(most of the time) and they deserve a bigger crowd than they're getting at the moment IMO.

United are doing really well at the moment but crowds are really disappointing. A win tonight could see us level on points with Derry in third place, depending on results obviously. We could see ourselves widening the gap between ourselves and the bottom half of the table. Not bad going for a bunch of kids and a rookie manager.:cool:

fergiesfolly wrote: »

Also, quite a few of our most famous players got their start in LOI, so you might get to point at some Premier League star on the telly one day and say "I saw him above in Terryland when..."

The Irish lads in England all have to come from somewhere. If people want to see a future Premiership player, come to Terryland and watch Jay O'Shea.

lavaghball

The Friday night clash with Connacht is a pain in the ass, but their last match of the season is today. I am an avid follower of the premiership but think there is something different about the live matches of a Friday night.
In relation to the standard of the league, it is far superior than the standard of say 10 years back. United play decent football and they have given a good few local lads a chance, which they have taken.
A question for anyone that might think about attending a match up there: What would convince you to give Terryland a try? A free ti9cket or buy one ticket get a free one? Half price season ticket?

jkmanc1974

Am a supporter of the Eircom League myself, however do honestly think that the admission prices are way too expensive, hence putting people off(Know that this applies to all LOI Prem clubs not just Galway United).....

Brgds
Johnny

AdamantApproach

I lived in Galway for many years and had the misfortune of attending Terryland on numerous occasions. Since I moved to England I have attended several lower league games and have come to the conclusion that a team like Galway United would struggle in the conference, or the Blue Square Premier as it is now known. People will point to someone like Kevin Doyle or Keith Fahey and how well they are doing as a barometer of the health of the league in Ireland, but these guys are definitely the exception. The reality is that many cross channel abject failures are very successful here. Look at a guy like Gary Twigg of Shamrock Rovers.
The sad reality for fans of Galway United is that you are watching a rubbish team in a rubbish league.

AdamantApproach

Cashdoneatthecross!

You don't appear on the betfair forum to often nowadays.

death1234567

One issue with Galway united is the location of the stadium. Depending on where you live its not exactly easy to get to or get away from and parking is a nightmare. Its a shame too because its a nice ground once you get in.

jkmanc1974

God there is no escape lol!!! Hardly ever on Betfair nowadays to be honest - went away abroad to Eastern Europe working for a few months in October and came back in March........not been able to get any work since I came back hence have scaled the punting down.....

Brgds
Johnny

AdamantApproach

Sorry to hear that Johnny. Good luck with finding work. You are missied from betfair.

Malice

Happily this thread hasn't descended into the usual bitch-fests that occur on the soccer forum whenever League of Ireland is mentioned. Hopefully that will continue!

Personally I've been following the team on and off (mostly off) since I was in school. It all started back with the FAI Cup win in 1991. I used to go regularly with a few friends up to around the time I did my Junior Cert (1994). Around that time the team got relegated and despite what anyone says, I firmly believe the standard of football on display was awful at that time. This was Souness-era Liverpool as well so I was well acquainted with poor football .

I went back for an occasional game over the next few years but the hassle of getting there and home again when I wasn't driving made sure it was never going to be a regular thing. Before anyone jumops on that, I know the traffic and public transport issues in Galway aren't the club's fault!

When I went to college I also went to an occasional game but the move to Friday soccer resulted in a clash with a regular soccer game that I play in. I tried once to combine both in an evening as our game finishes at 7:30 but when the guy at the turnstile refused to let me in for anything less than full price when I made it down just after half time that was the end of it. There's no way I'm paying €10 for 40 minutes or so of a game. The price may even have gone up since, I haven't checked.

So, in a nutshell, I'd definitely attend more games except for the facts that I'm almost always doing something on a Friday evening, the prices are a bit high for what is offered and the Dyke road is very awkward to get to and from.

I try to get up to Terryland whenever possible.There is a decent atmosphere there a lot of the time.The quality is average enough but when you compare watching Galway United 3-4 years ago to now the standard has improved substantially.Also I think Galway made a mess out of developing a fanbase by alienating fans when deciding to charge 20 euro last season.They dropped it back to 15 after a short time but the damage was done.A few people I have talked to have said that was why they stopped going to Terryland.

Unfortunately the Premier league will always be number 1 on most people's list but there are worse ways of spending a Friday night.The match is over at 9.35/9.40 and you can go into town for the night then happy you have earned your few pints!

Also Mervue United are a team who are trying to make their way in the LOI and deserve much more local support than they are getting.A season ticket is something like 50 euro and its 10 euro to get in.They are an honest group of players with Johnny Glynn and Mark Herrick in charge.Doing very well so far aroun mid table and will only improve.

If you spend your money on Man Utd. or Liverpool or whoevers merchandise it will only be going towards Ronaldo's hairgel for the week.If you spend your few euro on Galway and Mervue you can be sure its badly needed to help these clubs survive.

The league as a whole needs improved facilities first of all and it needs to see clubs working inside their financial limits.More needs to be done to entice young players to spend a couple of years playing at home before then trying to make the move to England.The fact is a fella who is 19/20/21 and has a couple of years first team experience under his belt and has some education will be far easier able to fit in abroad than if he goes there at 15/16.

Foxx92

AdamantApproach wrote: »

The sad reality for fans of Galway United is that you are watching a rubbish team in a rubbish league.

So people who support 'rubbish' teams or teams who are going through a bad patch should just pack up a follow Liverpool or Man U because they're class:rolleyes:. What kind of attitude is this to have, I personally would love for Liverpool or ManU to go spiraling down the league like Leeds. How many 'Supporters 4 life' would they have then.

Mars Bar

Also, I don't know how many of ye are aware at the state of Underage football in Galway. It is dreadful, there are walkovers being given all sides with no consequences. Tuam Celtic got promoted from second division coz Oughterard gave them a bye, madness. If Oughterard had played and won, Mac Dara and Crumlin could have been in with a shout. Very, very unfair.

Secondly, any good - great players are moving to Mervue. Where is the competition there? In GAA, if you live in a town with a club or a club closest to it, you have to play with it or not at all. I reckon it should be implemented at the underage level.

Any of the exceptionally talented players are being scouted by english teams e.g, Tuam's Ethan Mannion went to the prestigious St. Kevin's Boys and is now in England with the West Ham academy and you will see him in the Premiership.

If the same craic is happening in every other county, then the LOI is always going to be pants.

civis_liberalis

mars bar wrote: »

It is dreadful, there are walkovers being given all sides with no consequences. Tuam Celtic got promoted from second division coz Oughterard gave them a bye, madness. If Oughterard had played and won, Mac Dara and Crumlin could have been in with a shout. Very, very unfair.

I don't understand what that has to do with anything... That was in the Galway & DL, not at underage level. Also, as far as I know, Oughterard are due to play Tuam Celtic in South Park on the morning of Sunday week.

Mars Bar

Yeah, I should have distinguished my point of underage football and the senior team! Sorry

I have just heard, on inspection of your post, that that game is supposed to be re-scheduled. BUT, that is the Galway FA re-writing the rules. The rules state that when a team are ready to travel and the other team withdraws, all three points go to the traveling team. Tuam are refusing to play the game as it is bending the law.

That is the kinda craic going on with the Galway FA.

*(I do understand that the reason for the game being called off by Oughterard as genuine though and there was no way about it)

civis_liberalis

While the points going to Tuam mean they win the league, second place is still up for grabs. If Mac Dara win their two remaining games, they will gain second place on goal difference as theirs is much superior to Crumlins. IF they win both games.

On the subject of United... Galway that is...

Next Friday Galway United will take on Bray Wanderers in Terryland Park with a 7.45 kick-off, with a win potentially moving them into fourth place.

Malice

Foxx92 wrote: »

I personally would love for Liverpool or ManU to go spiraling down the league like Leeds. How many 'Supporters 4 life' would they have then.

Let's assume that Man Utd and Liverpool experience a catastrophic financial meltdown like Leeds. Do you honestly think that the bandwagon-jumping fan that I think we all dislike will suddenly think "Yeah, actually, I will pop down to Terryland to see what's going on."?

Foxx92

malice_ wrote: »

Let's assume that Man Utd and Liverpool experience a catastrophic financial meltdown like Leeds. Do you honestly think that the bandwagon-jumping fan that I think we all dislike will suddenly think "Yeah, actually, I will pop down to Terryland to see what's going on."?

They haven't a hope, they'll just support who's top of the league and make it look as the team they always been a die-hard fan of. For the people on this forum who don't go to terryland regularly(or at all), why don't ye go on Friday and make up your minds then.

Malice

Foxx92 wrote: »

They haven't a hope, they'll just support who's top of the league and make it look as the team they always been a die-hard fan of.

Well then, if Liverpool or Man Utd disappearing into oblivion would have no effect on Galway Utd, why did you post this:

I personally would love for Liverpool or ManU to go spiraling down the league like Leeds.

Foxx92 wrote:

For the people on this forum who don't go to terryland regularly(or at all), why don't ye go on Friday and make up your minds then.

I can't speak for others but I listed my reasons in a previous post.

I'm not going to get into a debate about why you should support your local team, it's not going to convince a local who's an avid Liverpool/United fan....

But what i will say is, the LOI now is probably the most competitive league in Europe if not the world, what fun is it watching United win every year, or miss out marginally to one of the other ''big 4'', that replicates itself all over the place, but apart from Bohs been standout class and Drogheda looking the standout poor team anyone can(and have) take points from one another

Foxx92

malice_ wrote: »

I can't speak for others but I listed my reasons in a previous post.

You have valid reasons for not attending, however its the people who are available to go on Friday i'm trying to persuade.

JStand

I dont feel like paying 15euro for the privilage of being surrounded by drum banging muppets singing der der der der der der der der der....... nor would i feel comfortable knowing that part of my 15quid goes to bank rolling N*** L*****'s salary. Hope this helps