Funding for GPA

pazza

So the GAA will provide funding to the GPA (as long as under GAA umberlla etc.) eventually, and this will then be the preserve of the elite players...thats it, today is the latest of the "death by 1000 cuts" of the meaning of the GAA to lots of Irish (and non-Irish) people. I am gutted, I feel that the GAA is a service and that the GPA are nothing but a self-serving group that see the $$ signs, and they want it for their group (again, intercounty players, not GAA players). I know the talk is about commitment and all that, but there are so many volunteers etc., that will now question their position. And what about the club players commitment, is this less valuable, most county teams provide means (or players get sponsored) for players to get training/games, but club players travel the length/breath of the country on their own steam for the pride of play. Sorry for the rant...just so dissappointed....

baztard

pazza wrote: »

So the GAA will provide funding to the GPA (as long as under GAA umberlla etc.) eventually, and this will then be the preserve of the elite players...thats it, today is the latest of the "death by 1000 cuts" of the meaning of the GAA to lots of Irish (and non-Irish) people. I am gutted, I feel that the GAA is a service and that the GPA are nothing but a self-serving group that see the $$ signs, and they want it for their group (again, intercounty players, not GAA players). I know the talk is about commitment and all that, but there are so many volunteers etc., that will now question their position. And what about the club players commitment, is this less valuable, most county teams provide means (or players get sponsored) for players to get training/games, but club players travel the length/breath of the country on their own steam for the pride of play. Sorry for the rant...just so dissappointed....

Can't say I know too much about the GPA. If they only look after intercounty players then that makes them an elitest organisation, which I wouldn't be comfortable with at all.

mrgaa1

The GPA should be disbanded. All players are well looked after and they don't have to play if they can't afford to. I agree with the OP and as a club volunteer it saddens me to see this happening. Its the death knell of the volunteer and for clubs. :(

Imposter

I have to agree with the OP. Yes the intercounty players sacrifice a lot of time for their sport but so do a lot of other people within the GAA. Intercounty players are usually well looked after given their higher profile. If the GPA were representing the entire playing population, then pay for play wouldn't be an issue but things like expenses, medical care and other general player welfare things would be and this could be a positive thing for the GAA as a whole. I'm not a fan of the GPA primarily because they do not represent or want to represent the ordinary player.

The issue of volunteers is a messy one. A lot of managers (not just county managers) have received 'expenses' for a long time that any sane individual would have a hard time justifying.

adrian522

I think the GPA need to come clean and say what EXACTLY this money will be used for. Also 5% of GAA revenue is far too much, the GAA should fund the GPA for specific player welfare initiatives. If at all.

joey54

Imposter wrote: »

I'm not a fan of the GPA primarily because they do not represent or want to represent the ordinary player.

I completely agree with this. What does the GPA do to help the ordinary everyday player who at times is putting in just as much effort and time into the game as the inter-county players. When non inter-county players get injured am I right in saying that the GPA aren't interested in giving them help and assistance?

As other posters have said I would be extremely worried about the GPA being granted recognition in its current form as I feel it is trying to create an elite group in a sport which was founded on people being treated equally and on a community based ethos.