Galway United FC for 2014?

Paddyfield

I'm surprised there had been no discussion here regarding Galway United's future

There was a public meeting on Monday about this? I am away at the moment and am interested to hear what happened. My understanding is a 'new' club will emerge next year which will have an input from Salthill Devon and Mervue United.
I miss my Friday evenings in Terryland and Galway deserves to be represented in the League.

Wil we have Galway United FC or Galway Divided FC?

Any more info?

gordongekko

Paddyfield wrote: »

I'm surprised there had been no discussion here regarding Galway United's future

There was a public meeting on Monday about this? I am away at the moment and am interested to hear what happened. My understanding is a 'new' club will emerge next year which will have an input from Salthill Devon and Mervue United.
I miss my Friday evenings in Terryland and Galway deserves to be represented in the League.

Wil we have Galway United FC or Galway Divided FC?

Any more info?

ya it used to be good craic alright. Fair play to the gust people for their tireless efforts in trying to keep the show alive.

stampydmonkey

Fact...had many an enjoyable/frustrating evening up in Terryland...nothing better than to have a few pints in town after a cold Friday evening in a nearly empty stadium. Miss it bigtime actually now that you mention it

DRakE

Paddyfield wrote: »

I miss my Friday evenings in Terryland and Galway deserves to be represented in the League.

Didn't Salthill play in Terryland on Fridays this year?

gordongekko

DRakE wrote: »

Didn't Salthill play in Terryland on Fridays this year?

nope. They play in drom.

wonder88

I miss going to Terryland as well and hope that the GUST guys are given a chance to achieve their aims. I sometimes go to a few LOI matches still, in Dublin mostly when I get a chance; was up at the Pats/Bohs game last friday for example.

Mars Bar

wonder88 wrote: »

I miss going to Terryland as well and hope that the GUST guys are given a chance to achieve their aims. I sometimes go to a few LOI matches still, in Dublin mostly when I get a chance; was up at the Pats/Bohs game last friday for example.

Galway WFC is playing there if ya wanna look at the best under utilised playing surface in Ireland.

Antifa161

I'd happily get involved if it got up and running, especially if there was a half decent ultras scene.

Crying shame such a fine, and relatively big city does not have a proper soccer team.

wonder88

Mars Bar wrote: »

Galway WFC is playing there if ya wanna look at the best under utilised playing surface in Ireland.

I might go sometime to watch the ladies play, but really I would prefer to have top-level LoI soccer available in Galway so that I could watch that. I was also a fan of Galway Utd for many years and while some my not understand it, it is not easy to switch from supporting one team/club to another. That is the reason that "franchise clubs" do not usually work. I have gone to both Mervue and Salthill games, but it is just not the same; I can never really be a supporter of these clubs. Also the standard is not great and there is never any atmosphere as these clubs have no supporters/fans.
Wishing the Galway womens team all the best, but to have a look at a good playing surface is not something that would drag me back to Terryland.

Tugboats

They'll probably get the Anglo boys to run it

_Puma_

According to Galway Advertiser

"Galway FC to be officially launched in next few weeks. Cooperative-type ownership model to be explored with a vote on this after first season."

"The Directors of Galway FC include Tom Lally and John Flannery ( epresenting GUST), Joe Keating and Declan Mooney (Galway FA), Donnie Farragher and Declan McDonnell (Mervue United), and Jim McSpadden and Ollie Daniels (Salthill Devon) with Bernie O'Connell acting as the independent Chairperson. John Flannery will serve as Secretary, while Declan McDonnell, a former Mayor of Galway, will be the Treasurer."

Anyone have more info on this, seems a bit out of the blue?

gordongekko

_Puma_ wrote: »

According to Galway Advertiser

"Galway FC to be officially launched in next few weeks. Cooperative-type ownership model to be explored with a vote on this after first season."

"The Directors of Galway FC include Tom Lally and John Flannery ( epresenting GUST), Joe Keating and Declan Mooney (Galway FA), Donnie Farragher and Declan McDonnell (Mervue United), and Jim McSpadden and Ollie Daniels (Salthill Devon) with Bernie O'Connell acting as the independent Chairperson. John Flannery will serve as Secretary, while Declan McDonnell, a former Mayor of Galway, will be the Treasurer."

Anyone have more info on this, seems a bit out of the blue?

not going to happen in that form anyways

antoobrien

_Puma_ wrote: »

Anyone have more info on this, seems a bit out of the blue?

Not only is it not "out of the blue" (it was in the sentinel 2/3 weeks ago that Salthill & Mervue were being told to get together), but it's been well known around town for months that there were discussions around this. The only thing "new" is the fact that the name is going to be Galway FC.

gordongekko wrote: »

not going to happen in that form anyways

http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/63631/footballs-comin-home-compromise-reached-as-galway-fc-applies-to-league

Galway FC should be ready for Eamonn Deacy Park action in 2014 as the newly formed club will make a licence application to play in the Airtricity League next season.

Compromise has been reached with all the stakeholders in the west as Galway United Supporters Trust, Mervue United, Galway FA, and Salthill Devon are all represented on the Board of Directors of Galway FC.

Following several months of meetings and debate Galway FC has been established with a statement released last night confirming the news. “The dream of one city, one county, and one club is set to be realised with the coming together of a Galway football partnership representative of all local soccer interests.”

The Directors of Galway FC include Tom Lally and John Flannery ( representing GUST), Joe Keating and Declan Mooney (Galway FA), Donnie Farragher and Declan McDonnell (Mervue United), and Jim McSpadden and Ollie Daniels (Salthill Devon) with Bernie O'Connell acting as the independent Chairperson. John Flannery will serve as Secretary, while Declan McDonnell, a former Mayor of Galway, will be the Treasurer.

A launch of Galway FC is expected to take place in the coming weeks, while several sub committees will be formed by those interested. “The new club has emanated from the Ned O' Connor Report 2012 and all of the stakeholders in the Galway game take two seats on the new Board which also includes an independent chairperson,” the statement continued.

Mrs OBumble

Paddyfield wrote: »

I'm surprised there had been no discussion here regarding Galway United's future

Probably because no one except you and the editor of the Galway Advertiser give a rat's a*** about the topic!

If I was an advertiser I'd be threatning to pull my spend if the Advertiser didn't give the soccer stuff a rest.

gordongekko

The board of gust were given a mandate to require that the club be a co-op and the preferred name be Galway united. Neither of these issues have been addressed and it will require a further meeting by gust to approve the new offer.

Mr_A

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Probably because no one except you and the editor of the Galway Advertiser give a rat's a*** about the topic!

If I was an advertiser I'd be threatning to pull my spend if the Advertiser didn't give the soccer stuff a rest.

I think quite a lot of people care about whether the city has a senior football team (neither of the current clubs seem able to create interest beyond their own little patches) and if anything the media have dropped the ball in the coverage of the matter. What happened with Galway United was wrong in so many ways, letting Leeson get control (and him getting off lightly for running it into the ground) and the FAI acting contrary to the precedents in Cork and Derry by blocking rather than encouraging a new club into the league. They even blocked participation in the U19 league and it seems GUST were not invited to Connacht Senior League related meetings either.

And now it seems like the new club will still not have an underage set up and will have to shell out to Mervue and Salthill if they sign players from them even on amateur terms- something no other LOI club has to face. There have been far too many questions left unasked by local media. A strong Galway LOI side would be good for the city and efforts to provide that deserves coverage and scrutiny.

Of course you don't have to read it and not everyone will be interested, but the same could be said for any story.

Paddyfield

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Probably because no one except you and the editor of the Galway Advertiser give a rat's a*** about the topic!

If I was an advertiser I'd be threatning to pull my spend if the Advertiser didn't give the soccer stuff a rest.

I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion Mrs OBumble . I for one give a rat's a*** about it. As do my kids and my extended family. We've gone to GAA matches and Connacht rugby matches too but we are, deep down, a soccer family. Terryland Park (since renamed Deacy Park) is as fine as stadium as any, has a long history, and is embedded in our community.

There have been seasons when Galway United often drew crowds of 3,000+ and even twice that on a rare occasion, so it is an important platform. The current Rep Of Ireland first choice goalkeeper is from Galway and started his career with Galway United.

Galway United's last ever home game (V Monaghan United), even after not winning a game for FOUR months, attracted a crowd of 1,800 in November 2011. The potential is massive.

Hats of to the Galway United Supporters Trust who have kept the flag flying.

Mrs OBumble

Paddyfield wrote: »

I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion Mrs OBumble . I for one give a rat's a*** about it.

You created the thread on 28-August. Now, two weeks later it's had a total of 16 replies, and 872 views. Compare that to the Eddie Rockets thread, open a mere 5 days ago and it's got 7077 views.

I would say that this is a good indication that the level of interest in this English sport (ref) is low.

I for one a totally sick of hearing lads roaring "Support Galway United" on Shop Street every Saturday, and seeing local newspapers present this as a major issue.

WallyGUFC

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

You created the thread on 28-August. Now, two weeks later it's had a total of 16 replies, and 872 views. Compare that to the Eddie Rockets thread, open a mere 5 days ago and it's got 7077 views.

I would say that this is a good indication that the level of interest in this English sport (ref) is low.

I for one a totally sick of hearing lads roaring "Support Galway United" on Shop Street every Saturday, and seeing local newspapers present this as a major issue.

And I'm sick of seeing religious nutcases wave placards of aborted babies in my face every Saturday. No need to get so worked up. Rip out the front of the Advertiser if you want. Don't put down a topic just because you have no interest in it.

Mr_A

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I would say that this is a good indication that the level of interest in this English sport (ref) is low.

9% of Irish adults play football (including 5 a side) according to this: http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Res...Figures_2008_/ (2008 figure)

And that's before you count the people who are just fans. The idea that people in this country are not interested in football, regardless of any petty concerns about the game's origin, is clearly nonsense.

_Puma_

antoobrien wrote: »

Not only is it not "out of the blue" (it was in the sentinel 2/3 weeks ago that Salthill & Mervue were being told to get together), but it's been well known around town for months that there were discussions around this. The only thing "new" is the fact that the name is going to be Galway FC.

Yes I am well aware what was in the paper about the meeting, no agreement was reached mainly because of the points Mr_A and gordongekko pointed out that were raised by GUST and the GFA so ya it was a bit out of the blue to suddenly get a press release without any warning or update on the agreement.

Have GUST now decided to go against what was voted on by their members? The points that GUST were making about having an Underage setup for the Galway LOI team are very important to the long term development of a team in Galway. If it is done right ala Cork City and Derry City there is hope, if it is done ala SD Galway and to use SD and Mervue as feeder clubs I'd give it a year before they go under.

Mrs OBumble not sure if you are trying to be serious or just trying to stir up a bit of controversy, but if that was a troll I'd have to wonder why you seem so set against Galway United? The fact is there is a huge participation in the sport at underage and Amateur level in this County is why a team is needed is that can represent them at national level. There is huge potential there for the development of a National side, if done right. Something GUFC and SD Galway got badly wrong.

Actually after reading your English sport Comment it is a bit more clear now why you posted that.

dilallio

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

You created the thread on 28-August. Now, two weeks later it's had a total of 16 replies, and 872 views. Compare that to the Eddie Rockets thread, open a mere 5 days ago and it's got 7077 views.

I would say that this is a good indication that the level of interest in this English sport (ref) is low.

I for one a totally sick of hearing lads roaring "Support Galway United" on Shop Street every Saturday, and seeing local newspapers present this as a major issue.

As someone who has recently had to move away from Galway to find work, it's nice to be able to browse the Galway forum and see what's going on.

Some threads are brilliant, some awful, some funny, but nobody should be discouraged from posting, just because someone else is sick of the topic.

antoobrien

_Puma_ wrote: »

Have GUST now decided to go against what was voted on by their members? The points that GUST were making about having an Underage setup for the Galway LOI team are very important to the long term development of a team in Galway. If it is done right ala Cork City and Derry City there is hope, if it is done ala SD Galway and to use SD and Mervue as feeder clubs I'd give it a year before they go under.

Great no soccer at all in Galway next year.:D

antoobrien

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I for one a totally sick of hearing lads roaring "Support Galway United" on Shop Street every Saturday, and seeing local newspapers present this as a major issue.

In fairness they're probably the same half dozen or so that used to go to the matches.

Paddyfield

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

You created the thread on 28-August. Now, two weeks later it's had a total of 16 replies, and 872 views. Compare that to the Eddie Rockets thread, open a mere 5 days ago and it's got 7077 views.

I would say that this is a good indication that the level of interest in this English sport (ref) is low.

I for one a totally sick of hearing lads roaring "Support Galway United" on Shop Street every Saturday, and seeing local newspapers present this as a major issue.

Jeepers. I drive a German car which I bought in an Irish garage and drink French wine bought from a Galway wine shop and I chose to follow a local sport in a local stadium played a lot of local players. The game is a foreign game. Just like rugby, hockey, karate, horse racing, basketball etc etc. Please don't beat me with that stick. I'm unsure if you are you anti-English or anti-soccer?

There is a similar debate going on about Galway United in the forums at www.foot.ie but the Eddie Rockets thread wouldn't create an interest there.

It's not a major issue in your life; I hear you loud and clear. It's not in my top ten list of priorities either but it's still important to me and to others.

The Galway United Supporters Trust weekly platform on William Street might be annoying to you but thankfully they don't use amplifiers like others. I can't defend them if it makes you sick but keep in mind that they are community volunteers.

Back on topic, one of the newspapers today suggested that the contenders for the GFC manager job are Don O'Riordan and Johnny Glynn.

slick89

I think they would need a neutral manager, get someone in from outside the county altogether. Glynn as manager would keep a divide between Mervue players and everyone else surely? O Riordan would hardly come back to Galway, he's doing ok coaching somewhere in Asia?

Laviski

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

You created the thread on 28-August. Now, two weeks later it's had a total of 16 replies, and 872 views. Compare that to the Eddie Rockets thread, open a mere 5 days ago and it's got 7077 views.

I would say that this is a good indication that the level of interest in this English sport (ref) is low.

I for one a totally sick of hearing lads roaring "Support Galway United" on Shop Street every Saturday, and seeing local newspapers present this as a major issue.

i wish the mod of commuting and transport would wake up the WRC thread as the same ppl spitting out the same posts page after page not allowing a fair discussion and only doing their best to promote their point of view and allow nobody to contribute a fair discussion.

I can see you point, but in fairness with the popularity of english football how will irish soccer survive in general would be a bigger question. tbh if mervue and salthill happy the way they are why change it?

Mars Bar

dilallio wrote: »

As someone who has recently had to move away from Galway to find work, it's nice to be able to browse the Galway forum and see what's going on.

Some threads are brilliant, some awful, some funny, but nobody should be discouraged from posting, just because someone else is sick of the topic.

How could anyone be sick of the topic?

There is next to no coverage of soccer in Galway.

biko

Mrs OBumble, please refrain from posting in this thread further.
And for all, let's keep this thread for the fans ok?

_Puma_

The situation as it stands appears to be a FAI sanctioned SDGalway+Mervue with no Salthill or Mervue team in LOI next season(They were hemeroging money and will be entering Connaught senior league next season). There has been no mandate from the Clubs in Galway or GUST. Someone jumped the gun with the GA press release as there was supposed to be a meeting next week regarding the current deal.

Currently there will be no Galway FC U19 squad to allow Salthill and Mervue to remain in the U19 league. The company will not be a Co-OP like Derry and Cork city so the fans have no say in the day to day running of the club. The piece about a sub committee in the Press release seems wishy washy. Salthill and Mervue will each receive €500(!) for each player they have playing for Galway FC, a situation unique to Galway FC and is in all likelihood against UEFA regulations. Salthill will receive a payment for the use of Drum training facilities even though facilities have been made available to GUST already.

The cynic in me thinks this is a money making exercise for Salthill & Mervue while trying to get the football public in Galway behind a new team. I really do want to get behind Galway FC but the current situation seems to alienate the majority of fans and clubs in Galway. If they dont get the support from footballing public in Galway from the get go they are doomed to fail. Going by the GUST forums it does not look like this is going to happen.

ben.schlomo

antoobrien wrote: »

In fairness they're probably the same half dozen or so that used to go to the matches.

You were obviously too cool to go Anto so you should probably keep the uninformed BS for other threads.

Pinturicchio

There was previously a thread about Galway United in this forum with over 1,500 posts before it was locked.

biko

Yeah it stopped when the team did. I'm pretty sure there is a GUFC thread in all-encompassing Soccer forum.

antoobrien

Mars Bar wrote: »

How could anyone be sick of the topic?

There is next to no coverage of soccer in Galway.

May I suggest changing your reading habits to buying more than the local Dublin national newspapers. There's several pages every week in the senitnel, there's always overage in both versions of the tribune and the advertiser treats every sport as badly as each other.

And I'm sick of hearing it in the sports news on Sundays on GBFM.

antoobrien

ben.schlomo wrote: »

You were obviously too cool to go Anto so you should probably keep the uninformed BS for other threads.

What were the attendance figures when the club folded? 774 for a premier division match against Bohemians (who probably brought 100 of them) isn't exactly stellar. It's not an exaggeration to say that I've seen more at U14 hurling matches.


What's your opinion on the rumours that the comer group are backing the new club?

ben.schlomo

antoobrien wrote: »

What were the attendance figures when the club folded? 774 for a premier division match against Bohemians (who probably brought 100 of them) isn't exactly stellar. It's not an exaggeration to say that I've seen more at U14 hurling matches.


What's your opinion on the rumours that the comer group are backing the new club?

A damn sight more than the half dozen you suggested anyway, and sure if watching u-14s is your thing then maybe stick to it and let the rest of us enjoy our foreign game.
As for the Comers its nowt more than rumours so no point discussing it.

antoobrien

ben.schlomo wrote: »

A damn sight more than the half dozen you suggested anyway, and sure if watching u-14s is your thing then maybe stick to it and let the rest of us enjoy our foreign game.

If 700 is the best you can do for the current champions (15,000 came to Salthill to see Kilkenny in the league), that's kinda sad.

ben.schlomo wrote: »

As for the Comers its nowt more than rumours so no point discussing it.

http://www.connachttribune.ie/galway-news/item/1313-president-higgins-helps-broker-soccer-deal

The Comer Group has confirmed it will financially back the new venture, and details on the exact deal will be announced in the coming weeks.

Oops, looks like the hurlers know more about what's going on in soccer than the soccer fans do.

Mars Bar

antoobrien wrote: »

May I suggest changing your reading habits to buying more than the local Dublin national newspapers. There's several pages every week in the senitnel, there's always overage in both versions of the tribune and the advertiser treats every sport as badly as each other.

And I'm sick of hearing it in the sports news on Sundays on GBFM.

Ah god love ya...

ben.schlomo

antoobrien wrote: »

If 700 is the best you can do for the current champions (15,000 came to Salthill to see Kilkenny in the league), that's kinda sad.



http://www.connachttribune.ie/galway-news/item/1313-president-higgins-helps-broker-soccer-deal



Oops, looks like the hurlers know more about what's going on in soccer than the soccer fans do.

First off i think comparing LOI and GAA is a non-starter, unless you havent grasped that, might want to put some context into your points, was that 15000 at one of your u-14 games maybe?

And when you can show me the details of their investment as opposed to rumours or soundbites on potential deals then you might have something, but until then i think we are all capable of reading newspapers.

Paddyfield

Hurling is our national sport. Of course it draws bigger crowds.


I was at that Galway v Kilkenny league game. It was awesome!

Please revert to the topic.

antoobrien

ben.schlomo wrote: »

First off i think comparing LOI and GAA is a non-starter, unless you havent grasped that, might want to put some context into your points, was that 15000 at one of your u-14 games maybe?

It's a non starter only because it shows just how few people care about local/national soccer competitions vs local/national hurling/football competitions.

The match in question was the first league match, a competition that ranks somewhere along side the league cup in England, nice to win but don't go out of the way for it. But still more people came to that match than showed up in Terryland all year.

Nah, just the equivalent to the LOI, the NHL - or the second competition in national hurling.

I have been at U14 matches with over 1,000 people there though, which kinda shows just how few people really give a flying ...... about Galway soccer.

ben.schlomo wrote: »

And when you can show me the details of their investment as opposed to rumours or soundbites on potential deals then you might have something, but until then i think we are all capable of reading newspapers.

I could give you details, but you'd still be in denial about it (like you were eearlier). Besides, don't the GUST membership have the right to reject this lifeline?

Maybe the comers would be better off approaching the FAI and/or Galway FA directly.

antoobrien

Paddyfield wrote: »

Please revert to the topic.

I'm surprised there had been no discussion here regarding Galway United's future

The topic being why there's no dicsussion of the future (hence relevance) of the club. The half dozen of you hadn't realised just how irrelevant galway soccer is to the sporting landscape.

I'll have to ask the Mellowes lads how many showed up the to stadium last night for the U13s, and compare to a Salthill v Merview match.

ben.schlomo

antoobrien wrote: »

It's a non starter only because it shows just how few people care about local/national soccer competitions vs local/national hurling/football competitions.

The match in question was the first league match, a competition that ranks somewhere along side the league cup in England, nice to win but don't go out of the way for it. But still more people came to that match than showed up in Terryland all year.

Nah, just the equivalent to the LOI, the NHL - or the second competition in national hurling.

I have been at U14 matches with over 1,000 people there though, which kinda shows just how few people really give a flying ...... about Galway soccer.



I could give you details, but you'd still be in denial about it (like you were eearlier). Besides, don't the GUST membership have the right to reject this lifeline?

Maybe the comers would be better off approaching the FAI and/or Galway FA directly.

Nice to see you are keeping the whole thing off topic by comparing GAA and LOI, nobody is saying LOI is near as popular as GAA, youre basically validating an argument that nobody is having bar you. You are obviously right that nobody cares about soccer in Ireland, minority sport, no participation, table tennis u-12's that you've been to have more paying spectators than international friendlies sure.
And on your Comers bit please feel free to give me details of it, how am I in denial, about what, theres no credible source to state exactly what they are investing, how the fudge is anyone supposed to know then? I suppose half arsed rumours and stories without detail are what constitutes news for you but to me i like a bit of detail then i'll know the facts and can talk about it, continue anyway with your next round of rumour, nonsense arguments and stories from u-10's Badminton. Oh and i'll add one of these just for you :rolleyes:

antoobrien

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Nice to see you are keeping the whole thing off topic

The topic is the future - hence relevance - of the club.

Nice to see you're still in denial about that.

stampydmonkey

Didn't help that they changed the connacht rugby matches to the same time on the same night as the soccer games. Also the fact that you can get a pint up at the rugby and not in Terryland (Eamonn Deacy Park). I know a load of people who just tag along to the rugby just cause you can get a pint.

A good few of you don't have any interest in it but an awful lot of us spent our childhood going to Galway United matches in both Terryland and Crowley Park with absolutely massive crowds in attendance, with incredible atmospheres. Can remember banging the hoardings around both stadiums with many others on countless nights. It was some intimidating atmosphere for the opposition teams and I would love if that could come back. Yes, it will take a lot of hard work and fair play to GUST for sticking at it, but why not get behind it? Whats the worst that it can do....entertain those who like it, take a few kids off the streets for a few hours, give something for talented local lads to aim for.

I don't think I've ever celebrated goals for any of the teams I support, and I will include Ireland in that, than I have for Galway United. I for one, would love to see it back in whatever united form, and see it back for good

antoobrien

stampydmonkey wrote: »

Didn't help that they changed the connacht rugby matches to the same time on the same night as the soccer games. Also the fact that you can get a pint up at the rugby and not in Terryland (Eamonn Deacy Park). I know a load of people who just tag along to the rugby just cause you can get a pint.

The attendances were going down a long time before Connacht took advantage of the early Friday & Saturday slots, as well as the ability to get into the dogs for next nothing, it really makes for a good night.

Also the switch to summer soccer (competing directly against gaa club matches, wtf were the FAI thinking) and the unavailability of the traditional game times (due to chaing work patterns and TV coverage of foreign leagues) has done a lot more to damage attendances than the changes to the times of connacht rugby matches.

Still though, there's only between 3k & 9k going to those (rugby) matches.

ben.schlomo

antoobrien wrote: »

The topic is the future - hence relevance - of the club.

Nice to see you're still in denial about that.

And it quite clearly is relevant given the amount of discussion in both the media and online, so maybe you might just have to accept that and go back to the u-11's swimming and quit trolling this thread with your GAA bias.

antoobrien

ben.schlomo wrote: »

And it quite clearly is relevant given the amount of discussion in both the media and online, so maybe you might just have to accept that

The only reason it's being discussed in the media is because the tribune group (including GBFM) don't want to be seen as being anti-soccer (seeing as the sports editor is a hurler that's never going to be accepted).

The complaint from Mrs OBumble, which I heartily agree with, is all the attention for a defunct club that failed because of lack of interest from the people of Galway is rather pathetic really.

774 people at a home match (against one of the top 5 in the league at the time) vs the 4,000 at the rugby match against the league whipping boys on Saturday kinda speaks to soccer's position in the pecking order in Galway. So yeah, the attention that non existent Galway utd is getting is rather baffling.

Galway Utd failed after less than 35 years in operation. Will the new entity see 5?

ben.schlomo wrote: »

go back to the u-11's swimming and quit trolling this thread with your GAA bias.

You should be thankful to the gaa in Galway, after all two of Galway Utd's biggest ever matches were played at GAA grounds because of terryland wasn't up to the (low at the time given the pitch in carraroe had to be roped off) european standards.

Redhairedguy

Alright guys. Stop with the sniping, it's really not pleasant to read, and it adds nothing to the discussion.

If you can't post here with resorting to little passive aggressive comments, then I suggest you go the way of the proverbial shepherd, and 'get the flock out of here!' :pac:

Paddyfield

Antoobrien, you don't care about soccer in Galway. That's fine. But others do care. Let's not lose sight of that.

From a financial perspective, a professional or semi professional football club will create employment and attract visitors to Galway. That's why locally based companies have sponsored Galway United in the past (Radisson, Thermo King, Specsavers, Aer Arann and Supermac's spring to mind).

Many local politicians from various backgrounds were regulars at games. Michael D, Padraig Connelly, Billy Cameron, Nial McNeilus, Frank Fahy, etc (I've probably just discredited my points :0) )

I don't want to venture off topic but let's look at another sport. Basketball is a minority sport in Galway but there are people in Galway who earn money from it and kids who have learned about discipline and commitment from it and made life long friends from it. It's never been on my radar but fair play to those who are dedicated to it.

Soccer is no different.

Anyway, Galway United Supporters Trust are holding a public meeting next week. I haven't heard the date of venue yet but it should give us an insight as to the latest development with regard to Galway FC.

Sleephead

Just casually reading this....I'm amazed at how insecure and threatened GAA heads seem to be about Soccer!