Whilst things are far from rosy Foyleside, things are considerably worse for Cork fans. The club's Surpporters Trust, FORAS, are hosting a protest before tonight's game with Sligo Rovers, urging fans to enter ten minutes late and to show the red card to the current ownership.
Read more about the protest here
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Help you club to help you
There is currently a survey running on the City website to help the club to understand the needs of supporters.
Survey Link
Survey Link
Thursday, September 24, 2009
McGinn case: Part I
For those that may of missed it, City were in court yesterday over the McGinn case. The case revolves around a sell on clause in the Niall McGinn transfer. McGinn, now with Celtic, moved from Swifts to City. Dungannon are claiming that there is a sell on clause in the contract and they are due money. We don’t know what Derry are claiming, as once again we haven’t been told anything.
The case was only up for “a mention” yesterday, but City have been ordered to produce full details of the transfer in time for next week. Perhaps we finally might get some clarity on that deal.
The case was only up for “a mention” yesterday, but City have been ordered to produce full details of the transfer in time for next week. Perhaps we finally might get some clarity on that deal.
Derry 1 Pats 1
BBC Report
I wasn’t at the game on Tuesday, as work once again intervened to prevent me making the trip. I listen to Greengo(and Kevin McLaughlin’s interruptions) on iCandy and it seemed a rather forgettable game. A phone conversation with me da after the game confirmed the suspicions. However it is two points dropped and in a three team group, this could prove very costly.
I wasn’t at the game on Tuesday, as work once again intervened to prevent me making the trip. I listen to Greengo(and Kevin McLaughlin’s interruptions) on iCandy and it seemed a rather forgettable game. A phone conversation with me da after the game confirmed the suspicions. However it is two points dropped and in a three team group, this could prove very costly.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Red and White Army Flying Column
Cork City v Derry City, 6th October
Just booked return flights for 0.02c. Love or loathe them, Ryanair have added the dimension of taking a flight to a game these days.
Just booked return flights for 0.02c. Love or loathe them, Ryanair have added the dimension of taking a flight to a game these days.
Monday, September 14, 2009
A bright future
In the midst of the all the doom and gloom around the Brandywell at the minutes, there are still some great things going on around the club.
ESCAPE PROJECT
I was involved in some of the early research and preparation of the funding proposal for this centre and I'm delighted that is now coming to fruitition.
ESCAPE PROJECT
I was involved in some of the early research and preparation of the funding proposal for this centre and I'm delighted that is now coming to fruitition.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Give us your money, but don't ask us any questions
Interview with Blackburn chairman
The link above comes from the Lancashire Telegraph and contains an interesting interview with the Blackburn Rovers Chairman, John Williams.
Williams is to be complimented for giving a straight forward and honest assessment of the club’s finances, what it costs to run a club and where the money goes. The article is simple enough such that you don’t need to be an accountant to understand it , allowing fans to follow the money trail.
Meanwhile on this side of the Irish Sea fans, in the main, continue to have to exist in an information vacuum. Three of the current top four; Bohs, Derry, Cork have experienced financial difficulties this year and yet it is only when it has got to crisis point that the boards at the respective clubs have disclosed any information.
Irish football, as we are painfully aware, is not the playground of the rich and famous. There are no oligarchs, no sheikhs, few wealthy ex pats. The boards at many clubs are now made up of “the last men standing”, people who are prepared to take on the thankless task of serving on a board.
However it seems as if a code of “omerta” descends on the board when they take up their positions. In the Irish game this season, Cork and Derry fans(amongst others) have been greeted with media headlines outlines the financial predicament of their clubs, with many surprised by this. I can only speak from the Derry case but at a meeting in June the board claimed that the club would be fine, and that selling a portion’s of next year’s season tickets this year was not going to threaten the club’s future. Three months later, we learn that the players have only been paid 25% of their wages.
Fans in this League tend to be incredibly loyal. Rubbish facilities, regular financial problems and amateur setups off the field. Fans at most clubs around the League can identify with these issues and yet in the main we continue to come back. The recently deceased Sir Bobby Robson encapsulated it for me when he said,
“What is a club anyway? It is the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city”
Many of the fans here are fans of the club, of which the first team are a part. Obviously the first eleven are the highest profile expression of the club but they are not the only element of the club. The club is the players, the staff, the support, the infrastructure. It is all of these things.
As an Irish person, it takes an effort to support the League here. We could all just stay at home like the rest of the population and be drip fed our football in HD from the shiny screens in the corner of every living room. It takes an effort to get up, get to the games, hit the road for the away trips, support the draws, buy the merchandise. The clubs don’t make it easy for people and then they operate in a culture of secrecy.
Internet Message boards have “flattened the earth”, no more so in relation to football clubs. Whereas in the past you would discuss the team with your mates or people that you met on a face to face basis. However the internet allows discussions to be played out by people from all parts, on all issues. This have allowed for a greater dissemination of information and therefore fans tend to at least have the ability to learn about a greater variety of topics that in the past.
Don’t get me wrong, the message board has also given rise to the “keyboard warrior”. The person who will whinge and moan about anything and everything, but would never dream of saying these things in public. People will make wild allegations, perpetuate unsubstantiated rumours and general muddy the waters. People with pseudonyms can log on and post whatever they see fit to. However the message board can also be a mine of information if used correctly.
Whatever they may say otherwise, players and directors read them. In Derry’s case, we have several board members who post on the message board. This again can be a doublededged sword. By engaging in the digital medium, the board have the chance to convey the information directly to the support. However by doing so, they also make themselves accountable to posters. As one member of the Derry site memorably commented during the news of the wages crisis, the Derry chairman was prepared to comment on a thread relating to Chuck Norris, but a thread of pertinent questions as the club’s finances was ignored.
Fans provide a major source of income for clubs here and fans seek accountability and transparency. Whilst many understand that disclosures such as “Player X is on £xxx per week” are unreasonable, there has to be a middle ground between this and the current situation. In any facet of life, if someone holds their hands up and says “I need help here” then you will appreciate their honesty and do what you can. As it is in the case of Derry, Bohs and Cork it was more a case of “We need money, you are fans, give us money”. FORAS, the Cork Supporters Trust, have to be admired for their principled stance in not crumbling to the emotional blackmail when the club was under threat of being wound up.
The common refrain from people is “Why don’t you go on the board?”. To be frank, this is childish criticism. As stated previously, serving on a board is difficult, no one disputes this. My da served on the Derry board for a decade and I know the work that is involved. However questioning the direction that the club is taking or articulate criticism of a decision has a place at every club. In an organisation, there should always been an element of dissent, a questioning attitude which fosters debate and improvement. A football club may be a different from any other company, but it is still that, a company. John Williams has shown in his interview how the club can be run on business lines, and even worse, he has told the fans how and why they have done it!
Fans should demand more, as they deserve better.
The link above comes from the Lancashire Telegraph and contains an interesting interview with the Blackburn Rovers Chairman, John Williams.
Williams is to be complimented for giving a straight forward and honest assessment of the club’s finances, what it costs to run a club and where the money goes. The article is simple enough such that you don’t need to be an accountant to understand it , allowing fans to follow the money trail.
Meanwhile on this side of the Irish Sea fans, in the main, continue to have to exist in an information vacuum. Three of the current top four; Bohs, Derry, Cork have experienced financial difficulties this year and yet it is only when it has got to crisis point that the boards at the respective clubs have disclosed any information.
Irish football, as we are painfully aware, is not the playground of the rich and famous. There are no oligarchs, no sheikhs, few wealthy ex pats. The boards at many clubs are now made up of “the last men standing”, people who are prepared to take on the thankless task of serving on a board.
However it seems as if a code of “omerta” descends on the board when they take up their positions. In the Irish game this season, Cork and Derry fans(amongst others) have been greeted with media headlines outlines the financial predicament of their clubs, with many surprised by this. I can only speak from the Derry case but at a meeting in June the board claimed that the club would be fine, and that selling a portion’s of next year’s season tickets this year was not going to threaten the club’s future. Three months later, we learn that the players have only been paid 25% of their wages.
Fans in this League tend to be incredibly loyal. Rubbish facilities, regular financial problems and amateur setups off the field. Fans at most clubs around the League can identify with these issues and yet in the main we continue to come back. The recently deceased Sir Bobby Robson encapsulated it for me when he said,
“What is a club anyway? It is the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city”
Many of the fans here are fans of the club, of which the first team are a part. Obviously the first eleven are the highest profile expression of the club but they are not the only element of the club. The club is the players, the staff, the support, the infrastructure. It is all of these things.
As an Irish person, it takes an effort to support the League here. We could all just stay at home like the rest of the population and be drip fed our football in HD from the shiny screens in the corner of every living room. It takes an effort to get up, get to the games, hit the road for the away trips, support the draws, buy the merchandise. The clubs don’t make it easy for people and then they operate in a culture of secrecy.
Internet Message boards have “flattened the earth”, no more so in relation to football clubs. Whereas in the past you would discuss the team with your mates or people that you met on a face to face basis. However the internet allows discussions to be played out by people from all parts, on all issues. This have allowed for a greater dissemination of information and therefore fans tend to at least have the ability to learn about a greater variety of topics that in the past.
Don’t get me wrong, the message board has also given rise to the “keyboard warrior”. The person who will whinge and moan about anything and everything, but would never dream of saying these things in public. People will make wild allegations, perpetuate unsubstantiated rumours and general muddy the waters. People with pseudonyms can log on and post whatever they see fit to. However the message board can also be a mine of information if used correctly.
Whatever they may say otherwise, players and directors read them. In Derry’s case, we have several board members who post on the message board. This again can be a doublededged sword. By engaging in the digital medium, the board have the chance to convey the information directly to the support. However by doing so, they also make themselves accountable to posters. As one member of the Derry site memorably commented during the news of the wages crisis, the Derry chairman was prepared to comment on a thread relating to Chuck Norris, but a thread of pertinent questions as the club’s finances was ignored.
Fans provide a major source of income for clubs here and fans seek accountability and transparency. Whilst many understand that disclosures such as “Player X is on £xxx per week” are unreasonable, there has to be a middle ground between this and the current situation. In any facet of life, if someone holds their hands up and says “I need help here” then you will appreciate their honesty and do what you can. As it is in the case of Derry, Bohs and Cork it was more a case of “We need money, you are fans, give us money”. FORAS, the Cork Supporters Trust, have to be admired for their principled stance in not crumbling to the emotional blackmail when the club was under threat of being wound up.
The common refrain from people is “Why don’t you go on the board?”. To be frank, this is childish criticism. As stated previously, serving on a board is difficult, no one disputes this. My da served on the Derry board for a decade and I know the work that is involved. However questioning the direction that the club is taking or articulate criticism of a decision has a place at every club. In an organisation, there should always been an element of dissent, a questioning attitude which fosters debate and improvement. A football club may be a different from any other company, but it is still that, a company. John Williams has shown in his interview how the club can be run on business lines, and even worse, he has told the fans how and why they have done it!
Fans should demand more, as they deserve better.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Derry Journal: New stadium fast tracked
The fact that Helen Quigley, is spearheading the moves fills me with confidence. This is the woman whose bandwagoning antics were spectacularly exposed by Colin Green on Radio Foyle during the 2006 Euro run. Until we start seeing work on the site I'll reserve judgement.
The fact that Helen Quigley, is spearheading the moves fills me with confidence. This is the woman whose bandwagoning antics were spectacularly exposed by Colin Green on Radio Foyle during the 2006 Euro run. Until we start seeing work on the site I'll reserve judgement.
Interview here.
Refreshing honesty from the Blackburn chairman there. Meanwhile the rest of us languish with the information that boards' may or may not decide to release.
Refreshing honesty from the Blackburn chairman there. Meanwhile the rest of us languish with the information that boards' may or may not decide to release.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
New "fleg"
Quickpost this image to Myspace, Digg, Facebook, and others!New flag ordered,click on it to enlarge. Should be here in a week, though with the fixture rearrangements I don't know when I'll actually get to unfurl it yet
Monday, September 7, 2009
Job done, just.
Saturday night was job done, but it was far from pretty.
Indeed if it wasn’t such a vital game you would have switched it over. However as we had been reminded ad nauseum, there were vital World Cup points at stake. It was a case of get there, get the points and get the hell out of Dodge City.
Maybe familiarity breeds contempt but I am no fan of the island. Numbers were down on the travelling support, but that has been true throughout the campaign. However more bizarre was the complete absence of home support.
The early goal was brilliant and it was over and above expectations to make a breakthrough so early. For the next ten minutes or so I was very impressed, we pushed on, we had them on the rack and then inexplicably we decided to ease off. Given’s save immediately after the goal was warning enough of the threat that the home side posed, but Ireland seemed powerless to react. There was debate over whether we were being swamped by the extra Cypriot in the midfield but it is hard to know with the current pairing in the middle.
I’m a big Kilbane fan, but his place is definitely under threat after another poor enough showing. I thought he was slow coming out to close down for the Cypriot goal. Furthermore, some of his distribution out of defence was abysmal.
The front two both scored which is what you want, but there are areas for improvement all around the pitch. The midfield is still a conundrum, but if that shot of Whelan’s had gone in then it may have been glossed over. Duff kept coming in off the line, how I long from the days when he just put his head down and went for the touchline.
As the time ticked down I just couldn’t see where the goal was coming from. Anyone who was a recipient of a text message from me on the night will be aware that I was far from confident on our ability to get a second. As the Independent wrote about a toxic performance by Ireland, the NAMA of te side Robbie Keane popped up to grab us the points, and salvation. It was the old one two, Duff and Keane that did the damage and we were out of there with the desired result.
As we head to Croker the old FF election slogan comes to mind “A lot done, more to do”. The result this week in Turin may give us a clearer picture of just what we are aiming for next month, but there is still room for improvement.
Indeed if it wasn’t such a vital game you would have switched it over. However as we had been reminded ad nauseum, there were vital World Cup points at stake. It was a case of get there, get the points and get the hell out of Dodge City.
Maybe familiarity breeds contempt but I am no fan of the island. Numbers were down on the travelling support, but that has been true throughout the campaign. However more bizarre was the complete absence of home support.
The early goal was brilliant and it was over and above expectations to make a breakthrough so early. For the next ten minutes or so I was very impressed, we pushed on, we had them on the rack and then inexplicably we decided to ease off. Given’s save immediately after the goal was warning enough of the threat that the home side posed, but Ireland seemed powerless to react. There was debate over whether we were being swamped by the extra Cypriot in the midfield but it is hard to know with the current pairing in the middle.
I’m a big Kilbane fan, but his place is definitely under threat after another poor enough showing. I thought he was slow coming out to close down for the Cypriot goal. Furthermore, some of his distribution out of defence was abysmal.
The front two both scored which is what you want, but there are areas for improvement all around the pitch. The midfield is still a conundrum, but if that shot of Whelan’s had gone in then it may have been glossed over. Duff kept coming in off the line, how I long from the days when he just put his head down and went for the touchline.
As the time ticked down I just couldn’t see where the goal was coming from. Anyone who was a recipient of a text message from me on the night will be aware that I was far from confident on our ability to get a second. As the Independent wrote about a toxic performance by Ireland, the NAMA of te side Robbie Keane popped up to grab us the points, and salvation. It was the old one two, Duff and Keane that did the damage and we were out of there with the desired result.
As we head to Croker the old FF election slogan comes to mind “A lot done, more to do”. The result this week in Turin may give us a clearer picture of just what we are aiming for next month, but there is still room for improvement.
45 minutes: Half a win is better than all of a defeat.
I only saw half the game on Friday but still managed to see Derry score and miss a penalty. The game was won in the first half and having established a two goal advantage, Derry never seriously looked like letting that lead slide.
Conversely, whilst Dundalk didn’t look like getting back into the game the fact that they were down to ten man wasn’t at all obvious. They battled very hard and I thought the middle three of McAreavey, Daly and McGowan were very industrious. They do take the honour of being a side built in the image of their manager and being the mouthiest side in the division. Every challenge, for or against them, they seem to berate the referee. And this was without Mental Mickey on the pitch!
I thought the referee Mr Connolly had a decent game and to follow the cliché of a good referee, you didn’t really notice him. The assistant on the far side drew a fair bit of ire from the City support, but I think we have to look at the inability of our own strikers to time their runs more so that the official’s flag work.
Liam Kearney made a welcome return and showed more in fifteen minutes than we have seen from him so far this season. He skipped past two players and put a ball into the box which was headed wide by Martyn. He was also hauled down from what was a cast iron penalty. Farren didn’t take the opportunity by Kearney popped up at the back post to head home Scullion’s cross to make it three, late in the game.
With Bohs losing again, the talk turned to what might have been had it not been for the midweek defeat to Galway. As it is City are still eight points behind the front runners but with the top two still to come at the Brandywell the League is far from decided as yet. We’ll need a great run of form, but we may yet be the dark horse to come up on the rails.
Or as they say in Sky Sports land, we’ll have a big hand in where the title ends up this year.
Conversely, whilst Dundalk didn’t look like getting back into the game the fact that they were down to ten man wasn’t at all obvious. They battled very hard and I thought the middle three of McAreavey, Daly and McGowan were very industrious. They do take the honour of being a side built in the image of their manager and being the mouthiest side in the division. Every challenge, for or against them, they seem to berate the referee. And this was without Mental Mickey on the pitch!
I thought the referee Mr Connolly had a decent game and to follow the cliché of a good referee, you didn’t really notice him. The assistant on the far side drew a fair bit of ire from the City support, but I think we have to look at the inability of our own strikers to time their runs more so that the official’s flag work.
Liam Kearney made a welcome return and showed more in fifteen minutes than we have seen from him so far this season. He skipped past two players and put a ball into the box which was headed wide by Martyn. He was also hauled down from what was a cast iron penalty. Farren didn’t take the opportunity by Kearney popped up at the back post to head home Scullion’s cross to make it three, late in the game.
With Bohs losing again, the talk turned to what might have been had it not been for the midweek defeat to Galway. As it is City are still eight points behind the front runners but with the top two still to come at the Brandywell the League is far from decided as yet. We’ll need a great run of form, but we may yet be the dark horse to come up on the rails.
Or as they say in Sky Sports land, we’ll have a big hand in where the title ends up this year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)