The Football Thread

[Caomhaoin]

I've only been to one league of Ireland game, and that was when I was a kid when Kilkenny City were still a thing.

The new generation of stadia dilute traditional football atmosphere substantially. I have been to see Atletico Madrid twice this season in their shiny new box of a ground. Absolutely no comparison to the Calderón which would be hopping for every game, the pitch and fans are in close proximity. Plus, it's in the middle of fucking nowhere, which means driving through horrendous traffic. There is a metro stop but but it's ages away from the city centre where I live.

Best grounds for atmosphere? From the ones I've been  to, the Maracana in Belgrade or Easter Road in Edinburgh. I'd like to say Goodison but I've heard the following chants 'where's your famous atmosphere' and 'is this a library?' there, so it's hit or miss to be honest. Some scouser I met on holidays in Scotland last year referred to it as 'Woodison' which is fair enough 😂

[Paul keohane]

I've only been to one league of Ireland game, and that was when I was a kid when Kilkenny City were still a thing.

The new generation of stadia dilute traditional football atmosphere substantially. I have been to see Atletico Madrid twice this season in their shiny new box of a ground. Absolutely no comparison to the Calderón which would be hopping for every game, the pitch and fans are in close proximity. Plus, it's in the middle of fucking nowhere, which means driving through horrendous traffic. There is a metro stop but but it's ages away from the city centre where I live.

Best grounds for atmosphere? From the ones I've been  to, the Maracana in Belgrade or Easter Road in Edinburgh. I'd like to say Goodison but I've heard the following chants 'where's your famous atmosphere' and 'is this a library?' there, so it's hit or miss to be honest. Some scouser I met on holidays in Scotland last year referred to it as 'Woodison' which is fair enough 😂

i was over in Belgrade about 15 years ago for a Champions league qualifier between  Red Star and Cork city,fuckin insane atmosphere!.I could only imagine the atmosphere if they were playing a big established European side!.
Yeah a fella i go to games with said the exact same thing about the new Atletico ground,soulless!.
The likes of Man utd,City,Liverpool and a host of other PL clubs are swamped with day trippers from all over the world,it totally dilutes the atmosphere. Unfortunately thats the way its gone.

[Caomhaoin]

It's mental alright, the ultras 'delije' direct everything. I was at a Belgrade derby and the Red Star boys shouted out something in unison, and the whole stadium stood up, even parents making their kids get up. I asked my Serbian buddy why we were standing, he goes 'They say whoever doesn't stand up is a shiptar (Albanian)😂😂

They are even more so at basketball. Playing a Croatian crowd from Split, and the handful of fans that were brave enough to come got the most ridiculous amount of abuse 'kill them all, kill them all!' Etc .

[Paul keohane]

 

[Trev]

Definitely agree on the new grounds. Highbury was great, the crowd were practically on the pitch. The Emirates isn't as bad as the reputation makes it out, but it's utter shit compared to what it was

[Paul keohane]

Was over in Warsaw for another Cork city game against Legia  2 years ago,absolutely crazy cunts too!

[Bogmetaller]

I don't begrudge anybody supporting a PL club, no matter where they are in the world or what reason they give, I just wish that because you pay a third of the price to watch a lower-league team, it doesn't mean that you only get a third of the entertainment or skill value. The frustrating thing is being an English lad in an office of Dubs and being the only LOI fan. When it comes to football they're happy to slate their own league and sit watching Sky Sports at home instead.

I'd be different there - I do begrudge people supporting English teams beciase most of them will want Englands national team to lose when they play or will be singing about the Ra in the pub - if you're going to do the latter don't be hypocritical in supporting an English team. The amount of gowls in this country that are guilty of that beggars belief.

[Paul keohane]

Its like a few years back, when our pubs were packed for the champions league final all roaring on Liverpool,wanting Jordan Henderson to lift the trophy.A short few months later same fellas were roaring at the tv hoping he'd miss a spotter in the world cup against Columbia.

Ive always found it bizarre,

For the record here ,ive been a Coventry supporter all my life,and was delighted when Dion Dublin got an England call up back in the 90s.

[Snare]

Much prefer LOI precisely because of tha.

same,the standard of the loi might not be as good,but there are no event junky types at games,everyone in the ground gives a fuck.Ive been drifting from football at the heighest level for years because of the way Coventry City have gone.

Fixed that for ya Paul 

[astfgyl]

I wonder if the Airtricity League was shown on telly with the same production values as the EPL, would the likes of me think better of it?

I knew one fella who used to go to Cork City games and he always maintained it was right fun but there isn't a local team where I am so it never really caught on around here. Regarding the supporting of English clubs by the Irish, there is a large amount of hypocrisy associated with that. From a personal point of view, I picked a team to follow as a kid and it just stuck over the years to the point where I found myself roaring at the telly over it.

[Paul keohane]

Much prefer LOI precisely because of tha.

same,the standard of the loi might not be as good,but there are no event junky types at games,everyone in the ground gives a fuck.Ive been drifting from football at the heighest level for years because of the way Coventry City have gone.

Fixed that for ya Paul 

well your not wrong,coventry moved into a soulless new ground after Highfield road,and are owned by gangsters.So yeah they are a prime example why i fell out of love with the whole thing.

[Paul keohane]

I wonder if the Airtricity League was shown on telly with the same production values as the EPL, would the likes of me think better of it?

I knew one fella who used to go to Cork City games and he always maintained it was right fun but there isn't a local team where I am so it never really caught on around here. Regarding the supporting of English clubs by the Irish, there is a large amount of hypocrisy associated with that. From a personal point of view, I picked a team to follow as a kid and it just stuck over the years to the point where I found myself roaring at the telly over it.

My father brought me to Cork city matches when i was a kid,i just stuck with it since,ive had some unbelievable memories from supporting the club!,unbelievable highs and lows.The league of Ireland has always had potential ,but the powers that be never cared,hopefull that will change.The league gets a lot of stick,but its mighty craic!,some of the worst games imaginable some weeks,but some absolutely gloriously nights too!.


I support a English club and watch games on tv every week,but i never lost sight of what a football a supporter is,someone who supports where there from.

I told both my sons,i dont give a fuck who you support in England,but you have to support Cork city first and foremost.

[Bogmetaller]

I wonder if the Airtricity League was shown on telly with the same production values as the EPL, would the likes of me think better of it?

I knew one fella who used to go to Cork City games and he always maintained it was right fun but there isn't a local team where I am so it never really caught on around here. Regarding the supporting of English clubs by the Irish, there is a large amount of hypocrisy associated with that. From a personal point of view, I picked a team to follow as a kid and it just stuck over the years to the point where I found myself roaring at the telly over it.

My father brought me to Cork city matches when i was a kid,i just stuck with it since,ive had some unbelievable memories from supporting the club!,unbelievable highs and lows.The league of Ireland has always had potential ,but the powers that be never cared,hopefull that will change.The league gets a lot of stick,but its mighty craic!,some of the worst games imaginable some weeks,but some absolutely gloriously nights too!.


I support a English club and watch games on tv every week,but i never lost sight of what a football a supporter is,someone who supports where there from.

I told both my sons,i dont give a fuck who you support in England,but you have to support Cork city first and foremost.

I have to ask you a question - were you at Kreator in the academy December a few years back? The atmosphere in the mosh pit was one of love peace and good will - anyway you'd be hammering lads and then you'd take a break and have a chat - I got talking to someone and somehow a cork city membership card was produced from a wallet 😂😂

[Paul keohane]

I wonder if the Airtricity League was shown on telly with the same production values as the EPL, would the likes of me think better of it?

I knew one fella who used to go to Cork City games and he always maintained it was right fun but there isn't a local team where I am so it never really caught on around here. Regarding the supporting of English clubs by the Irish, there is a large amount of hypocrisy associated with that. From a personal point of view, I picked a team to follow as a kid and it just stuck over the years to the point where I found myself roaring at the telly over it.

My father brought me to Cork city matches when i was a kid,i just stuck with it since,ive had some unbelievable memories from supporting the club!,unbelievable highs and lows.The league of Ireland has always had potential ,but the powers that be never cared,hopefull that will change.The league gets a lot of stick,but its mighty craic!,some of the worst games imaginable some weeks,but some absolutely gloriously nights too!.


I support a English club and watch games on tv every week,but i never lost sight of what a football a supporter is,someone who supports where there from.

I told both my sons,i dont give a fuck who you support in England,but you have to support Cork city first and foremost.

I have to ask you a question - were you at Kreator in the academy December a few years back? The atmosphere in the mosh pit was one of love peace and good will - anyway you'd be hammering lads and then you'd take a break and have a chat - I got talking to someone and somehow a cork city membership card was produced from a wallet 😂😂

No wasnt me! ,did the bloke have a skin head?,,im 99% sure its a fella i know,Jer.

[astfgyl]

The fella I was on about going to the Cork City games fits the bill for that quite nicely as well if he does have a skinhead. Not originally from Cork either.

Anyway just having a look there, the nearest team to me is in Waterford, around an hour and a half drive. Well Cork would be about the same length of time but geographically farther. I wouldn't be prepared to put in the effort being honest about it. When I was a young fella, I gave a couple of weeks staying in a place near Tolka Park and from the balcony I could see a corner of the pitch. That was as close as I have come to ever attending. They were playing some crowd I'd never heard of in an early European qualifying round and fair enough I didn't go but there was a decent enough buzz around the place before and after the game. More than I would have thought to be fair to them.