Unhappy fans air their views

Consultants listen to what the fans have to say

Only around 100 people turned up for the first of the public forums organised to let supporters have their say on problems facing Irish League football.

Five public meetings have been scheduled to enable sports minister Michael McGimpsey's advisory panel to gauge grassroots opinion.

On Monday night those who did turn up at Craigavon Leisure Centre in County Armagh took their opportunity to let off a bit of steam.

Administrators, coaches, the media and run-down grounds all came in for a lot of flak.

The turn-out was disappointiung

There were calls for Northern Ireland football to have just one administrative body.

At present, the Smirnoff Premiership and Divisions One and Two are run by the Irish League.

But the game's ruling body is the Irish Football Association which rules supreme on disciplinary issues, international scene, Irish Cup and the hundreds of intermediate and junior clubs in the province.

"I think we should have just one association - we have to get it right at the top," said one fan.

"There are too many people down in Belfast getting too many benefits out of it."

Newry Town manager Alfie Wylie was there

Another fan said: "Most of the guys in charge of the game are over 50 and have been on these committees for 20 years.

"The time has come to give younger people the chance to inject some enthusiasm into the way the game is organised here."

Attendances at Irish League matches have fallen sharply over the last decade and supporters highlighted some of the reasons for the decline.

Some felt the standard of play had slipped but many blamed the state of grounds as a major factor.

"The toilets at some grounds are disgusting and the catering on offer is another turn-off," said a fan.

Children free

There were calls for a fresh look at the way the game is promoted in Morthern Ireland.

Some felt free tickets should be given out to school children in a bid to get them interested in going to local Irish League fixtures instead of heading over to the likes of Manchester and Glasgow to watch cross-channel Premier clubs.

The idea of playing matches on Sundays was also mentioned.

The opinions expressed at the public meetings will be put to the members of minister Michael McGimpsey's advisory panel at a conference on February 10 and 11.

McGimpsey wants them to then thrash out a strategy for developing the game over the next 10 to 20 years.