Once again the premise of an All Ireland soccer league and national team has been given thought with the anniversary dinner of the Shamrock XI against Brazil. The dinner also highlighted that sectarianism in sport was institutional in the North at the time of the match. With the person who organized the game never again being considered by the then IFA to play for Northern Ireland. Many of the ideas that existed then are still prominent to the IFA’s thinking today.
With a virtual embargo of players going to England to apply their trade, both soccer organizations need to start to reinvent soccer in Ireland in order to improve and raise standards. Isolated cases have occurred in the recent past with Derry city making it to the 2nd round of European competition. This, however, should not be the exception but should be the rule. For decades Greek teams were considered push over’s but now because their relative success in European competition both at team and national level, the Greeks have gained more respect, with the top teams being able to attract quality players.
Both leagues need investment in their teams. There should also be financial aid for teams who get to Europe so that the resources are there for these teams to make it beyond the usual expectancy of the qualifying rounds. After all they representing Ireland in Europe and should be afforded all means possible to ensure their success.
An all Ireland league should not be costly to implement as all the ingredients are there, it just requires someone with vision and foresight to put them all together to create am more exciting and competitive league. An All Ireland league would basically be a confederation of the 2 present leagues into the Irish Football Confederation. Both existing leagues would for all intent and purposes remain the same in structure. The only difference would be both would become football conferences of the new National Football League with the top 4 from each conference playing for the Setanta cup in a round robin to determine the football champions of Ireland and European competition places. The conference champions would receive the existing trophies of each league. To help raise the bar in football a Celtic tournament may also be envisaged between Ireland, Wales and Scotland and the Celtic regions of Spain. This could be an opening competition for the respective leagues.
In has been always stated that it was a player’s thing to have an All Ireland Team. In order to attract the best players for the national team a series of playoffs should take place similar to that in rugby. These playoffs would involve an Ireland xi, an exile x, however selectors should be encourage to consider players of Irish extraction from countries with large Irish populations such as Australia, Argentina, Canada, USA and South Africa etc. In today’s game success can only come about with money and money can only come about with success. Micro politicking in football will ensure any success is short lived.
