Im not from ireland but i think that a United Ireland Football team would be better, could make some noise in the European championships and qualify for the world cup more consistently. A united Ireland league would have better quality and a bigger TV market. What do you (as Irish, north or south) think about either? There is probably a thread for this already. sorry if there is.
I'm English. The majority people in Northern Ireland consider themselves British and Northern Irish. If they were to unite with anyone it would be a Great Britain team not Ireland. Which is exactly what is happening at the Olympics this year. Team GB. Although some people born in Northern Ireland consider themselves Irish and are allowed to represent The Republic in sport and have dual citizenship. As a country however this won't happen.
I wish it was this way, like the rugby team, but it will possibly never happen. Northern Ireland needs us more than we need them though, they've a few good players but most of the squad is desperate.
Thank God for the English to tell us how things are, lol. The irish olympic team is All-Ireland. People for NI can represent either. As far as the original post is concerned. We probably aren't ready for one team and football association. I'm from the north but like half the population up here I have always supported the Republic and always will. I'm happy with how things are as players with Irish citizenship from the north are allowed to play for the Republic. If there was one team, big compromises would have to be made from both sides which a lot of people wouldn't be happy with.
Starting first and foremost with the blazers or the suits. One president, one treasurer, one secretary, etc. where now there are two. Don't ever lose sight of the fact that none of these blazers will voluntarily vote himself out of power, tickets, worldwide free trips and assorted other freebies and perks. Blazers first, team when they think of it.
Well I didn't see any of you Irish stepping in to answer the man. And it's still a fact that a United Ireland team cannot exist unless NI leaves the UK. Fifa and Uefa would never allow it. As you said, If you're from NI and want to play for the Republic, you already can so a united Ireland team is pointless.
https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/taking-a-leaf-from-the-magners-league.1740324/ https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/the-official-all-ireland-league-thread-r.448397/ https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/is-it-time-for-team-ireland.571656/ This is hardly a new topic here. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...ll-for-allireland-football-team-16173328.html http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kenny-touts-all-island-soccer-team-197673.html The Taoiseach and First Minister Martin McGuinness support it. -------------------------------------------------------------------- If it were up to me we'd have a team with this flag: This anthem: And games split 50-50 between Belfast and Dublin. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Whether or not there is an All-Island team I'd have a 18-team Celtic Premier League with NI (48-Uefa Coefficient), Ireland(33), and Wales(46) with 6 teams from each. Bottom 3 get relegated back to whichever country or countries they came from and winners of NI, Ireland, and Wales first division get promoted to the CPL. I think that could work, but who knows?
There will never be a united national team but there should be a united league. The league could be used for young up and coming Premier League players rather than sending them to lower leagues in England and for older Irish players(eg.Robbie Keane) rather than them retiring.
I would like to see a few Northern Irish clubs play in the league of Ireland Premier division, and if they finish bottom, they can go back up north, Something similar to how Lecenstein clubs play in the Swiss league. They keep the Irish Cup to garante one representate in European competition. This seems far down the line. There is a cross border competition called the setanta cup but is limited to six team from each and is one of 4-6 competitions depending on each club playing in Europe or Provincial or county cup. I would say scrapping the league cup north and south and making the cross border competition a all Ireland league cup. Just regionilise the early rounds of the competition to reduce travelling costs and it would be more important than the current league cup or setanta cup.
An 18 team unified league that relegates the bottom two teams from each nation to a national conference would be a good idea. The highest finisher from each nation could receive that nations champions league birth. Perhaps the second-lowest finishers in each nation could playoff against the second highest finishers in the national first divison. Each nation could retain its cup tournament, and replace the Setanta cup with an all-ireland cup with all teams from each nation's pyramid. More ideal would be a unified league with Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. That could generate many more sponsorship dollars than the present situation or an all-ireland premier league.
It would be a step backwards for the Scottish clubs, only two or three clubs on the island of Ireland would survive with the Scottish Premier League. and there are only one or two welsh sides who would compete with Irish clubs, especially in terms of fan base. the cost of travel for welsh clubs across the Irish sea would be a big hinderence to clubs who may only get three or four hundred paying fans at games
Considering the crap that's going on at the moment over a rag I think we're a million miles away from a united league