Reality Check!

I was totally astounded to hear the admission price for the Irish Cup semi-final between Coleraine (hereafter known as 'the scum') and Donegal Celtic, which takes place at Ballymena Showgrounds on Saturday March 29. As United have no game that day (don't start me on analysis of why we are not still in the cup), I admit I was toying with the idea of attending the game. But once I was told tickets were priced at £15 for adults, I decided the price was too rich for me. Are the I.F.A. living in 'cloud cuckoo' land? Who in their right mind would want to 'fleece' loyal supporters who want to watch their team in action? It's surely time the football authorities had a reality check, football here is in my opinion overpriced at the moment at £9 and I would be less than pleased if I had to pay £15. Just imagine attending a game at the Oval, Solitude, Shamrock Park or Coleraine and being asked to pay £15, I somehow doubt whether many fans would turn up in those circumstances. Only three grounds in the Irish league are capable of giving spectators an uninterrupted view of the pitch and decent toilet facilities. Ballymena Showgrounds, Mourneview Park and Windsor Park are the three, the remainder are to say the least sub-standard from a spectating point of view. But at these prices and with the quality being served up, fans aren't getting value for money even in these three grounds. I can't honestly see the 'Scum' fans attending in any great numbers, they are after all 'notoriously' tight with their money, sneaking in at halftime when the gates are opened. Donegal Celtic have no fans to speak of, so all in all it may be a very poorly supported game and the blame will surely lie with the I.F.A. who set the price. Its probably too late to rectify the situation now, but hopefully the 'rumours' of a big price hike for next season (£15 has been mentioned for it also), will not be realised and we can all go back to 'living' in the real world!

First Stone!

There's an old saying, biblical I think, that goes 'let him that is without sin, cast the first stone'. The reason for me quoting this is quite simple, United have been accused rightly or wrongly of paying amateurs excessively. Are they alone in this practice one might wonder? The answer of course is most definitely no. So whoever started this 'witch hunt' had best be careful and be 'squeaky clean', for this could rebound on them horribly. The rule regarding the payment of amateurs is vague to say the least anyway and in fact deems that if an amateur is paid over a fixed amount (don't ask me for figures, £50 is one I've heard, but I haven't a clue), then that player is deemed to be a professional. So in that respect if United are guilty in this instance, what are they in fact guilty of. Does the rule not say that these players (and its only a handful, 3 or 4 at the most), are in fact deemed to be professionals and United are doing nothing wrong by paying them over 'the odds', if in fact they are doing so. I heard a story some time ago of an amateur representing Norn Iron at -23 level and our glorious I.F.A. paying that player £150 per game, surely contravening their own rules, or is that okay because its them that are doing it and therefore its alright. My own interpretation of the amateur rule is quite vague and I believed, rightly or wrongly, that players kept their amateur status as it allowed them to move freely back into the amateur leagues without having to be reinstated as an amateur when their senior playing days were over. Ballymena I'm sure are guiltless in this matter and the I.F.A. would be well advised to let the matter drop, the last thing they need with a new league being set up, is to bring even more skeletons out of their own cupboard!