The recent sub zero conditions have already affected this seasons Carling Premiership fixtures.
Donegal Celtic’s game at home to Glenavon was suspended last weekend due to a frozen pitch, while Portadown’s midweek game against Cliftonville was also postponed.
Glenavon stated on their official website: “Due to ground conditions and health and safety concerns for supporters, today’s game has been called off.”
Tuesday night’s Co. Antrim Shield final was in doubt due to the weather but was allowed to continue despite the freezing conditions.
All of this weekend’s SPL fixtures have also been called off due to the big freeze.
With the Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-finals being played this weekend, no-one will want to fall victim to the ice.
Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final fixtures:
Ballymena United v. Crusaders
Lisburn Distillery v. Newry City
Portadown v. Coleraine
Cliftonville v. Glentoran
The Irish league has had some bright, young players in the past, including the likes of Glenn Ferguson, Gerard McMahon and more recently Liam Boyce.
However, in recent history there haven’t been nearly as many young players to really break through and light up the league. Is it because the clubs are bringing in more experienced players instead of calling young players up from their academies or is there just not the same talent as there once was?
Liam Boyce
Glenavon’s Mark Carson, who recently broke into the first team said: “I hope to be a regular on the team very soon but they have a good strong team at the minute and I know it won’t be easy to break in but I’m just delighted to even be a part of the squad at my age and I can only keep hoping for a chance sometime soon.”
Last summer, former Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce was signed by German giants Werder Bremen and more recently 18-year-old, Ciaran Ryan completed a surprise move from Loughgall to Brazilian side Porto Alegre FC. Perhaps, it is just simply much harder for Irish league clubs to hold on to their star players compared to what it was ten or twenty years ago.
Are the connections between local clubs and the league teams still as strong as they used to be? There isn’t much evidence to prove that league teams are still taking young players from grass roots level. Lurgan Ladies hockey team have benefitted greatly from this structure in recent years and have now become one of the strongest teams in Ireland.
If local clubs could bring young players into the league like they used to, maybe Northern Ireland could benefit in the future. Belgium has certainly benefitted recently by blooding new, young and exciting players such as Romelu Lukaku, Axel Witsel, Eden Hazard and Simon Mignolet.
Sunderland goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet said: “If they (Belgium) could play in another World Cup or European Cup we would be very happy already. We have the talent for it, now we only have to get a team together.”
Obviously these are players with great football talent but perhaps Belgium, who, like Northern Ireland struggle to qualify for international tournaments, could be seen as an example by our wee country and the IFA could create a ruling system for teams to try and bring young players through.
Lisburn Distillery striker, Gary Liggett, said: “I was about 18 when I got my first game for Portadown. It was difficult at that stage because they had players like Gary Hamilton and Vinny Arkins there. It was hard to adapt from playing reserve team football.”
“For someone young it’s probably really important to try and not to get caught up in the whole partying and drinking culture. So common to see young players fade away who prefer to party than play football.”
The reserve league is full of young talent such as Cliftonville’s Jack Duffin and Coleraine’s Ryan Doherty. Hopefully in the next few seasons players like these can bring the league forward.
Crusaders, Cliftonville, who will be the next Irish League club to move on from the grass pitch?
The opposition of the 3G turf feels that the ball does not have that natural bounce and is much more capable of injuring the players. Even the slide tackle has been said to have suffered because the players feel they will get injured on the turf.
Glenavon fan, Andrew Collins stated: “Awful pitches, second rate and no matter what people say they are nowhere near as good as grass.”
Perhaps the entire game is suffering because of the pitch, it could be offering a strong and unfair advantage to the home side.
Cliftonville received their new pitch thanks to the IFA’s “football turf project”, which allowed one club in the league to receive a grant and install the synthetic surface.
The IFA said: “Each phase of Goal funding is capped at $400,000 so this will allow the Association to undertake one project under this phase.”
Could this money be put elsewhere in the local game to help support our grassroots football communities and even advertise our league to help it become a stronger force in European football? By helping fund our grassroots it would eventually have an impact on our national team by giving young players better facilities and coaching.
Perhaps the money could be used for other needs but there are always advantages to these pitches.
Cliftonville's new 3G pitch
Irish FA Club Licensing and Facilities Manager David McVeigh commented: “The Irish FA is pleased to be in a position to assist this project (football turf project) as it supports existing facility work and ties in well with our facilities strategy. The use of synthetic playing surfaces is very much encouraged in order to maximize usage and revenue potential for the venue.”
Cliftonville and Crusaders are now in a stronger position both economically and community wise thanks to the pitch.
With the 3G surface it saves the club a huge amount of money on maintenance bills for the grass pitch, especially during the winter, and after last season’s cancellation of fixtures a lot of clubs lost revenue, especially on Boxing Day. Crusaders were the only club that were able to host most of their games during the icy period.
The clubs are now able to train on their pitch instead of having to pay for another piece of land so their grounds surface is not damaged.
Local footballing groups would be able to rent the pitch for mini tournaments or the club could just allow the pitch tobe used whenever it is needed, helping the community and their fans.
Ballymena United fan, Alistair McIlroy said: “It definitely has its benefits, can be used 24/7, requires little maintenance, can be used by community groups/local clubs and can create much needed revenue for clubs who have them.”
The popularity of our league looks set to be taking a boost as well, with the visit of Premiership side, Bolton Wanderers, to Solitude Park on Monday 15th November, to mark the official opening of their 3G facilities.
Cliftonville Chairman, Gerard Lawlor, is looking forward to the occasion: “Theirs is a squad which, thanks to their weekly exploits on Match of the Day and Sky Sports, is very familiar to us and we are really looking forward to seeing them in action on our doorstep and against our own homegrown stars – it will be a fantastic night for them and everyone at Cliftonville.”
Maybe the synthetic pitch is a lot more popular than most people expected, especially since another two clubs were hoping to get the new pitch.
The IFA stated: “Three applications were received and assessed and Cliftonville FC was identified as the successful club.”
Well no matter what your view on the 3G synthetic pitch they are definitely on the up and if your club was planning to get one, would you argue considering the economics of it and how it could help your club for the better.
After all if it is good enough for CSKA Moscow, one of the top European teams, is it good enough for our league?
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