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Quick Overview of Irish football and General Information!

Football is the second most popular sport in Ireland and although Gaelic Football and Hurling attract more spectators, it remains one of the most-watched sports across the country. Participation remains healthy across all age ranges, and although there are several amateur divisions, the majority of the interest tends to focus on the top two levels: The League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland First Division.

These top two levels of competitive football are governed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the organisation are also responsible for the annual FAI Cup and the Republic of Ireland national team. Irish teams from the top flight also regularly compete in the Champions League and Europa League, with Dundalk having recently been drawn against Arsenal in the Group Stage.

Football Betting and Spectator Numbers in Ireland

Football betting remains incredibly popular throughout the country and wagering on the sport is a weekly occurrence for many football supporters. There are an extensive list of football betting sites in Ireland who offer an increasing number of pre-match markets, and although betting is widely available on League of Ireland matches, the Premier League and LaLiga tend to dominate in this.

As of 2019, the average gate in the League of Ireland Premier Division is around 2,000 although teams such as Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk and Cork City tend to attract a healthy contingent of supporters. However, the League of Ireland is constantly battling against the Premier League and the Scottish Premiership. Sadly, visitors to the country are highly likely to spot replica Manchester United, Liverpool and Celtic shirts on the street as opposed to domestic strips. Over 40,000 football fans travel to England to watch their favourite teams on a semi-regular basis.

With the majority of the games being staged on a Friday evening, the League of Ireland does attract supporters who may be otherwise engaged on a Saturday afternoon.

A Brief History of Irish Football

Although the game dates back to the 1860s, it wasn’t until twenty years later that football was played in every single Irish county. The Leinster Football Association was first formed in 1892, and this was subsequently followed by the FAI in 1921. The formation of the League of Ireland followed just months later with eight teams having signed up to the competition.

Many of the sides who currently compete in the top two flights were also prevalent in the 1930s with Bohemians, Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk, Waterford and Sligo Rovers all enjoying success during this decade.

In 1958, Irish teams were finally allowed to enter European competitions with Shamrock Rovers being the first team to compete in the European Cup. The Hoops continued to dominate throughout the 1960s, although Waterford managed to clinch three titles in a row during this decade. The 1980s proved to be a lean period for the Irish game with a number of teams having been thrown out of their stadiums including the aforementioned Shamrock Rovers.

Following a radical overhaul of the league structure, a number of Irish sides enjoyed notable success in across Europe with both Shelbourne and Bohemians beating German and Spanish opposition.

In 2011, Shamrock Rovers became the first Irish team to reach the group stages of the UEFA Europa League.

What Does the Future Hold for Irish Football?

There is plenty to positive about when it comes to the future of Irish football, however, small incremental steps will be required in order to enhance the profile of the top two divisions. First and foremost, the likes of Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers must continue to make strides in European competition and help to put football back on the map.

If they can remain competitive in these competitions, it is likely to result in a high quality of player being attracted to the League of Ireland. The division’s leading lights are often signed by EFL clubs in England and although many of them fail to make the grade, some of them have gone on to have decent careers in the UK.

Although Irish football will always be dwarfed by the Premier League, it does still hold enough interest to attract the next generation of fans. Keeping hold of marquee players and attracting some decent talents from overseas may be one way of establishing a foothold in the market, however, simply making progress in European competitions will be key to the future of Irish football.

About Arunava Chaudhuri

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