Has there ever been a better time to promote the League of Ireland? Never, in my opinion.
With almost half the International squad currently preparing for Friday’s World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands comprised of former League of Ireland players it must be a marketing manager's dream.
You would like to thinks that he or she must be sitting in their office thinking this league is an absolute 'no brainer' to market or promote at the moment. Unfortunately there doesn’t appear to be any marketing manager sitting in an office hatching a plan to promote our league.
On Wednesday last we all sat in front of our TV screens in anticipation of the huge friendly against England at Wembley.
Nothing should have given League of Ireland people more pride or satisfaction than to see an Irish team finish the game with six former League of Ireland players on the field in Wembley and three of them were the best players on the pitch, David Forde, Seamus Coleman and Shane Long.
It was a fantastic achievement and brilliant recognition for the League. I am not saying for one second that everything is all rosy in the garden in Irish football because believe me I know it is not, far from it, although that debate is for another day.
This a time to celebrate it and build on it because as we all know the League needs all the help it can get.
This is a League which takes a battering from a whole host of sections all over the country but surely this is a time to capitalise on a large amount of exposure and roar from the rooftops that our League isn't maybe as bad as you think. Are we doing that? The answer is a resounding no.
Last Friday while the Irish squad were bored in their rooms in a hotel in Portmarnock, Irish football’s major cup competition was kicking off all over the country. Just a short few miles away in Dalymount Park an all-Premier Division cup tie between Bohemians and Drogheda United was taking place.
Why weren’t at least three, if not four, of our former League of Ireland players brought to this game and showcased to everyone on the pitch beforehand?
I know for a fact not one of the former players would have minded, if anything they would have been delighted. If they were brought to this game, we could have had their picture in every single newspaper on Saturday and even done an interview or two with them which could have been shown on our highlights programme MNS. It was a huge opportunity missed.
On Sunday I was in attendance at the friendly international with Georgia. Not only was I there to watch the match but I was also very observant and curious just to see would the bright minds governing the League of Ireland capitalise on this opportunity to promote our product.
Not that I should have been surprised but not even a poster did I see, although Hooper-man, the Shamrock Rovers mascot won a halftime dance off contest. That was as good as it got. All very depressing and disappointing really and that's no disrespect to Hooper-mans dancing ability!
Here was a situation in a fantastic stadium where the FAI have two gigantic screens where they could have showed footage before the match and at half-time of Seamus Coleman in action for Sligo Rovers, Wes Hoolahan doing his thing for Shelbourne and maybe David Forde making a save from his Derry City days.
They could have finished off the piece with the three players holding up a banner with the strap line, "Are you the League of Ireland's next International" or something along those lines. How difficult would that of been? Not very difficult in my opinion, it would have taken four or five minutes maximum. Maybe I'm expecting too much.
The question we have to ask ourselves is, are we giving this League the best possible opportunity to grow and develop? The answer would have to be no. Are we maximising all the resources available to us to promote the League? Judging by Sunday again you would have to say no. Why is this happening, do people really care?
I love the League of Ireland as do a lot of others and I know there are loads of good people with their hearts in the right place but they, like everyone else, need help from the people who can provide it.
I am an eternal optimist and I really hope that someday I will see the league have the stadiums and facilities it deserves or maybe the attendances it deserves.
If we cannot capitalise on probably the easiest week ever to market the Airtricity League and promote it, then maybe I am living in a dreamworld and expecting too much.
Until next week,
Alan
