Laois clubs along with the South East clubs continue fight against Calendar Football

A NUMBER of clubs from Laois, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford met last week at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel in Carlow to discuss the next steps following the FAI vote in December to implement Calendar Football across the country. Several local TDs were in attendance and have lent their support to the fight against it.

A working committee was formed after the meeting as the clubs continue to fight for their right to choose in regards to when they run their seasons. In a statement released over the weekend, the clubs have said they feel the vote was “flawed” due to the impact of professional clubs on the vote.

“We believe that this vote was flawed and denies our clubs their democratic right to choose in what season to run their amateur leagues. “Professional/League of Ireland Clubs, who generally had a poor attendance record at other General Assembly meetings, mobilised in full attendance for this particular meeting and voted in block to remove our right of choice to play the School Calendar/Winter Season,” the statement read.

The clubs feel disappointed in the professional sector of the game and feel dismayed that they have an unfair influence on the amateur game.

“While we supported and respected the Professional Clubs' right to choose their own Calendar Year/Summer Season, it was unfortunate and disappointing that they chose not to support us, as without the Professional Clubs' vote in favour of the resolution on the night the result would have faced a resounding defeat!

“This demonstrates to us an undue influence that the professional game now holds in the administration and strategy of the Volunteer led ‘Amateur & Grassroots’ - adult and juvenile game, in which we are invested. Our belief is that clubs and leagues in the amateur/grassroots game should retain the ‘right of choice’ and decide on the format that best suits their season in line with the mandate given by the Clubs who participate in these long-established District Leagues.” A vote was taken at the meeting of the 200+ club delegates and a resounding majority of over 92% was returned in favour of their right to choice and rejecting the FAI’s proposal to move to Calendar Football.

The statement urges the FAI board to reconsider their choice to implement Calendar Football across the country and give clubs their right to choice.

“We hereby call on the Board of the FAI to reconsider the decision to force ALL LEVELS of Amateur and Grassroots Football in Ireland to move to Calendar Year/Summer Soccer and we the Working Committee sincerely hope this matter can be resolved through dialogue.

“We also have no objection to any league moving to Calendar Season soccer but without burdening the point, what we seek from the FAI is for all grades of amateur football in Ireland the ‘right to choose’ how we run our season which over the past number of years has flourished and has seen a huge increase in participation, particularly in the rural areas of our country.”