After two years of trying to find Baldonnel, cheating death in Limerick and being depressed in Monaghan, Dundalk can finally look forward to a return to the Premier Division next season. Gone are those old First Division memories, as Dundalk fans can look forward to the glamour of a trip to Belfield, cheating death in Inchicore, and ...eh ..being depressed in Monaghan in a Premier Division environment. But what can travelling Lilywhites expect on their travels next year ? Oriel Web will try and prepare you for what lies in store
Club : Bohemians
Ground : Dalymount Park
Location : North Dublin, across the road from McDonalds
Chances of good atmosphere : If
moaning constitutes a good atmosphere, then yes
A trip to the home of the defending League champions is always fun. Dundalk fans who have not been there, since we last played there, back in 1999 will be astonished that the old wooden stand has been replaced by the fantastic Jodi stand. Things haven't changed completely though, and the levels of moaning from the Bohs fans will still remain the same. Yes, any budding young cynic could learn a thing or two from the Bohs fans, and indeed the Bohs' board who wait 23 years for a successful manager, and then sack him. That showed him, the cheeky little upstart making everyone all optimistic about the future. Choosing whether go into the Jodi Stand, or stand on the terraces in Dalymount is also a tough choice. The Jodi is comfortable etc etc, but if you're sitting there you have to stare across to the depressing sight that is the other side of the pitch, where there will soon be a carpark
Most likely chant from home crowd : Sack the .....[insert appropiate person/group of persons here]
Club : Bray Wanderers
Ground : Carlisle Grounds
Location : Down a funny road off the main street in Bray, near DART station
Chances of good atmosphere : Depends if Four Four Two are doing a feature
Not too unfamiliar territory for us. We were in Bray only last season, and to be honest the place hasn't changed much. You have the open seating and the covered terrace, Bray logic. If bored, you can go across the road to the Leisureplex where the youth of Bray develop their skills in the areas of gambling, pickpocketing and intimidation. Bray is a very surreal place. They have a hardcore bunch of fans who are in the covered terrace beside the public friendly press box, but they also have people sitting in the open air seats who just don't seem to give a toss, and look more like disinterested tourists enjoying the Bray experience.
Most likely chant from home crowd : Something about Tresson
Club : Cork City
Ground : Turners Cross
Location : Somewhere in Cork City, next to a pub
Chances of good atmosphere : Depends if Celtic are on TV
Ah bitterness, bitterness, bitterness. It's very popular in Cork, with memories of Tom McNulty and 1991 still a sore point with many of our Leeside friends. Expect plenty of anti McNulty comments, even if he's long since left us. The last time we were in Cork, David Crawley was a particular source of Cork abuse, for some reason, which ended up in his sending off. Yes, the one thing you can guarantee about trips to Cork is that they will never be quiet affairs. Of course, if Cork aren't doing well in the League then that may not prove true. Hey, if things aren't going well they may even sack the manager with an impromptu board meeting during the match ! It's been done folks ! Things have changed here as well, with three sides of the ground now seated.
Most likely home crowd chant : Tom McNulty, is a wanker, is a wanker
Club : Derry City
Ground : The Brandywell
Location : Nice side of Derry
Chances of good atmosphere : Pretty high
Stereotyping is not always a good thing, but, when I think of Derry fans in the Brandywell, I think of a posse of angry Derrymen with moustaches, with a particular dislike for referees, and in fact, everything. Yes, they really are a hilarious lot in Derry, and for some strange reason my favourite Dundalk memory in recent years was our 1-0 win there back in December of 1999. That day around 25 Dundalk fans aggravated the home crowd by sitting in front of a main body of Derry fans and standing up and down at different intervals. Despite some fears people have about travelling North, I can only encourage fans to travel to the Brandywell because it really is a proper football ground. The home crowd are a passionate lot, and will engage in no end of banter, but the main source of their anger is mainly referees of Dublin upbringing.
Most likely home crowd chant : We all live in the randy Brandywell [yes, they do sing that]
Club : Galway United
Ground : Terryland Park
Location : Near Dunnes stores in Galway
Chances of good atmosphere : Dunno to be honest
Well, this is one place I really can't comment on as I've only been there once and it was for a pre season friendly that I can barely remember. It was nothing special back then, from hazy memory, but has reportedly improved, and doesn't look too bad on the telly. Does have a fairly nifty indoor seating section for around 50 people, which is beyond understanding, because when it rains you apparently can't see very much. And as it rains in Galway a lot, it just seems kind of pointless. Galway crowds tend to only really go up for Cup games, and the odd match v Sligo. However, if they sign a famous GAA player the week beforehand then a massive crowd is likely.
Most likely home crowd chant : They have one about some Israeli terrorist group, because they're well hard
Club : Longford Town
Ground : Flancare Park
Location : Somewhere outside town
Chances of good atmosphere : There'll be a drum anyway
Longford is the most improved eircom League club by some distance. My last visit to Longford, was the same time most of you were probably last there, the 1-1 draw back in March of 2000. Since then, Strokestown Road has become Flancare Park. The bandstand, the Pat The Baker stand, the dangerously low roofed sheds, and the mudbanks where many a fan went tumbling have disappeared. In fact, there is talk that Flancare could be all seater for the UEFA Cup, even if some of it is temporary. Longford is a club that have moved on considerably. That day in March 2000, the travelling support comfortably outnumbered the home crowd, but the same will not happen anymore. Support has increased rapidly, although like many provincial clubs, it only really reaches fever pitch for Cup games. And while many of them may be new to the whole concept of football, that doesn't involve points and goals, they have been a lively lot away from home this year. If the momentum continues, then Longford could be one of the most enjoyable trips of the season
Most likely [and indeed only] home crowd chant : The Longford, drum, drum, drum
Club : Monaghan United
Ground : Gortakeegan
Location : Outside the town somewhere, back end of nowhere
Chances of good atmosphere : Maybe after this year's happenings
Well, Monaghan is hardly unfamiliar terrain as we've been there for the last two seasons. As we all know, there is only one side suitable for spectator viewing, with a 600 seater stand. There's a large bar, the only real asset the club has. There is nothing behind either goal of note, and the far side is backed up by some wonderful scenery, specifically, cows in a nearby field. Our local derby for the season, and bound to have more spice next year, even if it is a slanging match between 300 Dundalk fans, and 10 inebriated Monaghan directors. It would be nice if they increased their support, so it would become a real rivalry. As it is, the events involving Monaghan and Dundalk in the last year have been terribly embarassing for the whole League.
Most likely home crowd chant : ...[Silence]
Club : Saint Patricks Athletic
Ground : Richmond Park, Stadium Of Light !
Location : Inchicore, posh part of Dublin really
Chances of good atmosphere : They're a quiet bunch
Yes, its a trip to the "Stadium Of Light", ironically, the darkest ground in the League. They have plans to revamp this place, and not before time. The stand is alright, but if you want to stand and watch the game then bring old shoes. A trip to the Camac side, opposite the main stand is sure to leave a concrety, sticky type substance on your shoes that will remain, for quite some time. Meanwhile, the Shed behind the goal is where the cultured, articulate Pats fans practice their stone throwing, and also their flare lighting, because flares are "bleedin' rapid". If you don't wanna watch the match, you can always watch the young Pats fans recreate their own version of Fight Club. Richmond Park has also a high proportion of oldish men who lean on the fence on the Camac Side screaming abuse at their manager, team, or anyone who has the misfortune to walk past. Don't expect favourable refereeing decisions in Inchicore. A penalty for the home team is guaranteed. Similar to Limerick, its best to duck down while leaving the area, especially if on a bus. Insure the windows
Most likely chant from home crowd : None really [They only sing when they're on telly ]
Club : Shamrock Rovers
Ground : Wherever is available
Location : See above
Chances of good atmosphere : None, as their 2,000,000 fans worldwide are awaiting
a move to Tallaght
In an ideal world, Dundalk's first away game next season would be a trip to Tallaght to play Shamrock Rovers. However, that ground, has slightly missed its original target of September 1999, and is still not ready, but could possibly be there by the time we play them away for the second time, in the New Year. For the first away game, we could either be in Tolka Park, the home of Shelbourne, Morton Stadium, a ground that will make you want to end your life prematurely, or perhaps Baldonnel, the home of St Francis. Rovers' fans dwell more on the past, than even we do ! When you ask where all their fans are, they will answer that they are all waiting for the move to Tallaght, even if they live down the street. A game away to Shamrock Rovers would once have been the best away trip of the season, but until they move to Tallaght, it really becomes a non entity of a fixture
Most likely home crowd chant : A song involving Jim McLaughlin
Club : Shelbourne
Ground : Tolka Park
Location : North Dublin
Chances of good atmosphere : Only from the away fans
There's bad feeling in the League towards Shelbourne at the moment. They are labelled, $helbourne. A club that buys all the best players by offering ludicrous wages, supposedly benefit from dodgy refereeing decisions, and despite their high standing, have a shockingly poor support. Well, its mostly true. Tolka Park is a fantastic venue, it would just be nice if a well supported club played there. Shels do have a few loyal fans, with their support made up of the very young and the very old. It's always a good ground for away fans, Dundalk fans always tend to congregate in the Riverside stand. While not quite as blatant as Inchicore, a questionable decision in favour of the home side is a likely occurance at Tolka. Now that they've signed Brian Byrne, the attempts of their PA to pronounce his name successfully should be a weekly laugh for the Shels fans that actually exist.
Most likely home crowd chant : Shelbourne, clap clap clap, Shelbourne ..[repeat .. they're more creative than Longford]
Club : UCD
Ground : Belfield Park
Location : A hidden location within the college
Chances of good atmosphere : With six home fans, unlikely
Belfield on a Sunday afternoon is an interesting venue. You have six home fans, trying to sing, plenty of neutrals, Dave Fanning, and of course the majority away support. The ground has come along a bit, with proper seats replacing the old benches in the small stand, and seats behind one of the goals. It is true, that on Sunday afternoons the crowd does seem to be made up of neutrals, and the odd famous face. Dermot Morgan was a regular visitor to Belfield. They do have a few fans who do try to sing, although the best they could come up with last year was "Tony McDonnell has a farm, eieio". Why they haven't adopted the brilliant student song, I will never know.
Most likely home crowd chant : Anything but that farm one, I hope