Comments on Galway Utd Supporters Trust unfair

Date Published: 29-Dec-2011

LAST week’s column about the trials and tribulations of Galway United Football Club has stirred up something of a hornets’ nest judging by the adverse reaction to some of the content.

To put it mildly, members of the club’s Supporters Trust are on the warpath over what they perceived was an unjustified and ‘patronising’ commentary on their efforts to keep the name Galway United alive.

Frankly, if I was one of their ilk I would probably have taken offence too. In the cold light of day, it as unduly negative and unfair even if my biggest issue was that if the Trust were successful with their application to the FAI for a licence to form their own club, they would most likely end up with an uncompetitive team in a crowded city First Division arena.

If anything, I was feeling sorry for members of the Trust on the basis (at least, my presumption) that for all the tireless work, fund raising and organising ahead of them, their team wouldn’t cut the mustard inside the four white lines. Furthermore, the probability is that the ‘supporters’ side’ would not attract the loyalty on the terraces if they were not being competitive. Without a financial backer and the turnstiles clicking merrily, the quality of player at their disposal is automatically compromised.

In fairness to the fans grouping, their immediate priority was never about moulding a successful team overnight, and I can see that now. It’s a long term project and their over-riding ambition is to preserve the name of Galway United in some shape or form.

Local soccer needs a flagship team and it’s beyond dispute that some version of Galway United is by far the best way forward in this context.

Regardless of what Salthill Devon or Mervue United think, they are basically ‘parish’ teams who would never command the appeal of a successful Galway United outfit. Still both clubs are entitled to fight the corner, even if they must be spending a lot of good money to participate (and not with much success so far) in the First Division.

Of course, neither Mervue nor Salthill are responsible for Galway United’s sad demise. They have both earned the right to participate in the League of Ireland, even if their involvement at this level hardly helps, in more ways than one, the city’s most senior club.

I fully accept that the Galway United Supporters Trust have already proven their capacity to run a club given their ‘promotion’ last season after the outgoing Board of Directors, who have hardly covered themselves in much glory, relinquished their authority, and there is no doubt either that Ronan Coleman and his passionate and determined colleagues are admirably prepared to move mountains to keep United in business.

Their bona fides are beyond dispute having already invested a huge amount of time, energy and cash.

For more from John McIntyre and reaction to his opinion piece see page 29 of this week’s Tribune.