Derry City, Crusaders meet Sports Minister to discuss All-island League proposals

REPRESENTATIVES from both Derry City Football Club and Crusaders will join Foyle MLA Martina Anderson today at a meeting with N. Ireland's Minister for Sport to discuss growing calls for the establishment of an all-Island League.
Representatives of Derry City FC will attend a meeting with Sports Minister, Deirdre Hargey today to discuss the All Island League proposals.Representatives of Derry City FC will attend a meeting with Sports Minister, Deirdre Hargey today to discuss the All Island League proposals.
Representatives of Derry City FC will attend a meeting with Sports Minister, Deirdre Hargey today to discuss the All Island League proposals.

Sinn Féin's Ms Anderson believes an all-island league 'makes sense' in order to maximise our sporting success' and claims it should not be a 'politically sensitive issue but rather one of what makes best economic and sporting sense to soccer clubs throughout the island'.

"I will lead a delegation of representatives from Derry City and a representative from Crusaders to a meeting with Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to discuss how we can take this issue forward," confirmed Ms Anderson.

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"The past year has been hugely damaging for all sports, given the loss of gate receipts and other revenues.

“Having two soccer federations on an island this size never made commercial or sporting sense and there had already been significant support, North and South, for existing proposals to create an all-island structure.

“However, in the wake of the Covid pandemic and the impact it has had on the game, more and more soccer clubs are assessing their long-term sustainability and finding that the appeal of an all-Ireland league is obvious.

“Structured proposals are already in place and significant progress has been made regarding potential sponsorship of an all-island league.

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“It is also abundantly clear from the success of other all-Ireland sports such as rugby, boxing, golf, GAA, hockey and cricket that we can achieve great things when we work on an all-island basis.

“This should not be a politically sensitive issue but rather one of what makes best economic and sporting sense to soccer clubs throughout the island. That is the basis on which we will pursue our discussions with the minister and as we continue to progress this issue in the time ahead.”

Derry City Football Club has already made clear its stance on Kieran Lucid's All-island league proposals with director, Mr Denis Bradley asking the FAI to further explore the plans at the association’s virtual AGM last week.

"It’s one of the things which has to be looked at very closely this coming year," said Mr Bradley. "The danger is that everybody thinks the league is in difficulties because of Covid, the reality is that the league was in difficulty before Covid, it’s just been made worse (by Covid).

“And it’s not just one league, both leagues are not in good shape. Derry City’s view is that there must be very honest discussions going forward about what makes Irish football viable."