DCU kicks off debate on the beautiful game
- 2 December 2006

The future of top-level football in Ireland was the focus of a lively debate chaired by RTÉ’s Con Murphy at DCU on Thursday, 30 November 2006.

Daire Whelan, a graduate of DCU's Masters in Journalism, who recently published Who Stole Our Game? - the fall and fall of Irish soccer (Gill and Macmillan), gave his analysis of how Irish football needs to compete with success stories in other sports and in other countries.

Panellists responding were FAI spokesperson Gerry McDermott, players’ representative Stephen McGuinness, Gerry Conway, secretary of Bohemian FC, whose senior players train at DCU, and John Byrne, PRO for Shamrock Rovers FC. Representatives and supporters of a range of national league clubs, including Shelbourne FC, Sligo Rovers, Galway United and Dundalk FC, took an active part in the discussion.

Among the principal topics aired were the need to better market and promote football, plans for FAI to take responsibility for the league, and the deficits in public funding and media coverage of the game relative to other sports. Also raised were player development and contracts, the importance of building community links, and integrating the league with other levels of football, from emerging talent to international level.

The event was hosted by DCU’s School of Communications and DCU Sport.

ENDS