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10 reasons why getting relegated isn't so bad
Well there you have it. Five years, our longest spell in the top flight, comes to an end. Going down is one thing, we’ve been here before. But this year is different. This year there is sour taste left in the mouth.People talk about how Shamrock Rovers have set the blue prints for how a club should be run. But where would they be if the council didn’t come in and finish off their nice new stadium? Probably still wandering around Dublin looking for a place to play. Certainly not challenging for the title anyway.
Other teams who avoided punishment like Drogheda United who were spending ridiculous amounts on wages and came so close to going out of existence. They may have won a league and cup, but any plans for a new stadium are now firmly out the window. And the trophies they won are being housed in the most dilapidated ground in the country. Others like Pats, Derry, and Cork who can’t even pay their staff. In any other country these actions would be severely punished.
Bray rarely make the papers at the best of times, but maybe that’s because we are one of the best run clubs in the country. Albeit on a very small budget, but unlike others, Bray resist the temptation to go way outside that budget.
It’s almost too obvious to point out clubs individual troubles, but surely the FAI is going to have to do something. I can’t help but feel that we are being punished for staying within our means. There must be a path to success in Ireland without putting your clubs future at risk.
But it’s not all doom and gloom around here. As I’d much rather be playing 1st division football next year knowing that my football club has a healthy future ahead. How many other supporters can say that?
And to show how much I’m looking forward to next season, I’ve compiled a list as to why getting relegated isn’t so bad.
(1) We get to see the beginning of our new rivalry with Wexford Youths begin. Should be better than our rivalry with UCD.
(2) The Monaghan United Ultras will surely cause less damage at the Carlisle than the Shamrock Rovers Ultras and the Bohs ultras.
(3) Parking near grounds in Dublin city centre can be a nightmare. But there’s no real problems in places Like... Monaghan.
(4) Dublin Bus can be very unreliable. Thankfully we don’t have to worry about playing in Dublin very often. Instead, we’ll be going to places like Ballybofey, and ....Monaghan.
(5) There will be no queue for the chipper at half time.
(6) Now that we don’t have premier division, or even pesky European football to worry about, maybe we can concentrate on the ground redevelopment. Which will hopefully have the floodlight poles behind the main stand, not in front of it.
(7) MNS won’t be coming out here anymore next year, so we won’t see Eddie each Monday saying, “we’re still fighting until we’re mathematically down.”
(8) On our travels, we will get to see new exciting and exotic places like.....Monaghan. Well how much do you know about Monaghan?
(9) We should win a lot more matches next season, so if you put on a 1st goal scorer bet, you’ll have a much better chance of winning as, we’re far more likely to score at least one in each game next year. As opposed to the six weeks in a row where poor Conor Caufield’s bets never came up as we never score when he bets on the lads.
(10)Most importantly, under the guidance of Eddie Gormley and Paul Osam, we have one of the youngest, most exciting teams in the country. This year will stand to them, and by keeping the bulk of this year’s squad, I believe that we’ll be o.k. next year.
And who knows, maybe the FAI will grow a pair and relegate all the teams who break the rules.
If you would like to talk to me for one of the first editions of next seasons programme, e-mail me at paulcahill13@hotmail.com
