North Tipperary & District League vote to return to Winter Football

At the club delegates meeting held in Ballymackey on 21st April, the NTDL proposal to continue with calendar year football – a.k.a. summer football, was defeated by a majority of 11 votes to 8. This impacts male adult and male youth football only. Schoolboy and schoolgirl football is affiliated to the NTSFL and they will remain on a school year calendar.

While summer football would have seen a new season start in late May and run to the end of November, with subsequent seasons running from April to November, the vote means the new football season for Junior adult teams and Youth teams will now commence in late August. The season will start with shield competitions before leagues commence in September and run through to April.

The Lough Derg FC mandate, following consultation of players at the affected grades, was for a continuation of summer football. The rationale was that our limited playing pitch resources would better meet the need of our 30+ squads across all grades. when games are played during better weather / when grass is growing. Also, the Lough Derg FC delegate argued that summer football allowed midweek and evening football in daylight rather than winter football which limited game time to weekends only. There are 180 days with evening light from April to September. There are only 26 Sundays from October to March and half of them are likely to be washouts or big freezes or code reds. Looks like a missed opportunity to play the beautiful game on a beautiful day on a dry grassy pitch!

At Lough Derg FC we believe in affording all players, regardless of ability, an opportunity to play the game. Some of the other clubs argued strongly that the football calendar needed to accommodate the GAA schedule so that stronger players of both codes would be available to play football during the GAA off season. At the end of the vote, this was the majority view.

Lough Derg FC put forward a motion that Youths football is split across under 17 and under 19 grades rather than the current age group of under 18 only. This is to provide a better player pathway from underage football to adult football. The proposal was generally well-received, and is being taken under consideration before the next delegates' meeting that will agree on league format.

Other items were agreed at the meeting. Ballymackey FC proposed representative squads at Youth and Junior levels to allow players to represent the league in Oscar Traynor tournaments. A working group is being formed. Lough Derg FC is supportive of this as it's an honour for players and clubs to have representative honours and means our players retained in the amateur game can play at the highest level and seek national honours.

The shortage of referees remains an issue. All clubs are asked to nominate a representative to undertake referee training. League support will be provided. For someone who wants to stay active in the game, this is a noble calling, and a nice little side earner too. No ref, no game.

So, summer off for the big boys. That said the work doesn’t stop. Management teams are required for Junior teams, with a possibility of both an A and a B squad. Similarly, coaching setups and the number of squads are to be agreed for Youth level. Awaiting the decision on the number of divisions and age grades.

And the big dream, goes on, expanding our playing facilities to provide football for all of our community.

Game on.