Readers' Blog: Building foundations of sporting success
With all new year resolutions parked and maybe some broken at this early stage, I noticed a few sporting suggestions and commitments for the future in the 2019 list of to dos. All positive in presentation and thought, but practical in results?
I certainly would not ridicule or be critical of good intentions.
In the last few weeks Niall Quinn, our soccer hero against Holland many years ago in the World Cup, suggested all our League of Ireland clubs should have an academy attached to the club.
This, he felt, would help to create, going forward, our own developed cream of talent for future international purpose from whatever professional level they play.
He was heavily criticised because this may lead to business people getting involved. Like Shamrock Rovers with their recent “marriage” to Glasgow Celtic in the last week or so.
What is wrong with that?
Cork City FC were next up with their pre-AGM board candidates singing off the hymn sheet for a better communication with their fans and supporters. Perhaps the intention here is to increase the membership of FORAS, the shareholding ownership of the club.
This would be an excellent idea. Communications with the fans in any way connected with the running of the club could create a lot of headaches and diversions.
John Caulfield has done a fantastic job in increasing the attendance at the Cross.
Then our national sports body, the Cork County Board. We heard from the four Evangelists, the New Testament a la sport that would hopefully bring the Sam Maguire to the largest county in the country within five years.
Yet again full marks for work and presentation. I salute all and any who take time to move all our sports, including our supporters, forward in the quest for enjoyment and success.
Please allow me to add my comments to your well-intended efforts and wishes. Boring as it sounds, and on a repetitive note, but sport is a business today — all sports, if you want success, it starts with money and with careful and motivated management, a successfully developed product will bring you more money. It is and has always been called a business plan.
Not a sports plan anymore; sport is the representation of the various products. Supporters have a huge interest — it’s called win, win, win. Achieve that and you will see the communication getting a hell of lot better on match days.
Ask the rugby boys about tickets for a Munster v Leinster today and in the golden oldie days. Pick your seat then — sorry, can’t get a ticket now.
What changed Professionalism,and how did that come about MONEY!!!
We need to put a lot of money into professional coaching and administration at raw material level in all our sports to get the end results.
Finally, I would like to tell a story about volunteerism and a true sporting volunteer called Dr Con Murphy.
In 1977 Avondale United AFC were playing in the Cork Area Final of the FAI Junior Cup. Their midfield general and powerhouse, Paudie O’Flaherty, had damaged his toe earlier in the week and it was still very sore the day before the match. The game was at 3pm Sunday.
On Saturday I visited Dr Con at his private residence on the Western Road and explained our situation.
We met in his surgery in Mardyke St at 2pm Sunday and Paudie received a pain killing injection. We won 6-0 with Paudie having a blinder and Alan O’Driscoll, our international hockey player, scoring five times.
Thank you Dr Con, who refused any payment or offer of any.
A true sporting Icon of volunteerism. Sadly those days are gone.
Well, it is not sad but it is lovely to have memories and to have been part of them.
