Premier League switch may threaten Ireland’s culture of Friday night lights

Twenty-five years of regular Friday night League of Ireland programmes could become a rarity next season after the impact of the English Premier League’s new schedule was highlighted yesterday.

Derry City requested from the FAI an earlier kick-off time than 7.45pm for their game against champions Dundalk on Friday to avoid clashing with the televised clash between Aston Villa and Manchester United and the consequential adverse effect on attendance.

Although the departure to Friday night from the weekend is a one-off during this campaign because of a controversial English Defence League march taking place in Birmingham on Saturday, next season will see fixtures take place on 10 Fridays under a lucrative new broadcast package.

That the Candystripes sought to reschedule Friday’s game at the first incidence of a clash is therefore a concern and may encourage League of Ireland clubs to follow the lead of Limerick, Bray Wanderers, and Sligo Rovers by moving their home matchday to Saturday. Even that, as Derry chairman Sean Barrett said, doesn’t insulate domestic clubs from the lure to punters of staying at home instead to watch football on the television.

Cork City, one of the best supported teams in the Premier League, yesterday confirmed they have no intention to stray from the traditional Friday night fare at Turner’s Cross despite the threat of competition from overseas.

“In our experience, Friday night is the night that suits our supporters best and draws the best crowds, so I would imagine we will continue to schedule games on Friday night as normal,” said Éanna Buckley, City’s administrator.

Derry, however, won’t be alone in considering evasive action. League of Ireland clubs already struggling to survive don’t need another distraction from an important source of income, gate receipts.

“It’s something the league are going to have a serious look at for next season because Manchester United, Arsenal and teams like that, playing on a Friday night, are going to affect the crowds — there’s no doubt about that,” Barrett told The Derry Journal. “We’re looking at alternatives. But what are the alternatives — Saturday at 5pm? There’s a game on then. Is it Sunday? — there’s two games on then and there’s one on Monday.

“And then on Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays there’s Champions League games. So it’s just going to be very difficult to get a slot for League of Ireland games. I don’t know what the standard of Friday night games are going to be but unfortunately they’re starting off with a big one this week.

“It’s a serious concern for the club. We’re trying to get as much revenue in as we can. Premiership football is a big attraction to young people especially.”

Potential recourse in the form of compensation seems a non-runner too, as Uefa abolished a rule in 2011 that facilitated national associations forbidding television companies from broadcasting games from abroad in the jurisdiction on their regular match night. Prior to that change, when Sky Sports started televising English games in the early 1990s, a commercial compromise was reached that resulted in Irish fixtures switching from that day (Sunday) to Friday nights.