Lately I've been reading a lot of posts from users wondering as to why the big attraction of the states , and the simple answer is money! Obviously the vast change in lifestyle is a factor but money is the deciding factor! Here are examples I've seen and I'm sure many others have seen with county players they know. For the last 4 years I've lived with 2 footballers both of whom who had won a country u21 all Ireland championship title, that summer they went to America , they came back and only then did i realise the extent of things out there. The lads where offered $3000 each to commit to the club in the states, they had both flights paid for by the club they where moving too, alongside a $500 a week wage did I mention accomdation was free aswel? On top of that each of them would get a bonus $$$$ should they win the championship ! How can any young player resist that sort of an offer, it's an amazing opportunity to experience the states and to earn quite a few bucks! The past few summers this has been the case, competing clubs would be in touch with the lads I would have lived with in the lead up to May and the end of college, each club would be looking to beat competing clubs offers! One other example I have experienced was with a well known veteran county player who happened to be a teacher at my school, he arrived into study late one Monday and as we where a small class we had a great rapport with our teacher, we where chatting about he weekend, and he had informed us he had only got back from New York, he had flown out on Friday to play a club game and flew back out on Sunday again, flights where paid for, no mention of playing fee but one can only assume it was a pretty big figure! Now I'm sure the majority of people reading this will be saying, sure we know this already, but I'm highlighting this to people in the dark! One aspect which is particularly effecting a county like Galway is the amount of omissions from the county squad due to opting to head balling in the states, making a few pound and enjoying themselves, rather than training hard, getting the odd gpa grant and having little or no life, with feck all thanks in the end! Who can blame them? I certainly don't!

SpionKop (Galway) - Posts: 40 - 11/06/2016 11:50:59    1865099

There are some things money cant buy.

liner (Mayo) - Posts: 756 - 11/06/2016 13:41:47    1865119

Players/people are free to do what they want to do.But players who leave to go the states after their team is beaten in the provincial championship when they have qualifiers to come is wrong imo.Players should commit for the length of the championship or not at all.I think a Laois player or two are leaving for the states now?

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 11/06/2016 14:10:12    1865131

Last year a lot of Galway lads had double the number of games played in three months in the States than they had at home from Feb to June, most came home & still played in most of the C'ship & league. Why not go instead of hanging around with no Summer jobs & never knowing when your next match will be. Gaa should have a closed season for June, July, August the way the shut down club C'ships, at least players would know where they stood .

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 11/06/2016 15:10:35    1865143

I work for a US multinational and Tavel there a bit and am well aware of the perks GAA players are offered...frankly I'd rather that money was given towards promoting the game to American born kids. There are you say more important things than money...these guys aren't coming home with wades of cash like those who headed to OZ...it's a lifestyle choice. 500 dollars even with rent paid won't get you far in the like if NYC.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11225 - 11/06/2016 15:38:19    1865149

I love this idea that there is no jobs in Ireland.

I can make $500 a week in Ireland and not have to more to a backward country.

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 15/06/2016 18:48:58    1867352

SpionKop (Galway) - Posts: 40 - 15/06/2016 19:50:19    1867381

liner (Mayo) - Posts: 756 - 15/06/2016 20:01:18    1867388

World Taekwondo Federation? What does that have to do with GAA?

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 15/06/2016 20:11:47    1867394

Amateur organisation lads. The players don't owe you, me or the GAA anything and can walk away in the morning if they like.

Just because you reckon you're entitled to force a player to play doesn't make it the case.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1642 - 15/06/2016 20:17:13    1867402

Tomsmith Cavan here

It is not that long ago that 4 Cavan County players left Cavan (to promote the Game in the usa) while we were still in the championships.
Was it for the good of of the Gaa or otherwise that these fellows( and Girls are now being seduced ) to travel to the USA
I feel that it is time that the GAA in Croke Park took on these USA money bags who do nothing for the sport in the USA
Most have only a set of Jerseys with the Bar, estate agents name on them. I just wonder how many will be out training young people in Van Courtland Park in October November.
Also the agents ( who are on a finders fee )back in Ireland who pinpoint players for these money Bags in the USA should also be tackled within the home club

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3855 - 16/06/2016 09:58:56    1867538

I think you will find the days of this are numbered, it is unsustainable and does zilch for the game in US. That said I am well aware of this and not just Inter-county players. Plenty of summer work in GAA summer camps and coaching.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4893 - 16/06/2016 10:16:28    1867550

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3855 - 16/06/2016 11:09:12    1867587

Croke Park have no control over this. The only way it will end is when the New York County Board and the North American County Board reign in these teams and force them to actually use either native born players or at the very least Irish born players that actually live full time in the US.
It is thankfully restricted to a few clubs in the bigger "Irish American Cities" and the majority of US teams focus on developing the games among the local population and youth. The days of the mercenary player is numbered.
There is no pride or honor in playing for these teams and these teams should not feel any sense of accomplishment in winning anything.

Dubfan Abroad (Dublin) - Posts: 282 - 16/06/2016 17:02:35    1867771

liner (Mayo) - Posts: 756 - 16/06/2016 19:22:45    1867844