The GPA have come out asking supporters to stay off the pitch, well I think if the players want it, there should be no argument. For god's sake stay off the pitch on Sunday !

shea (Kerry) - Posts: 409 - 02/09/2010 11:14:59    763165

The G.P.A. seem to be dead in the water !! Any publicity for them is better than no publicity !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 02/09/2010 11:27:13    763177

Cavan_Slasher
County: Cavan
Posts: 5693

763177 The G.P.A. seem to be dead in the water !! Any publicity for them is better than no publicity !!

Oh dear CS.... are you serious? Dead in the water... looking for publicity!! The GPA represent the players... and you'll see just how busy the GPA has been shortly enough thanks to the GAA funding. There's no need to scream and shout anymore..

The Players dont want you on the pitch... these guys represent you and your counties, they are in fact the ultimate of fans.

Stay off the pitch and show some respect for these men... They've earned it.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 02/09/2010 11:38:08    763195

shea
County: Kerry
Posts: 79

763165 The GPA have come out asking supporters to stay off the pitch, well I think if the players want it, there should be no argument. For god's sake stay off the pitch on Sunday !

You're absolutley correct....

But unfortunately fans will invade the pitch on Sunday

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 02/09/2010 11:39:44    763198

Can't say I agree. I think the crowd should be allowed to invade the pitch. I have done it several times and I am yet to see anything go wrong on All-Ireland day.

The GPA represent the players, but then the government represent the country, and we don't exactly agree with everything they do.

abhainn (Galway) - Posts: 1000 - 02/09/2010 11:46:16    763209

abhainn
County: Galway
Posts: 485

That's a terrible attitude... at the end of the day, these men are the reason why you're sitting in Croke Park on All Ireland final day.

They have given you the opportunity, show some respect for them... as I said they've earned it... if it wasnt for them you'd be out doing the gardening on a Sunday September afternoon.


I've been on the pitch myself, I enjoyed it very much.. but if the players no longer want it... Then I have to respect that, I have to respect them...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 02/09/2010 11:52:55    763226

Here,to be honest with you.Do you really think that if Down win the All-Ireland for the first time in 16 years that us fans wont get a wee bit excited and find are way onto the pitch.IMPOSSIBLE.It will happen! Even Coulter mentioned in an interview recently that if he was a fan watching,he would suffer a black eye to get on that pitch and celebrate!!!!

squareball_99 (Down) - Posts: 55 - 02/09/2010 12:10:51    763242

So is this the beginning of the end of the pitch invasions? Its kind of sad, if it is; I have been lucky enough to have walked on Croke Park sod as my county lifts Sam. Its a strong emotional moment and I will be sorry if its gone; however, if this is REALLY the players request, well then, I suppose (in my most reluctant and disappointed voice) they should be listened to...............phew..........no plan B this year????

kerrykerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1779 - 02/09/2010 12:11:05    763244

Jimbo,

They obviously don't represent all the players as i saw some calling for supporters to be allowed enter the pitch after games !! The G.P.A. are more interested in money matters imo !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 02/09/2010 12:27:15    763264

jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 6426


I think you're assuming too much. Because a GPA directive goes out saying they don't want it (no doubt under huge pressure from Croke Park) it doesn't mean all, or a majority of the players don't want it anymore than a majority of people supported NAMA or Shannon stopover flights.

Don't tell me I don't respect the players - I have been/am one, and I respect every man and woman that goes out there and plays for Galway and beyond. I do not agree with the ban on pitch invasions. The two are not mutually exclusive.

abhainn (Galway) - Posts: 1000 - 02/09/2010 12:27:32    763265

Cavan_Slasher
County: Cavan
Posts: 5695

763264 Jimbo,

They obviously don't represent all the players as i saw some calling for supporters

They represent 2000+ inter county players.. do the maths... the many outweight the needs of the few

Money matters...

Have you ever placed a bet on a GAA game...? Be honest...

I always laugh at the anti-GPA heads... down the bookies every Saturday during the Championship betting on amateur players. It's alright for them to make a few quid... and on the backs of the players.

And you are entitled to your views, but please stand back for a moment and realise that the GPA is part and parcel now of the GAA set-up. The GAA obviously disagree with your own personnel assumptions, why else would they have agreed a deal with the GPA, anyway I wont be drawn into an argument about the GPA, as I said your entitled to your views..but be careful casting stones CS... You're talking about the life blood of inter-county football... 2000+ members.

But I see that perhaps your opinion of the GPA asking fans to stay off the pitch… may be slightly biased. Interesting that…

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 02/09/2010 12:42:32    763284

Abhainn

Listen your entitled to your views... I've been on the pitch, I've enjoyed it... but if the players no longer want it. Then that's that...

You're going down the road of conspiracy theories.. and comparing a corrupt and inept government to the GPA for some reason, and making your own assumptions and thinking them as fact, at the end of the day.. the GPA represent 2000+ inter county players, if the majority didnt support the GAA decision to ban pitch invasions, the GPA would not have backed the GAA's decision...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 02/09/2010 12:48:20    763292

if you were in an AI final and won it, would you want the fans to stay off the pitch?? i certainly wouldnt! i'd want to be celebrating with them on the pitch!

gaelic_life (Down) - Posts: 286 - 02/09/2010 12:51:59    763298

My God jimbodub.Are you the gpa sales rep...dO YOU HONESTLY believe 2000 players are against pitch invasions. Come into the real world..Id say 1970 of those would be delighted to have a chance to be celebrating with their fans on All Ireland Sunday

monitor (Down) - Posts: 209 - 02/09/2010 12:52:35    763300

Jimbodub,

The G.P.A. make many statements but i would say a survey of players might actually prove that more of them may not want fences or supporters not being allowed on the pitch. Personally i have never gone on the pitch and have watched the presentations from the stands but i would not judge people who do. I was lucky enough in my playing career to have been lifted shoulder high on the pitch after games by supporters of my team and enjoyed the experience !!

P.S. Many Union members do not agree with some of the stances taken by their leaders either !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 02/09/2010 12:54:08    763303

monitor
County: Down
Posts: 61

The needs of the many... and all that jazz..

There's a good reason why I sound like a GPA rep...

Listen run on the pitch if you want.. knock yourself out but please just think about yourself and your wishes.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 02/09/2010 12:59:22    763309

Interesting that no player put their name to it. If Henry Shefflin or Eoin Kelly or respective captains had released the statement then maybe it might have held some weight.
Sounds more like toeing the party line in a political sense to me!!

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 02/09/2010 12:59:26    763310

jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 6428

763292 Abhainn

Listen your entitled to your views... I've been on the pitch, I've enjoyed it... but if the players no longer want it. Then that's that...

You're going down the road of conspiracy theories.. and comparing a corrupt and inept government to the GPA for some reason, and making your own assumptions and thinking them as fact, at the end of the day.. the GPA represent 2000+ inter county players, if the majority didnt support the GAA decision to ban pitch invasions, the GPA would not have backed the GAA's decision...

-----

I'm merely saying that a represntative organisation does not always reflect the opinions of the masses. No conspiracy theory, just a simple fact. If the GPA says something it does not neccessarily mean a majority of its members agree with it.

abhainn (Galway) - Posts: 1000 - 02/09/2010 13:02:33    763314

Jimbo out of interest I text 3 members of the Tyrone panel to ask if they had been contacted by the GPA regarding their opinion on pitch invasions and they all replied no. These boys are current members of the panel and also members of the GPA so I would suggest the statement released does not have the backing of it's members considering they weren't balloted.

maor_uisce (Tyrone) - Posts: 167 - 02/09/2010 13:02:45    763315

Cavan_Slasher
County: Cavan
Posts: 5696

That's no problem CS but at the end of the day, majority rules... that's our way of life.

Pitch invasions should become a thing of the past, I say that with a heavy heart, I've been lucky enough to see Sam lifted from the pitch.

BUT

If the players dont want it... well...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 02/09/2010 13:03:19    763316