Let's get the families back. Championship fever has once again gripped the thousands of GAA supporters throughout the country and for some the hunt for last years flags and scarves has started while parents are under pressure to provide that new county strip. The enthusiasm of some supporters though has already been quelled by first round defeats. In fact despondency may well have set in for the supporters of teams like Kildare, Longford and Antrim. Their teams were certainly capable of winning and knowing this only adds to the bitterness of defeat. Defeat is not the only reason for gloom among some of the supporters, for while they eagerly await their teams first championship game of the season, their enthusiasm is dampened by the fact that they may not get to the actual match itself owing to financial restraints. The fear of recession allied to the ever increasing cost of championship tickets has left the grassroots supporter tentative about loading up the car and taking Maggie and the kids fifty or sixty mile down the road to the match while he could more easily dander a mile down the road to the local hostelry (with the big screen), buy them their grub, have a couple of pints, watch the match, dander up the road and still be financially better off and hope to afford tickets for the next match. Looking at the number of people that attended some of the opening round fixtures it seems that the reduction in attendance figures for the 2007 season seems set to continue for 2008. For example, only 21,000 paid into Croke Park to see the games between Meath v Carlow and Kildare v Wicklow, 11,000 supporters visited Pearse Stadium in Galway for the visit of neighbours Roscommon while in Ulster only 7,000 braved the sun for the opening round clash between Antrim and Cavan. On a beautiful sunny afternoon with no Man United or Munster rugby clashes to detract the GAA following these figures are surely disappointing. It can be argued, perhaps, that none of the recent big guns were in action but surely heavy hitters Galway in a local derby with frequent winners Roscommon merited more than 11,000 people. Four Leinster teams in close proximity to Croke Park, including crowd pullers Meath and Kildare, attracting only 21,000 must be of concern. (The powers that be were surely expecting more than this otherwise Croke Park would not have been used). The staunch supporters of Cavan and an improving Antrim should at least have doubled the attendance figures for Casement Park. The most worrying aspect of this fixture was the reports of supporters turning away from the stadium when they realized there was a _20 admission fee. It is easy to gather the relevant data and produce information that shows the falling attendances and the corresponding link with increasing ticket prices. Of course there are other factors contributing to the falling numbers but perhaps the most convincing argument for finance being the main factor is in the genuine testaments of the grassroots supporters we meet in everyday life. "Herself, meself and three youngsters? You must be joking!" "Win or lose there'll be no trips to Croke Park I can tell you that!" "It breaks my heart to give them that much but I'll probably go anyway." "What the hell do they do with it all?" Yes, we've heard all these comments before and may have unfairly thought to ourselves that these were only "lukewarm supporters". Of course, we would have been wrong but either way it is getting very difficult to defend some of the decisions made at headquarters, especially when it comes to finances. We were told last year that from the 26 million Euros made from ticket sales (60% of the Association's revenue) only 565,000Euro was held centrally while the remainder was "ploughed into grass roots clubs". Fantastic! But please show us how and where! Certainly, we have many fine stadia in Ireland at present and the playing/training facilities throughout the country have greatly improved. However, I believe a lot of this is due to the fund-raising efforts of the grass roots worker at club level and organized by local clubs. I have been involved in quite a few fund-raising ventures at club level and I know the financial assistance we have received from the GAA over the years has been very little, if any, and I know this to be the case with other clubs. If active GAA members do not have the answers with which to defend our association then how can we shut up the knockers or even appease our own supporters. There is no doubt we are currently experiencing a recession of sorts and again this can be confirmed through conversation with everyday people. Families will openly talk about having to cut back on various household necessities owing to the hike in heating, travel, food, insurance, rates, etc.Farmers are feeling the inflation more than most with rising prices in fuel, fodder, fertilizer, etc. Construction workers and blue collar workers now feeling insecure. It is from within this that we have our grass roots supporter and their financial restraint must eventually impact on the GAA. We are told by officials that ticket prices are still good value. Good value as compared to what? What value is our pound or Euro in the present financial climate? Beautiful stadia are no good half empty. What image does this portray to the watching thousands (possibly millions)? What atmosphere does this create within the stadium? How does it impact on the players? Imagine the impact a full or near full stadium could have on a game and the consequent enjoyment had by all. The benefits to be gained by filling our stadia - through better promotion and reduced admission fees - would far outweigh any losses initially incurred. Let's get the families traveling again and give our grass roots a well earned boost. Eamon Coleman Memorial Fund As a means of celebrating the life of the late, great Eamon Coleman the St Trea's GAA Club in Ballymaguigan are running an Extraordinary Fundraising Day on the 7th June 2008. Events include a football match between the '93 Derry team and an Irish Select (past and present) and the day culminates with a Gala dinner. Several worthwhile charities are set to benefit from this including Marie Curie, SMA and Goal. A praiseworthy venture that should be well supported. Tweet

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