A representative body for Club GAA players was launched in Dublin yesterday with a clear aim to ‘fix the fixtures’ and provide a better playing experience for the 99% of GAA players that make up the Association.
There was a large top table at the launch with no fewer than 15 men sitting before a collection of media and their peers to get their message out.
Former Monaghan Selector Declan Brennan is the Secretary while Michael Briody from Meath has taken on the role of Chairman. Anthony Moyles will put his experience at Davy’s to good use in his capacity as Treasurer though there were adamant statements yesterday that the Club Players Association would not be providing jobs or expenses to any of those involved.
All are doing so on a purely volunteer basis as an antidote to what Briody described as the “money rot” within the GAA.
Read more of Sport for Business’ coverage of the GAA
Despite some statements which seemed more incendiary, the officials and those involved were at pains to stress that this was a collaborative initiative, looking to provide a voice for the club players who they feel have been overlooked in the dominance of the inter county game.
A motion will go before the GAA Congress seeking to formally recognise the Association which they hope will extend to tens of thousands of (non paying) registered players by that time.
The core objective of the Association as published on its registration website is
… to establish a regular playing season for clubs and curbing the pervasive influence of the county scene on the fixtures calendar of club players the length and breath of Ireland. It is the desire of club people, that fixtures for clubs are set out in a definitive manner rather than the current situation whereby club games are vying for space in the calendar alongside national league and championship fixtures at inter-county level. This is just one issue facing the modern club GAA player here in Ireland.
In real terms this means a push towards ending the All Ireland Inter County Championships in Hurling and Football by the August Bank Holiday Weekend and providing greater access to clubs for players who are otherwise involved with an inter county panel.
The objectives of the association are well intentioned, with the challenges facing players who want to stay involved in playing well documented in their ‘I am the man’ semi manifesto published below.
Read more of our coverage of Player Welfare in Irish Sport
There are clear conflicts between those involved in how far to push any action to force a change with Liam Griffin explicitly ruling out any strike action while the body language of others suggested that nothing could be ruled out.
It wil be a major challenge to keep such a broad base of enthusiastic volunteers energised and disciplined enough to make a mark but that is what being a club player is all about so we are sure a way will be found.
The Association is being funded by those involved with a tight control on expenses. They want to get it out there before planning fully for how such a broad base of registered members might be served without cash on one side or disappointment on the other but those are discussions for another day.
There is a deep rooted commitment within the central management of the GAA to ensure fixtures are compiled that will serve all the members.
Director General Paraic Duffy published his own discussion document around an earlier finish to the inter county season which the Club Players Association had some merit but did not go far enough.
Read about the Paraic Duffy Proposals
As with any of these discussions an element of compromise will be essential to ensure that the different and complex moving parts of the modern GAA continue to work in an effective fashion.
The launch of any group like this needs a touch of fire and brimstone and those speaking yesterday said that they would ‘fight’ for the club players and ‘be their voice.’
They will command respect with Aaron Kernan, Derek Kavanagh and Martin McHugh among their number.
Disparaging remarks about World Games, a focus on TV Deals and new forms of Hurling pointed to where what Griffin described as ‘positive discontent’ might be coming from. There was a clear sense that all of that ‘stuff’ could be dealt with after rather than before a new approach to fixtures was determined.
They have given themselves 100 days to create a strong mandate from club players and bring forward proposals for how they can ‘fix the fixtures’. Such a timetable is a good point to start with and judgement on how successful it will be should be reserved until those details are clearer.
What happens if the full demands are not met has the potential to make this year one that will have as many face to face encounters off the pitch as we see on it.
This is the basis on which the Club Payers Association is basing its appeal. Players (men only at this stage because of the vagaries of the structure of Camogie and Ladies Football) can register their support at www.gaaclubplayers.com.
Join us for a morning of learning, networking and insight on the sporting year ahead and the sponsorship trends that will impact upon us on January 20th. Reserve your place now.
