Soccer takes centre stage this week with the Republic of Ireland senior international team in action at the Aviva Stadium and the SSE Airtricity League season kicking off on Friday night.
The season will take in a total of 330 league and play-off games in addition to matches in the FAI Ford Cup, EA SPORTS Cup, President’s Cup, Setanta Sports Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
Among the highlights of the new season will be the return to the Premier Division of Athlone Town after an absence of 18 years, the debut of Galway Football Club and the introduction of a second Shamrock Rovers team which will play in the First Division.
“There is great anticipation ahead of the new season as we gear ourselves up for a campaign that promises great matches, great teams and great players,” said Eamon Naughton, Chairman of the FAI’s National League Executive Committee launching the League.
“The various battles for the trophies on offer promise to be highly competitive with many teams entering the new season with realistic ambitions of success.”
Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director SSE Airtricity, added that “SSE Airtricity is delighted to be launching the new look SSE Airtricity League. This season we’re entering our fifth year as sponsors and we are proud to be making a difference in Irish football.”
“Our continued commitment to the League is made easy through the strong links that we’ve forged with clubs and football fans all across the country. Football, like SSE Airtricity, is rooted in the local community and that why this relationship is the perfect fit for us. We look forward to another exciting football season full of drama, excitement and great football.”
SSE Airtricity and the FAI will be jointly marketing the league through an advertising campaign which focuses on the availability of live football in Ireland using the slogan “Powering Live Football.”
They will use the hashtag #lovelivefootball on their social media platforms throughout the season.
RTE and Setanta Sports will also continue their live coverage of matches during the season.
RTE will have coverage each week through their new football programme Soccer Republic which will commence on Monday, March 10.
In commercial terms, prize-money for the 2014 season will be the same as last year with the winners of the Premier Division receiving €100,000. The Premier Division clubs will be playing for a prize-fund of €241,500 with €74,000 being competed for in the First Division and €25,000 in the EA SPORTS Cup.
The 12 clubs participating in the 2014 Premier Division will be: Athlone Town, Bohemians, Bray Wanderers, Cork City, Derry City, Drogheda United, Dundalk, Limerick, St Patrick’s Athletic, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers and UCD.
The eight clubs participating in the 2014 First Division will be: Cobh Ramblers, Finn Harps, Galway, Longford Town, Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne, Waterford United and Wexford Youths.
Throughout this week Sport for Business will take a look at how each of the clubs has geared up commercially for the season ahead. We will also be monitoring their reach out through social media across the course of the season.
Domestic Soccer Gears Up for New Season
