The Football Association of Ireland has launched the second Irish Football National Draw.
Hopes are high that the total funds raised for clubs around the country will exceed the €1 million generated by last year’s inaugural event.
Clubs can order their tickets from the FAI from today. They pay €1.50 for the ticket, which goes as a contribution towards the prize fund and to cover administration expenses. The remainder of the ticket cost to individual club members, €8.50 goes directly to the club that sells the ticket.
The FAI has once more gathered its major sponsors to contribute to the prize fund and there are over 2,000 prizes available in 2014.
These are divided among regional prizes for tickets sold just in Dublin, the rest of Leinster, Ulster / Connaught and Munster, as well as at the national level.
Champions’ League
The prizes include four Ford Fiesta cars; a trip to the 2014 Champions’ League Final supplied by Three; free power for a year from SSE Airtricity, a trip for two to the Champions League final from Three; a Samsung Home Cinema System from Aviva; a weekend for two in Copenhagen from Carlsberg; a trip for two to a Premier League match from DHL; and a trip for two to the 2015 Charity Shield in Wembley Stadium from Abbey Travel.
Added to that there are a range of Samsung Smart TVs, Bose speakers, iPad Airs, Smyths Toys vouchers, HTC handsets, signed Ireland jerseys, hotel breaks, xboxes, club kit and Ireland tickets to be won.
The FAI organises the prizes, the licences, the promotional materials and the tickets themselves, and the winning tickets will be drawn at half time during the FAI Ford Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium in November.
Price Point
The IRFU and the GAA run similar national draws, all with equal success. It is a demonstrable way in which the power of the central organisation can deliver for all of the units within each of the sports and is pitched at a price point that appears to be comfortable for fans and club members.
Clubs that sell €1,000 worth of tickets will also be given FAI sponsored prizes for an additional draw to take place just within the membership of that individual club.
“The first Irish Football National draw provided a new way for the Association and its partners to help clubs, leagues and FAI affiliates all over Ireland,” said FAI CEO John Delaney.
“400 clubs took part last year raising almost €1m to support local club development. This year the prize fund is bigger and with even more clubs interested in taking part, we expect it to be the best yet.”
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