MBP supports FAI 'Grow Your Club' launch

21st July 2010

Mark and Ana were present in Dublin last Saturday as the FAI launched their Grow Your Club guide to Airtricity League Clubs.  

The guide - aimed at helping irish clubs grow through fan- and community-centric means - was written by Mark Bradley with the support of Noel Mooney (FAI / Airtricity League) and Daniel Walsh.  It evolved from a series of recommended best practices put together by MBP following a fan experience assessment programme in 2009.

Since moving to a summer format and Friday evening games, the Airtricity League (formerly the League of Ireland) has gone from strength to strength, with a particular characteristic being the closeness with which each Club is working with its community.  At the launch there were excellent presentations from Dundalk FC, Sligo Rovers FC, Shamrock Rovers FC and Finn Harps FC.  Some of the stand out points included Dundalk's city centre promotional street graffiti, Finn Harps road safety / child ticketing initiative, Shamrock Rovers' uber-hero 'Hooperman' (now that's a mascot) and Sligo Rovers efforts to embrace new supporters from outside their own county.

Progress 'off the pitch' is being matched by improvements on it, as the likes of Sporting Fingal and Dundalk prepare for key Europa League qualification games this week.

Exciting times for a re-born game.