COLUMN: Don't you want me?
Who remembers The Human League?
Probably as memorable and as popular as that other League was the other week?
The term 'popular' is loosely applied in this instance, but the first question prompts a second (question) - Is there anything such as bad publicity?
To answer the questions in a non-political way - directly - I do and no.
Just in case you are lost at this stage - answers to the questions - I do (remember The Human League) and no (there isn't anything such as bad publicity).
There might be publicity that you don't like - that's a different story.
Enduring is a term that could be applied to The Human League.
Isn't Phil Oakey still fighting the good fight 40 years on from that memorable classic (in my view) that like all good songs has simple lyrics - a bit like all good football chants - Don't You Want Me.
Enduring is a term that could also be applied to that other League.
Still fighting the good fight 100 years on from when the first leather football was kicked somewhere up around the Iveagh Grounds where the inaugural champions St James' Gate played.
And what about that other League - you know the one, the one that everyone (real sweeping statement) except the dedicated, treats with derision.
Correct that quickly.
Until last week most die-hard (definition - determined or devoted) GAA people wouldn't even admit to knowing anything about the other League.
That all changed in an instant when the important ELITE status was temporarily removed from the GAA.
"If we can't have it why should should they" was the instant type of reaction.
Bad enough to lose that status, but it appears to have been really galling when similar treatment wasn't meted out to the other League.
Looking at the reaction and trying to assess it almost two weeks after the event?
It was really nothing more than what might have been expected from those who made comments without having any real knowledge about what they were talking about.
But, thanks to the many who said so much with so little information, the fact that the League of Ireland (or as it is currently labelled - the SSE Airtricity League) will kick-off with the first round of Premier Division fixtures on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th March is now widely know.
It is probably eagerly anticipated by a potentially new cohort (definition - a group of individuals having a statistical factor in common) of support.
Instead of snappy comments like - "those players in the SSE Airtricity League cannot possibly be deemed elite athletes" - there is a replacement for the whinge.
The alternative comment gathering some momentum this week is - "Oh, what a pity the Covid-19 restrictions will prevent us from going to watch a game in the SSE Airtricity League, but once it's allowed we will go to look at some ELITE sportsmen."
At this stage I have to confess to an ulterior motive in writing this excellent piece - it might even be eligible for some award when the gongs for 2021 are dispensed in 2022 - I'm biased.
By that I mean I have an abiding passion (sounds serious) for the League of Ireland and for all the clubs that attempt to stay afloat in the stormy waters from season-to-season.
The survival of the League of Ireland (it kicked-off in 1921 which should give an indication of the climate that existed at the time as politics influenced what could loosely be called the Irish Soccer Split) is something that should actually be celebrated by all Irish sportspeople.
Drawing a comparison that I’m quite certain some Meath GAA folk might understand is necessary even if it is unpalatable?
For too many years the treatment meted out to League of Ireland clubs by the organisation charged with its welfare (the Football Association of Ireland and its other affiliates) could be likened to the way in which the Meath senior hurling team was regarded for many years by some Meath GAA folk.
However, I wouldn't like to see the hurlers burned over anything that might appear in the Meath Chronicle so like all good TV courtroom dramas - withdrawn your honour - and the jury will disregard that remark.
Neverthelesss, I can understand how the GAA people felt when that vital ELITE status was removed and promptly halted the plans for the inter-county football and hurling competitions.
It was disappointing for so many people, but the League of Ireland clubs were not at fault.
Anyone who watched the League of Ireland games last season - played behind-closed-doors - would be aware of the collective efforts that went into the organisation of the games on a weekly basis in a shortened season.
Similar efforts were made by the GAA at venues around the country - one of the advantages in this job is that I got to go to lots of games as I was deemed an ESSENTIAL worker and thankfully that status hasn't been removed.
The League of Ireland (sorry the SSE Airtricity League) - at one stage it was even called the Kentucky Fried Chicken League of Ireland which later morphed into the Famous Fried Chicken League - you couldn't make things like that up.
But it's okay for me to have a laugh about it, but GAA people reading this should not laugh at this point.
It was the Bass League of Ireland at one stage; don't mention the Guinness Hurling Championship, or in that ‘other code’ that also has ELITE status - the Heineken Cup.
Funny how the ELITE status of that ‘other code' wasn't questioned in the slightest - maybe it's all down to snobbery (definition - feeling superior) - as the GAA and IRFU have got Croke Park and the Aviva.
Meanwhile the soccer heads (debt-free by 2020 from a previous CEO) have to pay the piper, but can't call the tune.
Just ask SSE Airtricity League kingpins Dundalk - they had to move a Europa League tie to the South Dublin County Council-owned Tallaght Stadium as the Aviva wasn't available due to an IRFU kicking practice session.
Oh!
Do SSE Airtricity League teams play in the Europa League?
Poor Serie A side AC Milan and even poorer Premier League side Arsenal and some of the bigger lesser lights in Europe had to travel to Dublin in 2020 to play SSE Airtricity League teams.
That's a bit posh isn't it?
No , just a bit ELITE.
FIXTURES
Friday 12th March: President's Cup - Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk.
Friday 19th March: Premier League - Drogheda Utd v Waterford; Finn Harps v Bohemian FC; Shamrock Rovers v St Patrick's Athletic.
Saturday 20th March: Premier - Sligo Rovers v Dundalk; Longford Town v Derry City.