24 Jul 2016 12:22:30
Away from Liverpool I know, but a question for Ed002 with your vast knowledge in the footballing world, what's your thoughts on the league of Ireland football and do you ever see a United Irish league between the North of Ireland and the South?

{Ed002's Note - The problem is the politics of football and not national politics as many would think - and it goes back to the 20s or 30s. There have been attempts over the years to try to resolve matters but neither FA is keen and when the fans of all of the clubs were probed as to what they wanted the majority still wanted the divide maintained - for whatever reasons - political or religious. So in the longer term I expect efforts will be made again but they will not force the situation without consideration of the supporters.}

1.) 24 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 15:23:37
I can't and don't want to see it happen. i'm more than happy supporting Northern Ireland. I have watched them at Windsor since the very early 80's and i couldn't imagine going down to Dublin to watch a team which would essentially be an "Ireland" team. This is without getting into the politics of it all.

2.) 24 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 15:37:48
Much appreciated Ed002.

3.) 24 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 17:27:42
Seems to work fine in the Rugby.

4.) 24 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 17:35:31
Some matches would have to be in the north too . Both leagues need to join forces to insure the future of club football on this island . Rugby seems to be doing just fine . Hopefully we host the 2023 World Cup.

5.) 24 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 20:16:28
Well, this is where the politics come into it. Again all the rugby matches are played down in Dublin under the Ireland banner and the Irish national Anthem. Would Ireland be willing to drop their anthem that might be alien to some of their players? Does the rugby take this into consideration? A lot of issues would need to change North and South in order to accomodate both religions and we are light years away from that in my opinion.

6.) 24 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 20:50:16
Dublin is the capital of Ireland so if there was to be a united Ireland team then the games rightly should be played there. Ireland are so far behind England when it comes to club football its a joke and it will never change unless they start investing in players etc.
I support liverpool even against the Irish clubs so something isn't right, would take something drastic for Irish clubs to reach even a quarter of the status of 1st division English teams.

7.) 24 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 20:51:21
Have to be honest, I'm completely ignorant of Irish politics. Is it a similar situation to North and South Korea?

8.) 24 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 22:01:36
Rover, the anthem for the rugby team is Ireland's call, not the national anthem. This was done to accommodate all 4 provinces. Clearly you need to do a bit of research there.
We may be lightyears away from it but most of the issues are here in the North.
When I watch international football I rarely pay attention to Northern Ireland's results. The reason being the anthem is God save the queen which doesn't consider half the population here. Surely if you'd want the anthem to change if there was a United Ireland team, then surely the consideration should be taken for half the population here.

9.) 24 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 22:47:48
I'm an England fan who went to the euros to watch NI play all their group games with some of my friends from Antrim. I have to say the atmosphere they created was something else, I've been to lots of England matches but I've seen nothing like this. Keep them separated then we can get good honest fans from both the north and south.

10.) 24 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 23:23:00
You. I 100% agree, there should be an individual anthem for Northern Ireland. You won't get any arguement from me. As well you are correct about Irelands Call but still played under the Ireland flag. These issues are deep routed in our society and not so easy to solve. Consideration needs to be given to both sides.

11.) 24 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 23:19:04
Wow MK!
Just "wow". Short answer is "no"

12.) 25 Jul 2016
24 Jul 2016 23:57:35
Lol, we haven't got nukes pointed at each other yet.

13.) 25 Jul 2016
25 Jul 2016 04:44:09
Lightyear is a measure of distance not time! Personally I think it would be a waste of time to join both leagues because it will create extreme hooliganism and there simply isn't going to be a united Ireland team unless there is a united Ireland.

14.) 25 Jul 2016
25 Jul 2016 16:42:00
In fairness, it's only a matter of time before there is an all Ireland league and United Ireland football team as it would just be unseemly to have 2 national teams when the country has been re-united.

At the time of the last last census (2011) the religious split in NI was 48% P / 45% C and 7% other/ no religion. Analysts predicted the C population would over-take the P population by 2017 and there would be a plurality (majority in population and elected representatives) by 2023. This would trigger a referendum on Irish Unity under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. I wouldn't expect this to happen until closer to 2030 though as SF would want a clear majority to ensure the success of said referendum.

Personally I'm a fan of the union, but that democracy for you!