Is it time for the Women's National League to change to summer football

Sitting in the FAI Headquarters in Abbottstown last August, the message portrayed to gathered members of the media, players and coaching staff from the eight clubs was that the 2015-16 Continental Tyres Women’s National League would be the best season yet.

However, several months later as the midway point of the season approaches it appears these words have not come to fruition due to a number of reason; games being postponed due to unforeseen circumstances (including a tragedy close to Jackson Park, which saw UCD Waves -v- Wexford Youths called off), a clash of dates which saw fixtures scheduled for the week ending November 22nd postponed due to Ireland's womens international against Spain and the recent unpredictable weather which has hit Ireland in recent weeks.

With this weekend’s games, like several others over the previous month having been affected by the Irish weather, both UCD Waves and Wexford Youths will head into the Christmas break having played just two of a possible seven league fixtures. Both side’s fixtures against Castlebar Celtic and Galway WFC were postponed due to unplayable surfaces at Jackson Park and Ferrycarrig Park respectively.

Like both UCD and Wexford, Shelbourne Ladies have played just two league games and the Red Pandas have have not played a competitive fixture since their FAI Cup final defeat to Wexford Youths. Their last league outing was at Halloween and since November 8th they have seen games with Wexford Youths, Galway WFC, Peamount United, UCD Waves and this Sunday’s clash with Cork City Women all fall foul of the poor weather conditions in the south of Ireland.

Despite the top three from 2014-15 having played just twice, some clubs have been more fortunate with league leader Galway WFC and Peamount United fulfilling three league games each, with the latter due to play this evening against Kilkenny United. Both Castlebar Celtic and Cork City have played four league games apiece after they played a rescheduled game on Astro-turf during the international break after the original fixture a week earlier was another victim of the weather.

With 15 games being postponed so far in the 2015-16 Women’s National League (an increase of four from the entire 2014-15 season), there has been a call from many within the league for the season to be changed from September-April to March-November in line with the SSE Airtricity League. This would be a move that many say would see less games being called off due to flooded or unplayable pitches. However, while this sounds like a great idea and something that could see the women’s game in Ireland florish like our English counterparts, there would be several objections from clubs who rely heavily on players who play both Ladies Gaelic Football and Women’s National League as this could put their ability to field a side in jeopardy.

One alternative which could be examined is the use of Astro-turf facilities when games are called off, but after speaking to several players, including an international player along with an underage international about the use of such pitches, the majority have said they would be objecting to using them on a regular basis as it increases the risk of injury.

In their final round of fixtures before the Christmas break this weekend, Peamount United will take advantage of having one of these facilities at Greenogue when they play a second home game on this facility when they host Kilkenny United.

With so many re-fixed games due to be scheduled for 2016, the FAI on Saturday announced fixtures called off due to Ireland international game with Spain will be played on January 2nd and 3rd while the games that were affected from Storm Desmond last weekend will be played the week ending February 26th-28th.

Saturday 2nd January: 

Eamonn Deacy Park: Galway WFC -v- Shelbourne Ladies, Kick-off 7:30pm

Ferrycarrig Park: Wexford Youths -v- Castlebar Celtic, Kick-off 7:30pm

Sunday 3rd January:

Bishopstown: Cork City Women -v- Peamount United, Kick-off 1:30pm

Jackson Park: UCD Waves -v- Kilkenny United, Kick-off 1:30pm

Saturday 27th February:

Buckley Park: Kilkenny United -v- Wexford Youths, Kick-off 1:30pm

Morton Stadium: Shelbourne Ladies -v- UCD Waves, Kick-off 7:00pm

Celtic Park: Castlebar Celtic -v- Peamount United, 7:30pm

Eamonn Deacy Park: Galway WFC -v- Cork City Women, Kick-off 7:30pm

Please note some games may move to Friday 26th with clubs agreement.

Despite announcing the first eight rescheduled games, it appears that the earliest the remaining fixtures can be scheduled for is April due to the Ireland National team travelling to America to challenge both the US women’s national team and their U23 side on 23rd and 25th.

While there is a two week gap at the end of February/start of March, the FAI have plugged the first week with the above fixtures, but the second week is where the Algarve Cup, Cyprus Cup and Istra Cups take place (2nd-9th of March).

With Ireland due to travel to Montenegro on April 6th and Spain on the 11th, the week ending the 17th of April, there is an opportunity to schedule some of the remaining fixtures without being forced to schedule midweek games.