Volunteer Corner - Limerick FC
Credit:
In the second of our series focusing on people who give their free time to help out in the running of LOI clubs, extratime.ie's David Byrne spoke to Limerick FC volunteer Trevor Beacom, who has some forthright views on how to improve the league.
When did you first become a fan of Limerick Football Club?
My first game was a cup game in 1986 against Rockmount of Cork. Limerick won 6-2 but to be honest I hardly remember the game. The one hour walk to and from the ground, from Thomondgate where I'm from, with about ten of my friends was far more memorable. Although none of my friends were regulars at the games, and all played schoolboy football, I returned week in week out to watch Limerick from then on.
When did you first offer your services to the club and what made you want to do more than just stand on the touchlines?
It would have been when we were playing in Jackman Park under Noel O'Connor. There were very few fans and as usual the club had no money, so I decided to just help out with programmes and half time raffles etc.
Who is your favourite Limerick FC player of all-time and why?
Marcus Tuite, a midfield general who was only about 5ft tall. In the late 80's when I first started supporting Limerick he was a gem. An Irish youth international and I think he was a B international also. He worked and lived quite close to me, then moved to Bohs to finish out his LOI career.
Has the League of Ireland improved much as a spectacle i.e facilities, entertainment?
No. Facilities were always bad but the new "improvements" are crap and sterile. Poor stands and poor terraces. It seemed to be a lot more mature people going to the games before and they were always great fun.
What more could be done to improve attendances?
Scrap the league and start again. The First Division is now a joke. This year the standard is the worst I've ever seen. With clubs in trouble all over the place, I think an independent company running the league would be a good thing also.
What is your typical match-day routine for a game in Limerick FC?
I try and skip off work early, head to lidl to get the milk and stuff for the sweet shop. I usually arrive about two hours before the game and along with Anne Mullen, try and get the shop ready. I work in the shop before the game and try and sell the half time draw during the first half. At half time it's back to the shop. In the second half I might see a few minutes of the game, but then I start picking up all the papers and doing the recycling so the ground is spotless when we leave around half ten or eleven o'clock.
Where do you see Limerick FC in five years time?
I don't think of Limerick beyond the end of the season. That's how fragile the LOI is these days. Five years is a long long way away but I hope we're still around and hope the league is a lot healthier than these days.
What is the most memorable match-day incident you can recall?
The away days are great and I'd have to say when I started going to the away days in the early 2000's, things were great. The league cup win in Derry was a great night, staying over and meeting some nice Derry girls.....oh, the match was good too!
If you could sign one player from within the League for your club, who would it be?
it would have been Keith Fahey but he's gone. Good ball playing midfielders are hard to find. I think we have a star in Jason Hughes, but Colm James at Sporting Fingal is a class above most.
How do you think Limerick FC will fare over the coming season?
Honestly? I think the division is so poor I think we should have no problem finishing in the top four. At worst fifth and at best second behind Fingal. The standard is shocking, though.
When did you first become a fan of Limerick Football Club?
My first game was a cup game in 1986 against Rockmount of Cork. Limerick won 6-2 but to be honest I hardly remember the game. The one hour walk to and from the ground, from Thomondgate where I'm from, with about ten of my friends was far more memorable. Although none of my friends were regulars at the games, and all played schoolboy football, I returned week in week out to watch Limerick from then on.
When did you first offer your services to the club and what made you want to do more than just stand on the touchlines?
It would have been when we were playing in Jackman Park under Noel O'Connor. There were very few fans and as usual the club had no money, so I decided to just help out with programmes and half time raffles etc.
Who is your favourite Limerick FC player of all-time and why?
Marcus Tuite, a midfield general who was only about 5ft tall. In the late 80's when I first started supporting Limerick he was a gem. An Irish youth international and I think he was a B international also. He worked and lived quite close to me, then moved to Bohs to finish out his LOI career.
Has the League of Ireland improved much as a spectacle i.e facilities, entertainment?
No. Facilities were always bad but the new "improvements" are crap and sterile. Poor stands and poor terraces. It seemed to be a lot more mature people going to the games before and they were always great fun.
What more could be done to improve attendances?
Scrap the league and start again. The First Division is now a joke. This year the standard is the worst I've ever seen. With clubs in trouble all over the place, I think an independent company running the league would be a good thing also.
What is your typical match-day routine for a game in Limerick FC?
I try and skip off work early, head to lidl to get the milk and stuff for the sweet shop. I usually arrive about two hours before the game and along with Anne Mullen, try and get the shop ready. I work in the shop before the game and try and sell the half time draw during the first half. At half time it's back to the shop. In the second half I might see a few minutes of the game, but then I start picking up all the papers and doing the recycling so the ground is spotless when we leave around half ten or eleven o'clock.
Where do you see Limerick FC in five years time?
I don't think of Limerick beyond the end of the season. That's how fragile the LOI is these days. Five years is a long long way away but I hope we're still around and hope the league is a lot healthier than these days.
What is the most memorable match-day incident you can recall?
The away days are great and I'd have to say when I started going to the away days in the early 2000's, things were great. The league cup win in Derry was a great night, staying over and meeting some nice Derry girls.....oh, the match was good too!
If you could sign one player from within the League for your club, who would it be?
it would have been Keith Fahey but he's gone. Good ball playing midfielders are hard to find. I think we have a star in Jason Hughes, but Colm James at Sporting Fingal is a class above most.
How do you think Limerick FC will fare over the coming season?
Honestly? I think the division is so poor I think we should have no problem finishing in the top four. At worst fifth and at best second behind Fingal. The standard is shocking, though.
About David Byrne
is a freelance sports reporter based in Limerick who has been following the League of Ireland for as long as he can remember. As an avid Limerick supporter his earliest memory of the League was … View Full Profile