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                                 A LEAGUE OF IRELAND SUPPORTERS GROUP BLOG

                                                      Fan Group ;  SECTION O

                                                    Club; LONGFORD TOWN

                                             Interviewee ; MARTIN STAPLETON

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  1. With a background in the club its obvious you're a keen supporter of Longford Town Martin, so tell me a little about how SECTION 0 came about in the first place?THAT'S SIMPLE REALLY. THAT IS THE SECTION WE STAND IN! WE DECIDED TO SET UP THE GROUP AROUND THE TIME OF OUR GAME IN EUROPE AGAINST FC LOVECH IN 2001.
  2. Do the club realise how important it is to have a group like yours?OH THEY KNOW ALRIGHT! THAT'S BECAUSE THREE PEOPLE IN SECTION O , INCLUDING ME, ARE ON THE SUPPORTERS CLUB COMMITTEE.
  3. Do you have any input to the club (board member, committee etc) FROM THE START OF THE SEASON OUR GROUP ARE ISSUING MEMBERSHIPS CARDS FOR SECTION O FOR €10, INCLUDING SUPPORTERS CLUB MEMBERSHIP. I MYSELF ACT IN THE ROLE OF SUPPORTERS CLUB SECRETARY.
  

  4. Favourite rivalries (obviously Athlone Town)....tell me a little bit more about that.

  EVEN BEFORE WE JOINED THE LEAGUE OF IRELAND, ATHLONE TOWN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OUR NATURAL RIVALS. INDEED BEFORE WE JOINED THE LEAGUE IN 1984/85 A LOT OF OUR SUPPORTERS WENT TO ATHLONE TOWN GAMES.

  5. Having been involved with the programme, supporters club etc, how difficult in recent years has it been when crowds are so low?

  TO BE HONEST IT'S ABSOLUTELY DEMORALISING. NO MATTER WHAT THE CLUB DOES IT STILL FALLS UNDER THE BANNER OF A GAA COUNTY, LIKE MANY, SO YOU JUST FIND IT SO HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO GO TO LONGFORD TOWN GAMES.

  6. Do you feel there is an empathy in Longford (ie- people supporting Premier clubs , GAA)  instead of Longford Town?

  MOST CERTAINLY. ON ONE FAMOUS OCCASION FALLONS PUB SHOWED THE 2004 FAI CUP FINAL BETWEEN OURSELVES & WATERFORD UNITED , BUT THE LOCALS GOT ANGRY AND TOLD THE PUB TO SWITCH ONTO THE ARSENAL v MAN UNITED PREMIER LEAGUE GAME WHICH WAS ON AT THE SAME TIME. YOU CAN'T WIN AGAINST THAT.

  7. Favourite Chant?

  "TELL ALL THE BOHS YOU KNOW, SEANIE FRANCIS IS BETTER THAN GLEN CROWE!  STEPHEN KENNY'S A ****, VINNYS BETTER THEN HUNT & SEANIE FRANCIS IS BETTER THAN CROWE!"

  8. . What makes supporting a LOI First Division side better than, say a trophy-winning English Premier club?

  A SENSE OF IDENTITY & LOYALTY. YOU WERE THERE FOR THE CRAP TIMES & THE GOOD TIMES. I'VE BEEN LUCKY TO SEE THE CLUBS GOOD TIMES!

  9.Have Section O any events planned during the season?

  WE HAD A COMPUTER GAMES TOURNAMENT ORGANIZED EARLIER THIS SEASON WHICH PAID OFF SECTION 0 SPONSORSHIP AS WELL AS RAISING MONEY FOR OUR FLAGS.

  10. Where do you see the club in 5 years time.

  WITH A BIT OF LUCK , GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH. I STRONGLY BELIEVE WE WILL BE IN THE TOP FLIGHT & HOPEFULLY STAYING THERE. DESPITE LOW CROWDS WE ARE FUNDIMENTALLY A WELL RUN CLUB AT PRESENT.

  
  

  
  
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  10:04pm