ATHLONE AGAIN ...NATURALLY?  

First off, congrats to Athlone Town and their supporters on their promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division – their first in 17 years. As Sam Cooke once gloriously sang:

“It’s been long time coming, but I know, change goin’ come”

It was a fitting new chapter of the oldest club in the league, with a history spanning 126 years of joy, pain, and the odd bit of depression behind them. For many the golden era of the club came under Turlough O’Connor in the early eighties when the Midlanders dominated everything. Indeed during a purple patch of 4 years between 1979-83, Town won the League of Ireland Championship twice, as well as three League of Ireland League Cups. In doing so O’Connor’s side managed to emulate a dominant Dundalk side under the helm of Jim McLaughlin, and challenged anything the capital could muster in way of competition. St Mel’s was the temple on which Town fans worshipped and many clubs got turned over when the made a visit Westmeath way.

It would have been asking a lot for that level of success to continue, ironically O’Connor would move to manage Dundalk in 1985, and when the club experienced relegation for the first time in its history in 1987 ( they came straight back up) the attendances obviously dipped. Once more it was obvious St. Mel’s needed improvements. In the Eighties most clubs will probably admit there was a half hearted attempt to repairing their homestead, partly because of funds. When you think of it Tolka Park was heralded as a breakthrough for Irish stadia when it became our first ever all-seated stadium in the early nineties ....it took us over 70 years to achieve such a feat.

The long period outside of top tier football for Athlone Town wasn’t exclusive to the club. Only last year Limerick FC shook off the shackles which had tied them to the First Division for almost 20 long years, and Monaghan United can tell a story or two about the graveyard of Irish football that is the League of Ireland First Division.

 And when you see that over 2,000 came to Lissywoolen last night to see the club’s first promotion since 1996 you wonder who it was more rewarding for? The fans who last rejoice in success, possibly under Turlough O’Connor or somewhere in-between or the couple of hundred die-hards who have been there and seen it all. Rain or shine, sun or storm, week in-week out and probably shed a tear of emotion.

Because there will always be die-hards.

On visiting Lissywoolen for ‘Just Follow The Floodlights’ in 2011 I came across a struggling Athlone Town side taking on a Monaghan United team (managed by Collins) and on their way to promotion. The attendance might just have topped 300, a fact put down as much to a boisterous travelling crowd supporting as to the home fans.

Not that Athlone’s predicament was any different to almost any other clubs in that division, indeed Monaghan United would be the first to admit that when they did start life in the Premier Division, fans still wouldn’t folk to the Gortakeegan outfit. I chatted at length downstairs under the ground (I loved the set-up, soup & sandwiches mixing with fan programmes & memorabilia) and the mid-table annoyminuty had sent people running for the exit.

“It’s a Catch 22 situation really. Some fans didn’t like the idea of leaving St Mel’s but most of them didn’t bother with that ground when we got anchored in this league. They turned out for the last game there in 2006 and came to watch us start here in 2007, but you can see for yourself” said one fan.

Some may say it’s indicative of regional clubs whose success is sporadic however the current attendance crisis at, say, Dalymount means this isn’t the case. Bohemian’s illustrious history and success is undeniable but also is the fact fans sadly have stayed away of recent. Still a Premier Division club not to have been relegated ever in their history (St Pat’s hold the same record) you wonder will it take a promotion/relegation play-off to bring them back, or will some reminisce about the good times if the club do drop a division.

Waterford United, a club with a diehard fan base, like many, totalling a few hundred also have the millstone of a decorated past , and still fans stay away...until an Athlone like resurrection and subsequent promotion brings more through the turnstiles.

Of course the bank balance will improve significantly for Athlone Town. And this is were its crucial. The club need the people to STAY along. Even if for the magic carpet ride of this first seasion so they can find a base.

It remains to be seen if sunshine supporter Steve or diehard Dave will be treated equally as paying customers. Are the guys you haven’t seen at the ground in 20 years as bad as a ‘barstooler?’

He will be quick to point out he possibly supported the same team as a younger man through times just as hard..

It’s why I posted this blog, basically wondering I suppose how you feel about it?