Windsor Park

[Jacksgranda]

looks very like sharon from Eastenders in this pic

That's why I said passable in a dim light...

[Jacksgranda]

Update

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22190984

More money about to be wasted in the failed statelet - dearie me.

[~~~]

Update

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22190984

More money about to be wasted in the failed statelet - dearie me.

You have to admit, it is shite on the rest of the teams in the league Linfield get such an advantage, They don't have to pay towards the upkeep of the stadium and even get a share of gate receipts from international matches

[Audaces Fortuna Juvat]

Why are these no-marks being handed state money to overhaul their grounds when we get told by the usual suspects that the government couldn't afford to support Scottish projects for the improvement of the national sport? Scotland is a worthwhile contributor to the UK economy and a significant European competitor in the sport: Norn Ireland is neither.

Do you get bonus money for committing acts of terrorism or something?

Of course Hampden rebuilt itself, while Wembley and Cardiff got nothing either.

f**k off and evolve will you?

[Audaces Fortuna Juvat]

Made all the more ludicrous by Norn Ireland being completely hopeless at the sport, and their clubs having hee-haw fanbase in the first place.

Despite having progressed past the first round of the World Cup twice. Scotland however...........

[WaffenThinMint]

Despite having progressed past the first round of the World Cup twice. Scotland however...........

False modesty will get you nowhere. Quarter finals if my memory serves me well one year, including humping pre-tournament favourites Spain in the process.

[Audaces Fortuna Juvat]

It isn't though, because the money they're spending isn't raised by the failed statelet. It comes from everyone else, just like the rest of Norn Ireland's massive public spending for little contribution.

Because nobody in Northern Ireland works or pays taxes. Unlike Greenock...........

[vikingTON]

Of course Hampden rebuilt itself, while Wembley and Cardiff got nothing either.

f**k off and evolve will you?

Scotland has five million people, with a well-supported national game - attendances are ridiculously high not just in absolute terms, but also per capita. It's one of the best-supported leagues in the world. Absolutely none of this applies to the failed statelet. Furthermore, Hampden's funding came when cash was rather freely available for public sector projects, this couldn't be less of the case for the cash spunked on pointless white elephants, in a statelet that already receives far more from the Treasury than it contributes. When the economic situation improves, Scottish football should be first in line for any public investment project.

When it comes to Hampden itself though, I don't support giving public money to it, because a) International football is a crock of shit and b) it served to feather the nest again of Queen's Park, a club who ought to be punted into the real amateur leagues and the ground taken out of their hands. Thanks for playing anyway.

Despite having progressed past the first round of the World Cup twice. Scotland however...........

The failed statelet's international side are ranked 43rd in Europe, its club sides 42nd. First Division sides in Scotland host higher average attendances than any club in your statelet.

On no comparable measure does the Norn Irish game fare better than Scotland, and in terms of the club game the gap is enormous.

[vikingTON]

Because nobody in Northern Ireland works or pays taxes. Unlike Greenock...........

Oh dear.

Northern Ireland receives more from the UK Treasury - in cash terms and above all, per capita - than it contributes to the central pot. This is not the case for Scotland - which registers by far the lowest deficit of any country in the UK, and contributes far more to the Treasury in per capita terms than it receives in spending and investment.

This is fairly straightforward stuff.

[~~~]

Because nobody in Northern Ireland works or pays taxes. Unlike Greenock...........

I really can't believe you are trying to compare Northern Ireland with Greenock

[Audaces Fortuna Juvat]

It was the people of NI who decided to arm Protestant militia to oppose the Irish Home Rule Act a century ago, and it was the people of NI who have harboured murderers and entire terrorist organisations on both sides of the religious divide for generations. Spare us the tiny tears.

Given that the failed statelet didn't actually exist at the time of the Irish Home Rule Act, that's a stunning post.

[~~~]

Given that the failed statelet didn't actually exist at the time of the Irish Home Rule Act, that's a stunning post.

So it's the ROI fault for wanting to go it alone?

[Audaces Fortuna Juvat]

False modesty will get you nowhere. Quarter finals if my memory serves me well one year, including humping pre-tournament favourites Spain in the process.

I wasn't having a dig at Scotland, just the "logic" of his post.

You have to admit, it is shite on the rest of the teams in the league Linfield get such an advantage, They don't have to pay towards the upkeep of the stadium and even get a share of gate receipts from international matches

Perhaps Linfield should apologise for being the only club with a stadium fit to host Internationals? They built it themselves and signed a deal that suited them. It was only latterly that the TV money made a huge difference. They do pay for the upkeep and maintenenace, and it nealry crippled them in the late Eighties.

Scotland has five million people, with a well-supported national game - attendances are ridiculously high not just in absolute terms, but also per capita.It's one of the best-supported leagues in the world. Absolutely none of this applies to the failed statelet. Furthermore, Hampden's funding came when cash was rather freely available for public sector projects, this couldn't be less of the case for the cash spunked on pointless white elephants, in a statelet that already receives far more from the Treasury than it contributes. When the economic situation improves, Scottish football should be first in line for any public investment project.

Scotland has already had money, we haven't. Do try and keep up. We also have one of the highest per capita supports for International games. Why should Scotland be in front of everyone else? OP has already explained the formula to you several times.

I really can't believe you are trying to compare Northern Ireland with Greenock

I apologise profusely.

To everyone in Northern Ireland, both sides.

[Audaces Fortuna Juvat]

So it's the ROI fault for wanting to go it alone?

Not at all, they did, and were right to do so as that is what they wanted and believed in. I was merely showing his post up for the nonsense it was as he said the people of Northern Ireland armed militias at this time. Northern Ireland did not exist at this time.

He failed again.

[~~~]

Perhaps Linfield should apologise for being the only club with a stadium fit to host Internationals? They built it themselves and signed a deal that suited them. It was only latterly that the TV money made a huge difference. They do pay for the upkeep and maintenenace, and it nealry crippled them in the late Eighties.

Linfield shouldn't have a stadium they can't afford to run without help, and the IFA should have built a stadium for the national team, not rent one from a club.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17130404

Linfield will receive an annual payment of £200,000 from the Irish Football Association

Linfield will own the ground while the IFA will manage the stadium under the contract, which it is believed is nearing agreement.

http://www.irishfa.com/news/item/7206/windsor-park-redevelopment-project/

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/ifa-thrash-out-new-linfield-windsor-deal-28543053.html

The Blues would then be paid a reduced rental by the IFA for hosting international games, still in the region of £250,000 but without the burden of maintenance costs.

Now you can't say that is fair, one club benefiting.

[Audaces Fortuna Juvat]

Linfield shouldn't have a stadium they can't afford to run without help, and the IFA should have built a stadium for the national team, not rent one from a club.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17130404

That would have been the ideal solution, but the Maze was a joke idea and ill-thought out. We could easily afford to run Windsor until pressured into building two stands we didn't need, thus incurring debt. We were also paying silly wages to players from England and Scotland at the time and the whole issue became a turning point for us and, in a strange way, became a good thing as we addressed a lot of issues.

[vikingTON]

Not at all, they did, and were right to do so as that is what they wanted and believed in. I was merely showing his post up for the nonsense it was as he said the people of Northern Ireland armed militias at this time. Northern Ireland did not exist at this time.

He failed again.

You need to learn to read: i said the people of Northern Ireland armed militias. They did. It is an indisputable fact that those in what is now the failed statelet raised armed militias, with the notable co-operation of the British Conservatives.

[Audaces Fortuna Juvat]

Now you can't say that is fair, one club benefiting.

Again, apologies for having the only ground that could host games. Back in the day, Celtic Park and The Oval hosted Internationals and they were shared around, but Windsor is the only viable option these days and the board rented it out, securing a good deal for the club, as they should have. We really shouldn't have been a forward thinking club back then?

I often wonder why a deeply sectarian game like GAA doesn't attract the same amount of criticism, yet they are attracting a fortune despite GGA being poorly supported in Belfast and Antrim?

[Audaces Fortuna Juvat]

You need to learn to read: i said the people of Northern Ireland armed militias. They did. It is an indisputable fact that those in what is now the failed statelet raised armed militias, with the notable co-operation of the British Conservatives.

As Northern Ireland didn't actually exist at the time of this Act then it is impossible that this transpired. You need to learn to think.

Your move.........

[vikingTON]

Scotland has already had money, we haven't. Do try and keep up.

Scotland had money which it put into the system, taken out again. Norn Ireland has been a leech on the UK Treasury for decades. This is the reason why investment in Scotland is legitimate and investment in the failed statelet is not.

Basic stuff, again.

We also have one of the highest per capita supports for International games.

But not a high enough support in absolute terms to justify stadium expansion. And not enough significance on the UK, never mind European game, to merit substantial, additional investment by the taxpayer on your failed sport in a failed statelet.

Why should Scotland be in front of everyone else? OP has already explained the formula to you several times.

This has already been explained.