Republic of Ireland senior international team manager Martin O’Neill joined players, managers and officials from all 20 teams for the launch of the 2014 SSE Airtricity League season at the Aviva Stadium on Friday.
O’Neill, who is currently preparing for next week’s 3 International Friendly against Serbia, spoke of his footballing roots in the Irish League and praised those involved in the SSE Airtricity League for their valuable contribution to the game.
“As someone who played domestic football in Ireland I understand the importance of the domestic game and congratulate all the managers and players here today for the tremendous work you are doing to develop Irish football,” said O’Neill.
The SSE Airtricity League Premier and First Divisions will commence on Friday, March 7, and a total of 330 league and play-off games will be played in addition to matches in the FAI Ford Cup, EA SPORTS Cup, President’s Cup, Setanta Sports Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
Among the highlights of the new season will be the return to the Premier Division of Athlone Town after an absence of 18 years, the debut of Galway Football Club and the introduction of a second Shamrock Rovers team which will play in the First Division.
Launching the 2014 season, the Chairman of the FAI’s National League Executive Committee, Eamon Naughton said: “There is great anticipation ahead of the new season as we gear ourselves up for a campaign that promises great matches, great teams and great players. The various battles for the trophies on offer promise to be highly competitive with many teams entering the new season with realistic ambitions of success.”
Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director SSE Airtricity, said: “SSE Airtricity is delighted to be launching the new look SSE Airtricity League. This season we’re entering our fifth year as sponsors of the SSE Airtricity League and we are proud to be making a difference in Irish football. Our continued commitment to the League is made easy through the strong links that we’ve forged with clubs and football fans all across the country. Football, like SSE Airtricity, is rooted in the local community and that why this relationship is the perfect fit for us. We look forward to another exciting football season full of drama, excitement and great football.”
SSE Airtricity and the FAI will jointly market the league through an advertising campaign which focuses on the availability of live football in Ireland using the slogan “Powering Live Football” and will use the hashtag#lovelivefootballon their social media platforms when referencing the league.
RTE and Setanta Sports will also continue their live coverage of matches during the season and RTE has also committed to covering the SSE Airtricity League each week during the season through their new football programmeSoccer Republicwhich will commence on Monday, March 10.
Prize-money for the 2014 season will be the same as last year with the winners of the Premier Division receiving €100,000. The Premier Division clubs will be playing for a prize-fund of €241,500 with €74,000 being competed for in the First Division and €25,000 in the EA SPORTS Cup.
The 12 clubs participating in the 2014 Premier Division will be: Athlone Town, Bohemians, Bray Wanderers, Cork City, Derry City, Drogheda United, Dundalk, Limerick, St Patrick’s Athletic, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers and UCD.
The eight clubs participating in the 2014 First Division will be: Cobh Ramblers, Finn Harps, Galway, Longford Town, Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne, Waterford United and Wexford Youths.
The EA SPORTS Cup will begin on March 10 while the Setanta Sports Cup commenced last Monday, February 24.