Venues are a bit of an eyesore and do nothing for the image of the domestic game
Niall Quinn, Johnny Giles and Liam Brady are supporting the Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association, which helps former LOI players who have fallen on hard times. Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan
21 April 2025; Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
21 April 2025; Shelbourne manager Damien Duff before the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Shelbourne and Galway United at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Liam Brady believes the League of Ireland is in the best place it has been for many years, but he admits one big problem remains.
Damien Duff’s success at Shelbourne and the progress of Shamrock Rovers under Stephen Bradley have put Ireland’s domestic league on a pedestal that it has not stood on for some time.
Yet Brady believes more needs to be done at all levels to improve standards of stadiums that continue to undermine the appearance of the league to a global audience.
“It’s exciting to see what’s happening with the League of Ireland,” said Brady. “Damien Duff has done a great job of promoting the league and Shamrock Rovers have done well over the last few years, with one of my ex-players Stephen Bradley leading their charge.
“Stephen came to the Arsenal Academy when he was a kid and it’s great to see him doing so well as a manager.
“Stephen Kenny is doing a great job at St Pat’s and the profile of the league has lifted, which is fantastic for everyone involved.
“What we now need is for facilities to improve at the stadiums, as we all know that is a big problem. That won’t be easy to solve.”
Brady has joined fellow Ireland legends John Giles and Niall Quinn in supporting the Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association as they look to raise funds for former League of Ireland players who have fallen on hard times.
The trio of soccer greats will be at Dublin’s Vicar Street theatre tomorrow night for an event that will raise money and awareness for a cause close to Brady’s heart.
“They don’t really have an effective players’ union in Ireland. It exists, but they lack the finances to be effective,” he added. “The PFA in England is a very different organisation, it is hugely financed from the Premier League and the problem there may be that they don’t use the money wisely.
“Despite that, I hear stories of former players who need a hip replacement or a knee operation and the PFA in England will step in and help, but that isn’t the same for the League of Ireland players who did so much for the sport during their playing days.
“So we are really looking to help the Professional Footballers Benevolent Association to get as much money in as possible and support the ex-players in the best way possible.
“We need support from all areas of football in Ireland. The fans can get behind this and if the government can help in any way to support former players, that would be a massive boost.”