7 October 1999 Edition
Sportsview: The end of GAA as we know it?
By Dan O'Neill
There has been much talk in recent weeks of the newly-formed Gaelic Players Association (GPA). Although this is not a new or an original concept, its formation could yet be seen as a watershed in the history of the GAA.
Launched in emphatic fashion in Belfast a fortnight ago, the GPA boasted an initial membership of 130 inter-county players, including the likes of Peter Canavan, James McCartan, Dessie Farrell and Ja Fallon.
The objective of the new organisation was declared to be ``to provide a forum through which inter-county players in 32-county Ireland might communicate on, and pursue constructively within the constitution of the Gaelic Athletic Association, those issues specific to their participation in Gaelic games at the highest level.''
The GPA strategy document includes objectives for the 2001 season and a longer term two- to five-year plan. The most immediate aim of the new organisation is to establish an appropriate insurance scheme in time for the 2000 championship series. The GPA will look towards the commercial sector to embrace and support a professionally managed initiative to finance an appropriate insurance scheme.
The GPA rightly contends that the existing £100 per week is wholly insufficient for a player whilst competing in a competitive series generating millions of pounds in sponsorship alone.
I agree wholeheartedly with this concept. Appropriate insurance cover should not be ``aspired to but should be freely available to inter county players'', as James McCartan put it at the launch. However this concept should be looked at for all players, not just those wearing their county's jersey. This is where this organisation smacks of elitism. No difference should be made between the player at club or county level. After all, the player who breaks his leg in a Division 2 club game has to miss work just like the county player. This benefit should also be especially borne in mind for the up and coming younger players, who perhaps cannot afford to fund personal policies themselves.
For one of the 2001 aims, it is stated that ``through a professionally administered marketing programme, strategic alliances will be sought with relevant organisation to provide tangible benefits for GPA members.''
Spokesperson for the GPA Donal O'Neill denied that this meant the advent of `pay for play', claiming such a concept had not been discussed at any of the GPA's previous informal meetings. He admitted that the issue of player product endorsement was a ``grey area'' which the GPA would hope to clarify with the GAA.
Although there has been no mention of financial rewards, rather material benefits, which I am in favour of - somewhere down the line there will be financial rewards.
Five years ago, those in the know in Rugby Union scoffed at the idea of professionalism. How wrong they were.
One of the longer term objectives of the GPA is to call for an end to the present championship format in favour of a round robin system. I like this concept because it may provide more games for the weaker counties but I fear it may strain the club and county relationships.
Club sides who have inter-county players would suffer under any such change. Furthermore, if inter-county players had a busier schedule than what they have already, the pressure will grow even more on them to benefit in some way.
Once money enters the equation, this will have serious consequences for the GAA. If semi-professionalism was introduced, players would have the mobility within the game and local loyalties would inevitably weaken with good players in weaker counties swapping allegiance to stronger teams. Breaking the link between teams and places would destroy the GAA as we know it.
We must avoid that dark and dangerous road to professionalism. The thought of Nicholas Anelka-like sagas ten or fifteen years down the line is too worrying even to think about.
But at a time when the GAA can boast an estimated £4 million lucrative new hurling sponsorship deal with Guinness and an additional £1.3 million in revenue from television from the restructured championship, why can't all the players up and down the country, who make the GAA what it is, receive insurance cover?
To some, the GAA seems more concerned with their Corporate Park (which used to be known as Croke Park), which is becoming as accessible to the people who built the GAA as the Royal enclosure at Ascot.
As for the GPA, it will live or die by the inter-county players' support. There is an onus on it and its inaugural members to ensure that iy does not result in an elitist group dividing county and club player.
There has been much talk in recent weeks of the newly-formed Gaelic Players Association (GPA). Although this is not a new or an original concept, its formation could yet be seen as a watershed in the history of the GAA.
Launched in emphatic fashion in Belfast a fortnight ago, the GPA boasted an initial membership of 130 inter-county players, including the likes of Peter Canavan, James McCartan, Dessie Farrell and Ja Fallon.
The objective of the new organisation was declared to be ``to provide a forum through which inter-county players in 32-county Ireland might communicate on, and pursue constructively within the constitution of the Gaelic Athletic Association, those issues specific to their participation in Gaelic games at the highest level.''
The GPA strategy document includes objectives for the 2001 season and a longer term two- to five-year plan. The most immediate aim of the new organisation is to establish an appropriate insurance scheme in time for the 2000 championship series. The GPA will look towards the commercial sector to embrace and support a professionally managed initiative to finance an appropriate insurance scheme.
The GPA rightly contends that the existing £100 per week is wholly insufficient for a player whilst competing in a competitive series generating millions of pounds in sponsorship alone.
I agree wholeheartedly with this concept. Appropriate insurance cover should not be ``aspired to but should be freely available to inter county players'', as James McCartan put it at the launch. However this concept should be looked at for all players, not just those wearing their county's jersey. This is where this organisation smacks of elitism. No difference should be made between the player at club or county level. After all, the player who breaks his leg in a Division 2 club game has to miss work just like the county player. This benefit should also be especially borne in mind for the up and coming younger players, who perhaps cannot afford to fund personal policies themselves.
For one of the 2001 aims, it is stated that ``through a professionally administered marketing programme, strategic alliances will be sought with relevant organisation to provide tangible benefits for GPA members.''
Spokesperson for the GPA Donal O'Neill denied that this meant the advent of `pay for play', claiming such a concept had not been discussed at any of the GPA's previous informal meetings. He admitted that the issue of player product endorsement was a ``grey area'' which the GPA would hope to clarify with the GAA.
Although there has been no mention of financial rewards, rather material benefits, which I am in favour of - somewhere down the line there will be financial rewards.
Five years ago, those in the know in Rugby Union scoffed at the idea of professionalism. How wrong they were.
One of the longer term objectives of the GPA is to call for an end to the present championship format in favour of a round robin system. I like this concept because it may provide more games for the weaker counties but I fear it may strain the club and county relationships.
Club sides who have inter-county players would suffer under any such change. Furthermore, if inter-county players had a busier schedule than what they have already, the pressure will grow even more on them to benefit in some way.
Once money enters the equation, this will have serious consequences for the GAA. If semi-professionalism was introduced, players would have the mobility within the game and local loyalties would inevitably weaken with good players in weaker counties swapping allegiance to stronger teams. Breaking the link between teams and places would destroy the GAA as we know it.
We must avoid that dark and dangerous road to professionalism. The thought of Nicholas Anelka-like sagas ten or fifteen years down the line is too worrying even to think about.
But at a time when the GAA can boast an estimated £4 million lucrative new hurling sponsorship deal with Guinness and an additional £1.3 million in revenue from television from the restructured championship, why can't all the players up and down the country, who make the GAA what it is, receive insurance cover?
To some, the GAA seems more concerned with their Corporate Park (which used to be known as Croke Park), which is becoming as accessible to the people who built the GAA as the Royal enclosure at Ascot.
As for the GPA, it will live or die by the inter-county players' support. There is an onus on it and its inaugural members to ensure that iy does not result in an elitist group dividing county and club player.