How can we attract more people to Ruislip? I was thinking about the issue when I was over in the Emerald GAA Grounds recently for a London Senior Hurling Championship game between Kilburn Gaels and Robert Emmes.
Just before throw-in I got a nice chair from my old mate Tom O’Connor. For a while I was sat on my own. Eventually 14 supporters of hurling joined me on the bank.
I popped into the downstairs bar at half-time to watch the big race from Sandown. It was quiet and I started wondering how the new Ruislip will work.
Firstly I would reduce the size of the stand and spend money on a playground for children. That would help get mums and dads to Ruislip.
A barbeque every Sunday in the summer is another thing that should be investigated with top bands like Bible Code Sundays playing.
An A La Carte restaurant upstairs would surely benefit families and the younger generation. Adjustments need to made to the existing facilities because if there is a heavy shower the toilets get flooded.
New plasma TV’s should be installed upstairs and downstairs. I’d have three in each bar with Gaelic Games, soccer, and racing on. Of course this will cost a significant amount of money, but I reckon at least £100,000 needs to be spent on the clubhouse because it is so old fashioned.
Outside proper training pitches with floodlights for the county teams. The County Board needs to supply first aid and a trainee doctor for all games. Clubs should be fined if they don’t have a physio with them.
Other little changes I would like to see would include that referees must be on the pitch well before games with umpires and linesman. Then to help people at the match a PA system should always be in operation.
My Sunday programme
12pm- Ladies Gaelic Football game
1.30pm- Intermediate Gaelic Football or hurling championship game
3-3.30pm-Under 12/14 skills
4pm-Senior hurling championship game
5.30-Senior football championship game
Back in the 60s and 70s we had between two and three thousand crowds going to games. I think if everybody works together that we could have a great atmosphere for families with Gaelic Football and hurling clubs throughout London benefitting from the better atmosphere and increased interest.
