Pre-season tour to Ireland

[Draytonian III]

Not entirely sure why we aren’t in Northern Ireland anyway. Is their league that much different from Ireland in terms of strength?

The top 4 or 5 teams in Northern Ireland are on a par with the League of Ireland , if you picked a squad of 22 out of from the Irish league and put the in English league two they would comfortably hold their in the top half if not higher. Like a lot of semi professional players in England a lot a quite happy to stay part time earning both from football and a full time job, of course there’s a lot less travelling to games so less time off work is needed

[Ye-Aul-Tavern]

In the last two seasons alone there has been 3 competitive fixtures between teams from the north v teams from the south (champions league and europa conference league). The teams from the south won all three ties convincingly.

Coefficient wise the league of Ireland is rated 31 in Europe. The Irish league 47th.

The team could well play games in Belfast and Dublin. It's not a great distance.

[Rovers Return]

  It would be good if the club could televise these games probably for a fee for anyone to follow the games who can't get on the tour.
  Or would the supporters club be able to run a trip for anyone interested with the games  included.
  I can remember going to Cornwall some years ago and enjoying a nice break away and watching games which were not that enjoyable results wise, but interesting at grounds I wouldn't have considered to visit.

The Isle of Axholme Suporter Club are actively talking about/organising a trip.

[Chris Black come back]

Confirmed as Sunday 12th to Saturday 18th July. Based in Dublin with fixtures across Ireland. Will be 3 games in total.

[Metalmicky]

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-announce-dates-of-pre-season-ireland-tour-with-three-games-pencilled-in-8553164

[Rupee92ONLY]

St Patrick’s Athletic - Tues 14th July
Glenavon - Thurs 16th July
Linfield - Saturday 18th July

My guesses.

[Dutch Uncle]

Will be surprised if it is Glenavon (just relegated btw) - I think two in the South and just Linfield in the North would be more likely

[A9]

Tuesday 14th is one of the dates for the World Cup Semi Finals (8pm KO) so would think Rovers would be an earlier KO?

[RedRover45]

St Patrick’s Athletic - Tues 14th July
Glenavon - Thurs 16th July
Linfield - Saturday 18th July

My guesses.

That sounds like an incredibly good guess

[Draytonian III]

Confirmed as Sunday 12th to Saturday 18th July. Based in Dublin with fixtures across Ireland. Will be 3 games in total.


If those three matches are correct, I doubt they would be travelling up and down to Lurgan and Belfast from Dublin, especially on the Thursday night, more than likely have a second base in the North

[Scooter]

Any idea when we will get any official news on this?

[Draytonian III]

I know of 4 maybe 5 that are going over the water including a man and his gnome, no doubt Charlie will be in attendance ticking a few more pubs off.
Anyone else going ?

[moses]

We are going for the last two games. Just waiting for fixtures and times to work flights and accommodation.

[Scooter]

Me and my son are going

[Draytonian III]

Euros in the South
Sterling in the North

[DRFC-Hanksie]

I know of 4 maybe 5 that are going over the water including a man and his gnome, no doubt Charlie will be in attendance ticking a few more pubs off.
Anyone else going ?

I'll be going.

[Dutch Uncle]

I am hoping to go to the Linfield game

[roversdude]

Hoping to get over and tie it in with a visit to our irish

[graingrover]

When you have a new airport and a Bramall Boeing Jumbo ….

[duggiesmyhero]

Me and my son will be going over for the Saturday game

[Draytonian III]

Tuesday 14th is one of the dates for the World Cup Semi Finals (8pm KO) so would think Rovers would be an earlier KO?

The only way England could be playing on the Tuesday is the progress after finish 2nd or 3rd in their initial group ( L ) .
I can’t see the team in Southern Ireland being bothered about what the English national team are  doing in the Americas

[donnyguy]

Ricky Charlesworth on X

NI side Glenavon confirm Rovers will play them in a friendly on Thursday, July 16. It'll be at their ground in Lurgan - about a half-hour drive from Belfast. #DRFC

[Draytonian III]

Go on the Translink App and look at the train times, the last train back to Belfast  is at 22.47 . It’s 24 miles from Lugan to Belfast.
I suggest all those that are going to Northern Ireland download the Translink App, it does all the public transport, trains, buses and the Gliders which are big purple bendy buses, they go across the city, not out of Belfast

[Draytonian III]

Ps there’s a strict no drinking on the trains in Northern Ireland.
Also there’s two airports , Belfast International which is about 20 miles from Belfast and Belfast City which surprisingly enough is about 2 miles from the city centre, the nearest train to it is Sydenham

[philsky]

I’ll get to Glenavon.

16th Stansted to Belfast Int.

Hotel at Airport.

Car hire to ground and back.

Fly home 17th

[DRFC-Hanksie]

Ps there’s a strict no drinking on the trains in Northern Ireland.
Also there’s two airports , Belfast International which is about 20 miles from Belfast and Belfast City which surprisingly enough is about 2 miles from the city centre, the nearest train to it is Sydenham

I worked in Belfast a few years back for the week, as I'd missed the last bus to the centre which was about £8, a black cab was about £45 from the airport to just outside the centre.

[Draytonian III]

You must talking about from the International airport, because there’s no buses from George Best ( the City ) airport

[DRFC-Hanksie]

You must talking about from the International airport, because there’s no buses from George Best ( the City ) airport

Aye, it was the international airport.

[Filo]

£124 return from Leeds Bradford to George Best Airport flying out Thursday morning returning Friday morning, £27 cheapest car hire

[Rupee92ONLY]

St Patrick’s Athletic - Tues 14th July
Glenavon - Thurs 16th July
Linfield - Saturday 18th July

My guesses.

Really dragging this out aren’t they when I told you all who we are playing 2 weeks ago (tomorrow).