New book lights up League of Ireland soccer

LEAGUE
of Ireland followers will be interested to hear that a new book has been
published which will bring back memories of supporting their favourite team in
years gone by.

‘Just
Follow The Floodlights’, written by Brian Kennedy, is a comprehensive guide to
all 47 clubs who played or are still playing in the league which continues to
succeed both nationally and on the European stage, as we have seen so
spectacularly with Shamrock Rovers this year.

From the
managers to the mascots, trophy successes to match day snacks, everything about
the teams is included in this extensive and highly illustrated book.

‘Just
Follow the Floodlights’ is essential reading for anyone with an interest in our
domestic game and its current and former teams.

Formed
in 1921 with eight teams originally, the League of Ireland currently has two
divisions and 21 clubs. Brian Kennedy’s book covers all the teams in the
Premier and First divisions as well as those clubs such as Drumcondra, Dolphin
and St James’s Gate who won titles before eventually fading or joining with
other clubs.

Each
chapter is packed with anecdotes and detail on each club’s history and origins,
their honours and star players over the years.

In addition,
there is key information on their grounds and the facilities on offer to the
fans – based on the author’s research and visits to each venue, which saw him
cover nearly three thousand miles.

Whether
you stood on the terraces at Tolka Park or worshipped at the Showgrounds
(Sligo) or Market’s Field (Limerick),

‘Just Follow the Floodlights’ will
enthrall you with stories from all 47 clubs that have graced the League of
Ireland, each producing their own magical memories from one generation to the
next.

Soccer
pundit and former Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Cork City manager, Damian
Richardson, said:

“With numerous nostalgic photographs, amusing anecdotes and
larger-than-life characters, this book will appeal not only to the loyal League
of Ireland fraternity, but to football lovers and sports fans everywhere.

“Each
one of the League of Ireland clubs contained in Brian Kennedy’s superb history
of Irish professional football has provided inspiration for generations of
young Irish people.

“This
splendidly researched book is a timeless portrayal of the lives of men and the
clubs they created.

“It
highlights legacies that will last as long as the imaginations they ignited.

?

Brian
Kennedy is from Waterford and without exaggeration a football fanatic – so much
more than that statement suggests. He wrote his first book in 2004,

‘Confessions of an Exeter City Nut’, which told of his love affair with a then
non-league English club called Exeter City which saw him go as far as
re-mortgaging his house to help save the club from extinction.

Former
Bohs manager Roddy Collins launched

‘Just Follow the Floodlights’, published by
Liffey Press, earlier this month at Dalymount Park.

Airtricity,
title sponsors for the League of Ireland, sponsored the book, which is
available nationwide and from online outlets including www.theliffeypress.com.
The cost is e19.95.