After drifting to the margins, Saints finally have eyes on the ball
IN THE weeks building up to the 2015 Premier Division season, Brian Kerr instigated numerous meetings among various St Patrick’s Athletic supporters with a view to trying to improve attendances as well as the atmosphere at Richmond Park.
The former Saints manager has never attempted to hide his allegiances, he is a born and bred Pat’s fan who still stands on the Camac Terrace shouting encouragement (with only the occasional profanity) whenever he gets the chance.
Like many others three years ago, he was especially concerned by what he was witnessing around him. Despite winning the league title in 2013 and ending more than a halfcentury wait for the FAI Cup a season later, there was still a mixture of ambivalence and apathy from so many towards the club.
Rather than capitalise on what was a golden period on the pitch, it was as if things were rusting all around. And not just the ageing Richmond Park.
That lethargy and downright lack of interest has continued as rivals raced ahead on the pitch — Dundalk, Cork City, Shamrock Rovers — while others left them for dust in terms of community programmes to engage new supporters and make them feel like they belong to something that is much more than just 90 minutes of football every other Friday. Dublin rivals Bohemians being the most obvious case in point.
Three years ago, those in power on Emmet Road no longer seemed to have a plan to ensure the club was at the heart of the local area. Owner Garrett Kelleher has proven that he is no fly-by-night merchant peddling false dreams for a quick buck, but that cannot gloss over the fact too many fans have drifted by the wayside as the club became isolated.
The unveiling of their plans for a new 12,000-seater stadium as part of a major redevelopment project in Inchicore is a world away from the lack of vision previously. A project still in its infancy, it should only serve to galvanise those already fighting on the coalface while hopefully awakening others from their listless slumbers.
Crucially, there was another key development this week in the club’s renewed plans to rebuild bridges and trust with the appointment of a new full-time community officer.
As well as a further three community coaches working on a part-time basis — including current Ireland international Aine O’Gorman — they are small steps that will make a crucial difference for the here and now.
When Kerr started that work three years ago, Kelleher was well aware of what he was doing and facilitated it by having a representative of his own to be a part of the process.
Ideas were shared and in one last desperate attempt to let people within walking distance of the ground know that the first game of that season was at home to Galway United, leaflets were distributed around various estates in Inchicore a week before the Friday kick-off.
Kerr donned one of his old St Pat’s training tops and hit the streets putting them through letter boxes.
‘No Junk Mail’ signs were ignored, so too the wind and rain, and after a few hours of pounding the pavements he sat in Tavey’s Pub just across the road from Richmond Park wondering if it would make some sort of difference.
A few days later, just over 1,600 turned up for that opening game and Pat’s lost 3-1, while last season a first-ever relegation was only avoided after Kelleher opened the cheque book for reinforcements in the mid-season transfer window.
That was a short-term fix, Kerr has since stepped back, but at least the club are now looking to the bigger picture.
Better times may soon be ahead.