Achtung -- League love to spark a German invasion

Since the first leg, one unlikely Eircom League fan has developed a new 11-page magazine dedicated to the League of Ireland... in German!

"Irischer Fussball" is the league's newest publication covering all aspects, with an up-to-date league table, top scorers, team profiles and features, making IOTP wish we had listened in German class all those years ago. The lead story is a Derry City profile, with a headline that screams 'Derry City: Die bewegte Geschichte der Candystripes'. What it means, we don't know, but by god it sounds passionate. The producer of the magazine makes his case for Irish football and why more German fans should follow his lead in supporting the Eircom League:

"It is not difficult to be enthusiastic about Ireland. A wonderful landscape, friendly people, Irish Folk music, pubs and Guinness are all reasons why people love Ireland.

"Irish football has everything that all big European leagues are missing at the moment. It is honest sport, where players are not elevated to some kind of God-like status. A good tackle is valued as much as a nice goal, there's action and activity on the pitch for the whole game and while it may not be the prettiest or most skilful football in the world, it certainly doesn't lack intensity or passion."

While it would be easy to have a cheap laugh at such a publication in our cynical manner, IOTP really is quite impressed with this magazine and we encourage any German-speakers or Eircom League thrill-seekers to check it out at http://irischer-fussball.foren-city.de/.