fans match

YBIG is more than just a website for Irish international football fans in June 2016 it will be 11 years since the first issue of the YBIG fanzine came out. We have since stopped printing the Fanzine which we used to give out free to fans on match day at Lansdowne and Croke Park. 32 issues were printed with a few online issues done too.

The YBIG forum first came out online in 2007 and it has grown to be the heart beat of the community of Irish fans. The forum has been the springboard for so many of YBIG’s initiatives and excellent achievements.

The big fundraiser in 2014 was the Damien Duff Seven A Side tournament in Irishtown Stadium in June when Damien himself was present for a brilliant day followed by a presentation of prizes and raffle in Slattery’s Pub beside the Aviva Stadium.

We were also delighted to accommodate the Irish amputee team who played a match against a selection of players on the day in preparation for their World Cup.

In previous years, we hooked up with Paul McGrath for the YBIG/Paul McGrath Golf Classic and Gala Dinner in Luttrelstown Castle. Again, due to the unbelievable work from the YBIG community, a very successful day was had and over €10k raised.

On every international match day, YBIG play a match against the fans of other countries, home and away, an initiative that has been so successful in not only raising money, but building relations between supporters all over Europe.

The importance of emphasising that YBIG is far more than an online community cannot be understated.

 

crowd ybig

In Poland in 2012, members of the YBIG community spent a day at a local childrens’ hospice to donate toys and much needed cash to those who needed it most.

In 2008, YBIG campaigned for a Testimonial for former Ireland player Dave Langan, who had fallen on hard times. We were successful and a Testimonial Dinner was arranged by the FAI with a whopping €80k raised.

For every home match, Slattery’s is now our designated pub where hundreds of fans meet for pre-match drinks and banter while meeting spots are also arranged for away days.

In the stadium itself, members of the YBIG community spend hours before each match bringing flags and banners into the ground to ensure fans enjoy the best possible atmosphere.

The South Lower Stand is the designated YBIG Singing Section where thousands of fans gather for home games to create the best possible atmosphere. This had been a huge success with this area of the stadium now the home for all hardcore fans who wish to create as much noise and colour as possible.