A couple of years ago, John O'Sullivan wrote a brilliant piece about how the off-season doesn't exist at a League of Ireland club.
It doesn't exist for us either. Since two days after Sean Maguire made us all die and go to footballing heaven at the start of November, we've been planning, plotting and procrastinating about what we can do to Rebel Radio this season.
Initially, there was the question about whether we could even continue the service. Two part time college students, both with jobs, and a graduate working full time are not the richest men you can see on this side of the water. We've averaged 33 games per season since starting in 2013. That's a lot of roads, a lot of petrol, a lot of equipment, a lot of credit for internet etc. Throw in a couple of European adventures and the funds quickly run low.
So we had to do something about it. More accurately, we asked the public to do something about it. They've responded brilliantly so far, with games being picked up daily. (Fancy sponsoring a match, or even the service for the season? Click this link). Plans were made for businesses we could target for sponsorship. Ex-bosses were contacted, financial advice from a banker. Even while that was all going on, we're planning out the fixtures in our head. I'm living in South Dublin until May. That'll give me access to a good chunk of our away games. Kev and Colm both live a stone's throw from the Cross (just make sure it's a very small stone and you're throwing it in a hurricane) so we'll get a lot of the home games as well. Next, the press passes. Applications sent in. Ideas for features. Another podcast? The last two have fallen a bit flat, partially due to our own laziness, partially due to us talking absolute hoop and no one really listening. Competitions? Yeah, that could work, except we're kind of broke again. Website? Well, that's what you see here. And to prove we're not decrepit 20-something year olds, we've even got our own Snapchat! Add Rebelradioccfc for all the behind the scenes shenanigans. Fair warning though, my dog may feature. When the magic bundle of fixtures came in in December, it was all systems go. Who can get to what game, can we broadcast, which games will be televised? It's all guesswork but we've a solid base now. Right, fixtures are down on paper. Roadtrip to Finn Harps planned. Hotels checked, Friday evenings booked off work.
The best part of all of this? We're just getting started.