1. You occasionally get surreal fixtures such as Real Madrid v Shamrock Rovers
(INPHO/James Crombie)
(INPHO/James Crombie)
2. And word class athletes get the chance to embrace previously unfamiliar cultures
(INPHO/James Crombie)
3. Your favourite Irish players will be in action
YouTube credit: Theflygames
4. Lionel Messi doesn’t do ‘pre-season’
YouTube credit: LeoMessiFootball
5. Some of the goals can be pretty spectacular
YouTube credit: GarthKnight
6. And there are occasional moments of unintentional comedy
YouTube credit: GoalzHD
7. It’s usually around the time when clubs realise they’ve signed an outright flop
(Then-Liverpool player Sean Dundee ahead of their game with St Patrick’s Athletic – Tom Honan/EMPICS Sport)
8. Goalkeepers can get a bit carried away with themselves
YouTube credit: E17GuNneR
9. It effectively doubles up as a holiday for players
(KIN CHEUNG/AP/Press Association Images)
10. It’s a rare chance for foreign fans to see their heroes in the flesh
(KIN CHEUNG/AP/Press Association Images)
11. And if their heroes don’t come, they can always settle for James Beattie
(SAKCHAI LALIT/AP/Press Association Images)