Attendences

[Enfield United]

Originally Posted By: Steph

Mitch probably saw the writing on the wall. He would have been lucky to get a regular spot.

Rudi, Jon, Andy and Luke in the current playing team are clearly ahead of him on the team sheet and I am informed that there are more former PBT players waiting on the side lines.

Best of luck Mitch.

We should always be looking to improve the team and from what i've been told the two new full backs have done precisely that. Add the emerging and ever improving performances from Chris Wild and we have 3 out of 4 defenders sorted. All we need is avery accomplished partner for him and we could be water tight with Walton in goal as well.

Tickner played v's Maldon but he needs to prove himself as a footballer against the better teams, maybe with Stephenson in Midfield the defence have at last a quality anchor/defensive player to support them, in which case we may get away with Tickner for the time being.

Rudi, Luke, and Andy plus Deane are decent midfielders/attackers therefore a decent target man/goalscorer should be sought in the coming new year sales, with good luck on the pitch and with injuries we could be looking at a nice run of results to move us closer to a play off spot.

So Saturdays game v's Abbey is a match which can propel us towards the direction we need to go, come on the Town.

[Enfield United]

Originally Posted By: Steph

Look I started watching EFC when I was 9. There was no entertainment at half time apart from the tannoy. I could not afford sweets or anything. There was Fred in the supporters hut arranging coach travel and generally a friendly welcome. When bored my cousin and I would play tag on the terraces.

Why did I continue going?

Because EFC were successful, I knew the names of the players and every programme had a pen portrait which would tell me their age and job. I dont think kids have changed since my time. Include in the programme a "meet the players" section with interviews and small biog and kids, if the side is successful, will come and be addicted. They will remember the names of their heroes and forget the poor players.

We should also forget the current trend of writhing around on the ground when tackled. Changing shirts when there is a little blood. I know the game is faster now and greater fitness is demanded however I do believe that football is not a non-contact sport and the strong but fair tackle adds to the drama of the occasion and must not be ruled out of the game.

Rant finished.

A very fair point Steph and its not come across as a rant but fact.

However, tims have changed with so many mor activities for kids to ge on wit, plus the 'single' parent culture and different social atmosphere does make it different to allow local kids aged 9ish into a game of football on there own.

Additionally, if EFC had done that bit more to attract the youth through the turnstiles in the 70's, 80's and 90's then maybe we'd look optimistically at getting a few more adults in now.

Attendances policies should not be looked at solely for this coming Saturday, but foundations to be set for the next decade.

[Sponsor of Beer]

Originally Posted By: andyetfc

Originally Posted By: Steph

Mitch probably saw the writing on the wall. He would have been lucky to get a regular spot.

Rudi, Jon, Andy and Luke in the current playing team are clearly ahead of him on the team sheet and I am informed that there are more former PBT players waiting on the side lines.

Best of luck Mitch.

More former PBT players waiting in the side lines! A team one place above us and with have three games in hand on them! Ex Ware FC players please.

Not sure about that. I think I'd be more inclined to go with proven players that want to play for Steve Browne over players more interested in money, and not good enough for Harlow.

[andyetfc]

Proven players who want to play for Steve Browne but were still only one point above ETFC?

 

What about playing for SM?

 

You are not telling me that players don't come to ETFC for money then?

[Sponsor of Beer]

My point was about the scale of the PBT wage billed compared to ETFC's allowing them to punch above their weight, and the fact that the closing down sale at Ware hasn't left too much in the shop window.

[Enfield United]

Originally Posted By: andyetfc

Proven players who want to play for Steve Browne but were still only one point above ETFC?

What about playing for SM?

You are not telling me that players don't come to ETFC for money then?

Without a doubt money plays a part.

But the money we pay should attract the better level 4 players, its just that we have not been able to get the best out of those players. With the right coaching (S Brown) we may be just starting to see that happening. Today will tell us that information to a large degree.

We've also changed 5-7 first choice players since the start of the season, which had to happen.

With a win today we may get some prises for SM and his coaching team.

[Gazza]

Great result, well done Steve Browne!!

[andyetfc]

Originally Posted By: Sponsor of Beer

My point was about the scale of the PBT wage billed compared to ETFC's allowing them to punch above their weight, and the fact that the closing down sale at Ware hasn't left too much in the shop window.

If PBT's wage bill is considerably larger than ETFC's and they are still only just above us, then why would we consider their players? Are you saying they would come to ETFC for less money each week? They won't play any better than before, will they?

[Sponsor of Beer]

Why on earth do you think PBT's wage bill is bigger than ours?

[andyetfc]

By reading your posting.

[Sponsor of Beer]

Not sure about that. I think I'd be more inclined to go with proven players that want to play for Steve Browne over players more interested in money, and not good enough for Harlow.

 

Construed how?

[andyetfc]

Posting on 27/12/08.

[Sponsor of Beer]

My point is that SB's track record of helping players further their careers means that it's not all about money today, unlike what's been happening at Ware of late.

 

On the basis that the best of the Ware bunch had already left, as witnessed by Harlow's 4-1 victory over AFC Hornchurch on Saturday(and the subsequent turmoil it seems to have caused over at Bridge Avenue) and Ware's heavy home defeat, my view that we'll be better of with ex PBT players at the moment still seems to make sense to me. Perhaps more so after Saturday's result, and individual performnaces from the players concerned.

 

You may not agree, so let's agree to disagree. Life's really too short!

[Enfield United]

Without insulting anyones intelligence on this subject, I'd add that having ex-PBT players is certainly not a problem so long as its their key players.

 

Every club has its key players and ones that are sorely missed when not available, if we add a couple from PBT and a couple from elsewhere then we can only have an improved xi.

 

As a Towner all I seek is a team that gives us a fighting chance of promotion/success we finally seem to have that albeit half way through the season but not too late to make it to the play offs.

[andyetfc]

Originally Posted By: Sponsor of Beer

My point is that SB's track record of helping players further their careers means that it's not all about money today, unlike what's been happening at Ware of late.

On the basis that the best of the Ware bunch had already left, as witnessed by Harlow's 4-1 victory over AFC Hornchurch on Saturday(and the subsequent turmoil it seems to have caused over at Bridge Avenue) and Ware's heavy home defeat, my view that we'll be better of with ex PBT players at the moment still seems to make sense to me. Perhaps more so after Saturday's result, and individual performnaces from the players concerned.

You may not agree, so let's agree to disagree. Life's really too short!

Exactly. By the way, what were we discussing?

[Enfield United]

Yes the attendence levels are dropping, but I dont blame the management, I blame the current climate where attendences are dropping everywhere.

 

We had 160 at the game today but its the second biggest crowd of the month in our division, Second only to our 181 we got on Saturday.

 

So guys I see it as a half pint scenario, be glad we have the 160-181 coming through the doors as other clubs are only getting 30's and 50's.

 

Its strange times in the world at the mo, but those who came on Saturday and tonight would have been well satisfied with what was on view.

[lovely stuff]

Maybe thats part if the reason why attendances have fallen at our club this season..We don't want just the odd few games where we feel 'satisfied' that we have got value for our

[Gazza]

The present climate may be part of the reason, however if we were in the mix for promotion there would have been at least another 50 to 60 on the gate, also as a whole the entire league is full of poorly supported clubs.

[Bruce Darnell]

I realise that attendances usually drop a bit when a team isn't doing as well. That's normal, but there may also be other factors. At face value I felt that attendances this year were disappointing but then I looked at another's excellent website (www.tonykempster.co.uk) and examined the attendances in more detail. I think much of the drop in average attendances is due to the teams that left the division after last year and those that have replaced them.

 

Last year we got crowds of

Dartford 516

AFC Sudbury 303

Edgware 255

Canvey Is. 253

Wivenhoe 246

Bury 225

 

That's an average of 300 for the six teams no longer in the division, well above our season's average of 255.

 

This year those teams have been replaced by

 

Cheshunt 249

Leyton 229

Chatham 203

Thamesmead 200

Hillingdon Bor 183

Concord 160

 

That's an average of 204 which is below our season's average so far of 216.

 

Losing Dartford and AFC Sudbury alone would put a dent in the average this year, so maybe it's not all bad news. Had we got the same crowds against the six newcomers as we got against the departing teams last year, our average gate this year would be 251, a drop of only 4 on last year.

 

Sure, there will have been some drop due to the poor form this year but maybe not as much as we might think.

[Steph]

"There are lies, damn lies and statistics."

 

Benjamin Disraeli