Chelmsford gate tonight

[Rick the Dick]

Only 1,700 odd watched them lose to Hampton & Richmond in the 1st leg of the BSS Play-off semi tonight.

 

There was 2,025 at our RPL play-off semi two seasons back, and over 1,900 at our last league visit MP.

 

Like a lot of 'ricay fans, I've been craving promotion for the last few seasons. But when you see attendances like that you have to ask "does it matter".

 

I reckon an RPL Play-off game between us and Hx, Dartford or one of the other better supported RPL teams could easily match that turn-out. There were 1,250 at Tonbridge v. Carshalton tonight!

 

 

 

 

[Miller]

It was declared as 1700 cos it's a gate share .... that probably means it was 3000, after all Canvey always pulled that stunt so its travelled up the A130 no doubt.

[Brightside Bloke]

So are Chelmsford acting illegally then?

 

 

[Keith.P]

Hmm, i was surprised a little at the gate when we played them in our semi as being 2025. I mean we did take up our alloted 800 spaces that night too

[Rick the Dick]

Apparantly it wasn't a shared gate. Makes sense as its over two legs. So you'd presume the declared gate to be reasonably accurate.

[Balmoral Claret]

"I reckon an RPL Play-off game between us and Hx, Dartford or one of the other better supported RPL teams could easily match that turn-out."

 

But I guess we'll never know, will we Rick? You have to actually MAKE the playoffs to get ANY sort of gate. Suspect that another few hundred Clarets will have been comfortably esconced in their armchairs watching the Barca v Chelsea game, due to the fact that we don't have too many glory hunters. Just as well I suppose.

[Eastside Urchin]

lol balmoral,don't give it too much large mate,everyone knows things an't too rosy over at chelmo at the moment,think ricay have more chance getting to a play offs next season than chelmo

[Rick the Dick]

Originally Posted By: Balmoral Claret

But I guess we'll never know, will we Rick? You have to actually MAKE the playoffs to get ANY sort of gate. Suspect that another few hundred Clarets will have been comfortably esconced in their armchairs watching the Barca v Chelsea game, due to the fact that we don't have too many glory hunters. Just as well I suppose.

Chillax BC Your getting tetchy in your old age I think it is suprising, and not necessarily any reflection on Chelmo, that substantially less turned up last night than at an equally significant fixture a couple of years ago. Like most people I'd assume that support should grow with continued sucess, and in the last three seasons you've made the play-offs, been promoted as Champions and made the play-offs again, which is a pretty succesful record. I suppose the point I'm making is that if you cant grow your gates substantially with the "catchment" you have and the success you've had, then maybe entering the BSS isn't that great a deal for anyone. Maybe it's bearable as a stepping stone to the Conference National, but would you want to spend several seasons there?

[Balmoral Claret]

We have to bear in mind that the "equally significant fixture a couple of years ago" was versus our old friends at Ricay, with a few hundred fans making the short trip up the road to boost the crowd. The most optimistic estimates of the Hampton presence yesterday evening, puts their contribution at 100 fans at the most, so I didn't think that 1,700+ was too bad myself. Compare that crowd with the 500 odd at Hayes for the other semi, and it puts it into perspective. It will be interesting to see what the attendance will be at the Hampton v Eastleigh final (yes - I've resigned myself to the fact that we've blown the playoffs AGAIN!) - and will be VERY surprised if it's much above 1,200.

Anyway, our crowds have compared edequately with others in the BSS this season (Wombles excepted), and will almost certainly do so again next season, with only Woking and Dover being in the same region.

As for how long we spend in the BSS, it could be another couple of seasons, but if we're still there after that then I suspect that BFJ will lose interest and depart for pastures anew, so would be best for Ricay to retain ambition in the meantime!

[Eastside Urchin]

eastleigh will take a goodd following up to hampton for the final should they win.Would of thought the crowd will be bigger than your gate last night imo