Premier Division Attendances

[avalon_archer]

I have attended a number of Premier Division matches this season and fewer spectators seem to be visiting our grounds. The standard of football is better this season (in my opinion) but it is not drawing bigger crowds. Why?

[Curfew]

Sign of economic times could be a thought, although at £6.00 entrance i think the football is good value for money!!

 

From a Chertsey point of view our attendances are up for the 3rd year running, which is good news for us!

[Manors]

I thoroughly enjoy going to the CCL matches. But I don't think clubs promote themselves enough in their local communities. Living close to Camberley gives me a good selection of clubs to go to be it, Camberley, Cove, Ash, Sandhurst, Knaphill or even Chobham and I pop along when I can. Local newspaper (Camberley Mail) is very poor, hardly any coverage and it never covers up coming matches

[The Fan]

agree with lack of publicity. even the league slip up, the official site leaves a lot to be desired. when you visit grounds, you buy a programe, the team that takes the field, bears no resemblance, to that in programe. most clubs dont put up teams on notice board,with a few exceptions.a few seasons back, i remember that clubs had to have, a working p a to meet ground grading.

why.

[officialspokesman]

agree with lack of publicity. even the league slip up, the official site leaves a lot to be desired. when you visit grounds, you buy a programe, the team that takes the field, bears no resemblance, to that in programe. most clubs dont put up teams on notice board,with a few exceptions.a few seasons back, i remember that clubs had to have, a working p a to meet ground grading.

why.

 

 

I think its a very worrying trend that non league attendances seem to be dropping to an unsustainable level, with kids, who should be seen as the future for our clubs, almost non existent. Maybe its because they don't want to spend Saturday afternoons watching football in a stadium with no atmosphere, and surrounded by old men who still talk about the glory days of fifty years ago.

 

In my opinion there are far too many clubs and the only way forward is for clubs to amalgamate with other local clubs to form one super club that should at least have more aspirations than mere survival.

Edited October 11, 2010 by officialspokesman

[Big J R]

agree with lack of publicity. even the league slip up, the official site leaves a lot to be desired. when you visit grounds, you buy a programe, the team that takes the field, bears no resemblance, to that in programe. most clubs dont put up teams on notice board,with a few exceptions.a few seasons back, i remember that clubs had to have, a working p a to meet ground grading.

why.

 

 

I think its a very worrying trend that non league attendances seem to be dropping to an unsustainable level, with kids, who should be seen as the future for our clubs, almost non existent. Maybe its because they don't want to spend Saturday afternoons watching football in a stadium with no atmosphere, and surrounded by old men who still talk about the glory days of fifty years ago.

 

In my opinion there are far too many clubs and the only way forward is for clubs to amalgamate with other local clubs to form one super club that should at least have more aspirations than mere survival.

 

That's a very interesting scenario, Official !

 

I know for a fact that it has been discussed between certain clubs, but there are always big drawbacks involved. (No elephant jokes, PERLEEEZ !!!)

[officialspokesman]

agree with lack of publicity. even the league slip up, the official site leaves a lot to be desired. when you visit grounds, you buy a programe, the team that takes the field, bears no resemblance, to that in programe. most clubs dont put up teams on notice board,with a few exceptions.a few seasons back, i remember that clubs had to have, a working p a to meet ground grading.

why.

 

 

I think its a very worrying trend that non league attendances seem to be dropping to an unsustainable level, with kids, who should be seen as the future for our clubs, almost non existent. Maybe its because they don't want to spend Saturday afternoons watching football in a stadium with no atmosphere, and surrounded by old men who still talk about the glory days of fifty years ago.

 

In my opinion there are far too many clubs and the only way forward is for clubs to amalgamate with other local clubs to form one super club that should at least have more aspirations than mere survival.

 

That's a very interesting scenario, Official !

 

I know for a fact that it has been discussed between certain clubs, but there are always big drawbacks involved. (No elephant jokes, PERLEEEZ !!!)

 

In my opinion mergers between close neighbors makes good business sense but all to often never happens because the men at the top think it more important to preserve their own sense of self importance, rather than have a club that has a genuine chance of progressing up the pyramid and attracting a new generation of supporters.

 

You only have to look at the example of clubs like Rushden and Diamonds, and Dagenham and Redbridge to see that mergers do work, but seldom happen because of the Luddite attitude of people who wish to preserve the identity of their own clubs at all costs, even if it means those very same clubs going out of existence.

[Green_Fingers]

If it's a good idea at this level then surely even better sense at the top where current massive losses are unsustainable.

 

Liverton would be a prime example

[officialspokesman]

If it's a good idea at this level then surely even better sense at the top where current massive losses are unsustainable.

 

Liverton would be a prime example

 

 

Or the Portsmouth Saints, WestSham Orient, the Tottenham Gunners, Celtic Protestants, or best of all the Romford Urchins.

[Eastside Urchin]

go rot in hell if you think hornchurch will ever merge with that shoddy outfit that is romford

we get many kids watching our games and our crowd of 422 on saturday confirms that people still want to watch non league football

[officialspokesman]

go rot in hell if you think hornchurch will ever merge with that shoddy outfit that is romford

we get many kids watching our games and our crowd of 422 on saturday confirms that people still want to watch non league football

 

 

That's exactly the kind of attitude that stops progress, Dagenham and Redbridge are living the dream, while we just dream of multi millionaire benefactors and lottery wins that are never going to happen, and do you honestly believe that your average gate is enough to sustain an ambitious club, or perhaps you personally prefer to be a big fish in a small pool.

 

I accept I'm on my own on this one but I would rather watch a progressive club like Havering United, which would always have Romfords history as part of its DNA, with my grandson, than a club that will always probably struggle to generate enough income to even get close to what D and R have achieved.

Edited October 11, 2010 by officialspokesman

[johnnojudo]

Does history of a club not count for anything??

[officialspokesman]

Does history of a club not count for anything??

 

 

As I said in my last post, the DNA (history) of both clubs would always be part of any merger, and anyway, a merger should only take place with goodwill on both sides.

[Eastside Urchin]

rubbish,football clubs in areas like ours can work and do.

[officialspokesman]

rubbish,football clubs in areas like ours can work and do.

 

 

I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

All I am trying to do is have an intelligent debate on a hypothetical question, but unfortunately it seems to me that the beautiful game is top heavy with delusional fantasists like ourselves, and that's why clubs go out of business, like both Romford and Hornchuch have done in recent times.

[TRS]

If it's a good idea at this level then surely even better sense at the top where current massive losses are unsustainable.

 

Liverton would be a prime example

 

Reminds me of a screaming back page exclusive from The Sun about 10 or 11 years back - Wimbledon Park Rangers. Or was it Queens Park Dons, can't remember!

 

Also in the mid 80's, due to falling gates, dear old Ron Noades wanted to merge Wimbledon, Charlton & Crystal Palace to form a South London 'superclub' to play (surprise surprise) at Selhurst Park. If that had happened, that club today would probably be getting exactly the gates that Palace get now. Charlton fans would've abandoned it, as would Wimbledon fans. Would that club now be a powerhouse in the Premier League? Doubt it.

 

Rushden & Diamonds only worked due to sugar daddy Griggs pumping pots of money in. Dagenham & Redbridge is the only real success I can think of, but that's more down to an excellent Manager than a merger. Look at Hayes & Yeading, struggling to get gates above 400 in the Conference unless there is a big away support.

 

Say Leatherhead, Bookham & Dorking merged to become Mole Valley United or something and playing at Fetcham Grove. Would Dorking and Bookham fans think it's their club? Don't think so.

[TRS]

And lest we forget.....Guildford & Dorking United.

[Smudge]

Changing a Midweek night you play could put a few on the gate,but saying that R.P.V. and Colliers Wood both at home again this Wednesday,great planning.The second time this has occurred in the League.

[CW1975]

Free entry for under 16's. Get your players in their club tracksuits, take them down the town centre on match day 11am and get them giving away tickets to the kids. Advertise it in the local. Basingstoke done this when I was a youngen and we always went, there was loads of us and I think there are many that still go now as adults because of it. Half price programme and a portion of chips £2 per child. Accompanied by a parent £10.

[The Fan]

thats the way the new ice hockey and basketball clubs had to go. but it needs forward thinking people, with drive.