Falling Attendances

[Rob_the_Saint]

Quote:

Hertsblue said: The low crowds are interesting. Just a few thoughts.

 

I'm not making excuses, or being an apologist for anyone or the club, but the fact that Man Utd were live on terrestrial TV (and the fact that Maidenhead brought 11 supporters at most) clearly didn't help last night.

 

To those who suggest that other recent low crowds are down to us playing badly, then I just have to disagree - we played well against Sutton and, finishing aside, against Bedford and for a decent part of the game v Hayes - ok, I know finishing's a big part of it, but our approach play was good in large parts of those games, and surely we have to be balanced and at least be prepared to consider all aspects of each game before launching into one. Was there really anyone who went to Bedford but then didn't go last night because they were outraged with the manner of the defeat there?

 

So what it comes down to, of course, is that while you still hear purists at the club talking about being concerned primarily with the style of play and the beautiful game, frankly, at City anyway, and elsewhere I suspect, it isn't the case. People want to watch a winning team, period, and a dour 1-0 win and challenging at the top leaves people feeling better (afterwards, anyway) than a 4-5 classic and struggling with nothing to play for. There's nothing wrong with that. To be honest it's probably how I feel, and perhaps we should all be a bit more honest with ourselves about what we really want. Would people be happier with a few more points even if it meant resorting to the long ball game? Not many would openly admit to it, but I think a lot would and it would be interesting to see what would happen to the gates if it meant a better league position. I don't particularly like watching it either and I'm not advocating it, but you still feel better afterwards, and I'm just making the point.

 

It's worth considering because if people accept this, then it follows that a few good results and a bit of carefully targeted marketing (yes, that old chestnut, but people really do get out of the habit of coming down and do find other things to do) should see a few more coming in. But both aspects are important. What we can't afford to do is underestimate the need for the marketing to get those who have found other things to do back again. A winning team will generate more interest, but many will still need to be enticed away from what has become the regular Saturday afternoon activity since they stopped going down the football. We've got to sell it harder. Don't ask me how. I'm a civil servant. I'm here to point out the problems, not come up with the answers.

 

And, to get my retaliation in first, to those who'll reply that it wasn't good last night, well I agree, but those who didn't show couldn't have known that beforehand and so can't point to it as a reason.

 

I know this is nothing that hasn't been said before, but I just feel that it's worth taking a step back from slagging off the team and trying to look at why the gates are really down, and what we can do to improve things..

 

Comments invited...

[Colin Zeal EFM]

This is an email I've just received from a regualar reader of this board...

 

I read the post on the City site about the low attendance at Tuesday's game.

 

My mate was telling me that he had to cover a game between Hatfield Town and Welwyn Garden City on Tuesday evening and there were about 300 spectators at that one. Admittedly, it probably only cost about £2 or £3 to watch but it's still an impressive crowd for a team in the county league against a side from the South Midlands league.

 

 

[Saint Michael]

gates are down because we have a poor side playing even further below the mediocre level we acheived in the second half of last season....the next three games are vital, we desparately need to win both the league games, unlikely, or the season is effectively over and if we go out of the FAC,quite likely, it just gets worse....what worries meis that we clearly don't have the budget to strengthen the squad so its down to coaching etc.. does anyone really think we have a better quality squad than last season ?

[ESG]

No

[Rob_the_Saint]

Out:

• Challinor
• Crawshaw
• Evans
• Kean
• Hyatt
• Mackail-Smith
• Moran
• Young

 

In:

• Glynn
• Graham
• McDonnell
• Murray
• Oakes
• Tomlinson
• Seeby

 

With the possible exception of Challinor and Crawshaw the quality has improved, unfortunately the motivation, tactics and coaching has not.

 

We have still yet to see the best of Messrs Glynn, Graham, McDonnell and Tomlinson.

[Laz]

I think you've summed it up there, Rob. Motivation is the problem.

[Saint Michael]

Glynn might be good, McDonnell too but not with the present side behind him...the Non-League football world has been waiting to see the best of Graham for years and Tomlinson too...we needed to sign Lynch, Brennan and a new left back,and when it was clear Challinor was off we needed to replace him with someone decent.And what is Oakes meant to be doing ?

[Zagreus]

Maybe, and it's only a maybe (name that tune?), one reason is the fact that only one team gets promoted every season. Think about it. If you support a Premiership /First Division side (which I think alot of people living in the St Albans area do), then your team has alot more to play for. Depending on where you finish you may get entered into a different competitions, get into play offs, get more money etc. In the Ryman Premier League, you have to finish at the top - that's it. If you don't do that then there's nothing else. You stay where you are, stay where you are, stay where you are - static.

 

I've been coming to watch St Albans for the last three seasons, since I moved into the area, and I'll keep going no matter what. BUT Tuesday night was terrible, it really was - long ball, after longball, after longball.Already at this stage we know that St Albans City FC will not be contenders for promotion. I personally think this puts off potential/fair weather supporters. It's yet another season playing the same old teams, the same old problems etc.

 

Maybe it's not an issue at all, but it's one thing I've been thinking about. Unlike the Premiership its hard to be excited about being 6th or 7th. There just seems to be an overall lack of progression. Maybe not....?

[AFF]

I don't know anything about football, Zag, but this year it's different.

 

Subject to the result of legal action that the Ryman League are taking [against the F.A., presumably?], those who finish in slots 2-13 of the Division will start next season in one of two new Conference Leagues, Conference Division 1 South or North.

 

Academically, therefore, this should be the most 'exciting' season for years if not ever! It should go right down to the wire.

[ESG]

Quote:

Zagreus said:
I've been coming to watch St Albans for the last three seasons, since I moved into the area, and I'll keep going no matter what.

oi 2 posts why take u so long to post?

(smells bacon wafting from the tea Hut)

[Rob_the_Saint]

I just wonder if that's too little incentive; the better teams (and I include us in that) will all be thinking 'OK, all we have to do is have an average season and we'll be in the Conference'. Maybe if it was case of coming in the top six we would be more focussed.

 

As I think someone else said, win the next three games and the crowds will double, just you see.

[Laz]

Gibbo may see this simple incentive as: just finish 13th; keep the squad tight; give the kids a shot. And why not?

 

Doubling the crowd, Rob, will not be too difficult. That would leave us just 100 short of our 550 target (or whatever it is). Doubling it again may take a bit more effort.