ETFC League Home Attendances

[littlehampton]

Town are unbeaten in there last four league matches, with 3 wins and a draw, 10 points out of 12, yet last night against Potters Bar Town we recorded our lowest league home attendance of the season, with a gate of only 167, well below expectation.

 

Think this is a very difficult one to explain. The team are starting to play to their potential, have moved second in the league table, the weather was okay,and there were no counter attractions on television to keep Town supporters away.

 

Looking on the positive side, that might be our last 'home' match at Cheshunt. Thanks to all the hard work and long hours put in by our incredibly loyal supporters at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, we will very soon be moving into our new home. This is a wonderful achievement for the club and it deserves everyones support.

 

Let's hope that we can capitalise on this opportunity, in every way possible, to attract old and new supporters to the new ground, and see a steady increase in home attendances.

[OldTowner]

possible reasons.

 

1 Potters Bar bring ( almost ) no support.

2 Whilst the results may have come over the last few games the performances have not been particularly special.

3 It looked like the heavens would open about 7 ish - could of put some off.

4 General apathy

5 Last years results v Pots Bar ( = 3 defeats )

6 Who knows.

[Steph]

I think we have to look seriously at the price of admission. £8 is a lot of money. What is also alarming is that there are few youngsters at the ground. If we are going to charge £8 for adults perhaps a nominal charge for youngsters, say a £1. If we are not getting any youngsters at the moment and the low price attracts 20 more youngsters that is £20 better off.

[missunderstood]

I think we have to look seriously at the price of admission. £8 is a lot of money. What is also alarming is that there are few youngsters at the ground. If we are going to charge £8 for adults perhaps a nominal charge for youngsters, say a £1. If we are not getting any youngsters at the moment and the low price attracts 20 more youngsters that is £20 better off.

Tooting & Mitcham, Guilford City, Ebsfleet, and I believe a few others let season ticket holders of other senior clubs (apart from that days opponent's) in for half price. as 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing I'm amazed that every clubs not doing it.

[Enfield United]

We would all like more people in but a midweek game v's Potters Bar at step 4, most folk would be happy with 167, although we have had more.

[seemgee]

Look at Potters Bar away fixtures so far, 27 were at the away match to Thamesmead. Against Harlow were 173. So for the opposition no more or less than expected for an evening kick off. In this league we will remain around the 200 on average and we cannot expect more. Boreham Wood in the BSS have only slightly more than us.

As many schemes as you like it will always be the kids that we must attract, its how I started now 40 years ago, let them in for nothing! For the club to grow they must be part of the plan now.

[seemgee]

Just looked up last years home fixture against PB also a Tuesday night game. Crowd 158 as I thought

[andyetfc]

It's always going to be difficult attracting new business. Not too many children will attend an evening game as there's always something else to do.

 

Saturdays? Children free if accompanied by an adult.

 

What about having a stand designated as a family stand? No foul or abusive language allowed - and that's just the children!

 

Encourage the youngsters from all the youth teams to attend. What about the girls from the ladies section? They are part of 'our' club, so why not be a part of the home games? What about the youngsters being encouraged to attend as ball balls/girls and offer their parents a discount admission fee?

[OldTowner]

It's always going to be difficult attracting new business. Not too many children will attend an evening game as there's always something else to do.

 

Saturdays? Children free if accompanied by an adult.

 

What about having a stand designated as a family stand? No foul or abusive language allowed - and that's just the children!

 

Encourage the youngsters from all the youth teams to attend. What about the girls from the ladies section? They are part of 'our' club, so why not be a part of the home games? What about the youngsters being encouraged to attend as ball balls/girls and offer their parents a discount admission fee?

 

Agree 100%

We keep promoting the Our Club, Our Community - well where are Our junior sections on match days ?

Ball boys / girls could do a good job at the new ground and it must be easy to invite local teams from junior sunday leagues to attend.

However, over the years I along with others, have come up with a range of ideas / suggestions to help increase the crowd and get either children or families into the ground and I have been told many times that is is "too difficult to arrange".

Other Clubs seem to do it so why not Town.

The Club will die along with all the old supporters unless some action is taken ( okay - bit harsh, but you get my drift )

I am sure supporters have many ideas on this subject.

[Tom S]

I did spot Claire Gooch on Tuesday, and the u16s (as well as an ex-u16 now at Peterborough's Centre of Excellence) were there on Saturday.

[seemgee]

my local team goes round to schools and gives vouchers out for matches, in other words free tickets. This reminds the local kids a team exists and gets them in. I think I am right that Aveley did that a season or two back as well and attracted a 500+ crowd when they were in our league. Okay no financial gain maybe a fizzy drink or two sold, and just maybe a new fan for the future.

[Enfield United]

It's always going to be difficult attracting new business. Not too many children will attend an evening game as there's always something else to do.

 

Saturdays? Children free if accompanied by an adult.

 

What about having a stand designated as a family stand? No foul or abusive language allowed - and that's just the children!

 

Encourage the youngsters from all the youth teams to attend. What about the girls from the ladies section? They are part of 'our' club, so why not be a part of the home games? What about the youngsters being encouraged to attend as ball balls/girls and offer their parents a discount admission fee?

 

Agree 100%

We keep promoting the Our Club, Our Community - well where are Our junior sections on match days ?

Ball boys / girls could do a good job at the new ground and it must be easy to invite local teams from junior sunday leagues to attend.

However, over the years I along with others, have come up with a range of ideas / suggestions to help increase the crowd and get either children or families into the ground and I have been told many times that is is "too difficult to arrange".

Other Clubs seem to do it so why not Town.

The Club will die along with all the old supporters unless some action is taken ( okay - bit harsh, but you get my drift )

I am sure supporters have many ideas on this subject.

 

 

Sounds like a sub committe is what we need with someone heading the community liaison stuff. A group of people can come up with ideas for our club. You can't expect the same people who run teams and have managed to secure a new stadium in the immediate future to do everything.

 

So here's a challenge, why not form a new or newer committee to attract more young fans to our new home. I'll help out whereever with the contacts I have at youth level.

[Eastside Urchin]

Their is only one person or group to blame for low crowds and that's the greedy premier league,but until non league clubs work together to stop the premier league and their greedy clubs selling the rights to the 3pm games to every country in the world,meaning we can watch prem football in the pubs or on line,it will only get worse

[littlehampton]

Very pleased that this highly important topic has struck a chord and stimulated healthy open discussion amongst our supporters.

 

Already a number of beautifully simple, constructive ideas have been put forward, which could be implemented at the new stadium. At this stage, my own honest assessment is that we are looking for the simplest ideas, with low risk, likely to have the biggest immediate impact on home attendances, at the lowest cost.

 

With the best will in the world, a good idea is only a good idea if it is innovated, and well PUBLICISED in the local area.

 

Our board of elected members have done a brilliant job to secure us a new stadium and get us to where we are today. They deserve our full support to ensure it realises its full potential. Raising the profile of our club, increasing attendances and revenue streams, is our greatest challenge.

 

I totally agree with the views expressed by Enfield United, on the need for a proactive marketing committee to develop the ideas put forward.

[missunderstood]

From a total outsiders perspective the situation in Enfield is absolutely ridiculous, and in part the solution is obvious. IMO both Enfield clubs could enter into meaningful negotiations with regards to merging. If this could be done with genuine goodwill on both sides then you would probably add an extra 50% to your gate with no effort whatsoever.

[Enfield United]

Agree totally, but oh boy your going over old ground here, unfortunately the Town guy's have tried with this option however the 1893 guy's are on a different wavelength, barmy and very undermining in bringing quality football to our borough in a shorter space of time.

 

Nonetheless I'm fortunate enough to see and hear the ongoings within our club (ETFC) to know the only way is up with the Town.

[missunderstood]

Agree totally, but oh boy your going over old ground here, unfortunately the Town guy's have tried with this option however the 1893 guy's are on a different wavelength, barmy and very undermining in bringing quality football to our borough in a shorter space of time.

 

Nonetheless I'm fortunate enough to see and hear the ongoings within our club (ETFC) to know the only way is up with the Town.

If thats the case then the next obvious solution would be to enter into a ground-share agreement with the other Enfield, as the extra revenue received from 1893 would have the same effect financially as more bums on seats at your matches.

[Man From Mars]

Agree totally, but oh boy your going over old ground here, unfortunately the Town guy's have tried with this option however the 1893 guy's are on a different wavelength, barmy and very undermining in bringing quality football to our borough in a shorter space of time.

 

Nonetheless I'm fortunate enough to see and hear the ongoings within our club (ETFC) to know the only way is up with the Town.

Blimey O' bleedin Riley Not again . Youre all too cliquey anyway.

[Papa Lazarou]

From a total outsiders perspective the situation in Enfield is absolutely ridiculous, and in part the solution is obvious. IMO both Enfield clubs could enter into meaningful negotiations with regards to merging. If this could be done with genuine goodwill on both sides then you would probably add an extra 50% to your gate with no effort whatsoever.

 

Agreed though my preferred option would be to crush the other club by gaining promotions - we should be in the Conference by now which would be the end of the other lot.

 

I also think we need to get the running track ripped up as soon as possible. It was a good decision made at the time but we all know it wont work so let get our legal team on it (taking advice from West Ham if necessary as they will need to do the same thing).

 

I am happy to help out with any efforts to get more people in the stadium.

[Papa Lazarou]

Agree totally, but oh boy your going over old ground here, unfortunately the Town guy's have tried with this option however the 1893 guy's are on a different wavelength, barmy and very undermining in bringing quality football to our borough in a shorter space of time.

 

Nonetheless I'm fortunate enough to see and hear the ongoings within our club (ETFC) to know the only way is up with the Town.

Blimey O' bleedin Riley Not again . Youre all too cliquey anyway.

 

MFM - any ideas how we can tempt a few Enfield fans away from the ESL? And before you say it, I know we are too cliquey and it needs to change.

 

Cheers