Stay away Fans????

[blackballed]

Thanks for your comments Michael, lets hope some of thses can be taken on board ..........

[Mr short]

My first ever game was against a leyton orient X1 in the early nineties,who were managed by Frank Clark and John Gorman (we drew 2-2). I had a season ticket ticket for a West Ham for numerous years and would attend if West ham were away. The price of premier league football became too much for me and my friends so I found myself attending more regularly. Over the past couple of seasons I've been joined on and off by the same group of mates,only one of them is a regular with myself.

Another factor I feel comes into play which is that with West Ham/premier games being shown live in the pubs and clubs around the area,the floating supporter which we are trying to attract certainly has more choice in the game they view.

I do feel that the current economic situation isn't helping either. £15 gets you 4 or 5 pints in the warm watching premier league football or sitting in the cold watching ryman league football. And with everyone now able to watch top football more regular,I feel people's estimations of how they like to see the game being played have gone up.

I would love to think by lowering the admission prices we would attract more people but hand on heart I don't think it would make much difference,with the club being the loser.

[aka PeteBeatz]

1) I have mentioned about a family stand before on this forum. The Riverside is not ideal as bad language is heard from the dug-outs and the Eastside terrace, however in the Eastside 'flat pack' you can't hear said language and when I bring family that is where I sit.

 

2) Shamefully I don't attend all games these days. As I am getting older I don't want to be sitting out in the cold weather and I'm sure that I am not alone in this. A possibility could be to put a row of chairs our in clubhouse, viewing from the window. This may also encourage a few more to spend in the clubhouse.

Edited December 3, 2013 by Bend it like Uri

[bridgefan]

I agree with a lot of what's been said particularly by Mr Howard - Won't say too much more but people who know me, know how me and my family feel

Edited December 3, 2013 by bridgefan

[shrimper]

i know from experience in   the family  stand  at  southend  the kids use  swear words even the adults  dont know ... not sure  how u could control  that  its  much the  same   where  ever  ive been non league /   league   home or away ..... in non league  with the crowd  much smaller  u often hear  the swearing  from on the  field  as well from the players  and not just the dug outs ....there is maybe a point  about the entrance  and after  paying to  get in the ground  you  are  met  with  the programes and 50/50  draw  i have  been  involved  in  running  supporters clubs  for speedway teams  and  i know  there was complaints  from supporters  if things like raffles  etc were almost forced  on to  people when they  first come through the gate , prehaps  that area could be a bit more  laid back  and have more of a welcome feel   

[Wivenhoe Urchin]

You regularly hear players swear on the pitch so it's hardly surprising it comes from the terraces. I remember one recent game where a challenge was made and there was a reaction from the players, of which included at least one swear word from a player, and this was followed by plenty of terrace swearing. I guess that unless football was made a non-contact sport you will almost always have swearing.

[Eastside Urchin]

Been thinking about this overnight

 

Perhaps the "ultras " theme needs to be put into proper practice with support from the Supporters association.

Not just the odd flag , but plenty of colour , red and white, even the odd smoke before kick off as long as it's safe

It would need to be done the way most English ultra groups are done ,with a friendly atmosphere rather than the continental style if say Italy,Serbia, Croatia etc where it's way more hooligan based.

I am sure it would pull more youngsters in,anyone who watched the palace game last night would of been impressed , I doubt that the ground would of been full for last night had the ultras not been a regular fixture.

With or without the support of the supporters association it should certainly be moved up a gear but it would certainly get my approval if done in the right way.

Edited December 4, 2013 by Eastside Urchin

[Eastside Urchin]

Not sure if anyone has seen it but the Clapton ultras are causing quite a stir around the lower leagues ,think they have pretty much saved the club and the other day I saw a you tube clip of the players celebrating with them after a victory.

Think they are either all students or local lads moved into the area which has become more trendy so it shows that you can attract new fans

[paokman]

See we have a reserve match at Clapton next Wednesday

[Wivenhoe Urchin]

Is getting more youngsters in really the solution to the problem? I feel it would help but only a bit and up the attendance slightly in the short-term. 

 

It seems to me that a number of people that have either stopped coming to games or barely attend are students or young adults, and there are so many reasons that you are always going to lose people at this point. My initial group had 3 regulars and at least 3 other occasional fans. They all still come back to support the club, but only occasionally. The price increase from student concession to adult happens at a very similar time to change in what the young people are doing.

 

I feel that the age group to get more people in is those in their 20s and older, since they can make a decision on whether they want to continue to attend, based on a number of different factors. If they decide to continue then they are happy with what they've seen and experienced, so should come from then on [this has been proven to work as I persuaded someone who is much older to attend one game and promoted it by my voice only, and that person bought a season ticket with the club soon after the first match].

Edited December 4, 2013 by Wivenhoe Urchin

[Fat Tom Daley]

I agree with Rob on this. Adding a bit of colour and atmosphere to the game will keep people my age interested as its something that involves all of the fans

[Fat Tom Daley]

However it would need everyones involvement on the Eastside for it to work. Maybe even the Riverside could sing back on "Were the Eastside" song

[Eastside Urchin]

Needs a few youngsters to get mates over, involved,constant noise and be policed by the fans

[shrimper]

there was a time  when  at least  one used to sing back were the riverside   but long gone now   

Edited December 4, 2013 by laindon shrimper

[Eastside Urchin]

The primary object of this thread was to obviously get ideas on how to change the trend in the decreasing crowds but it was also to liven this forum up and 34 posts in a day is probably more than we have had all week,keep the suggestions,ideas and objections coming

[Eastside_Aggro]

agree with all of that rob, if we as a club can back that idea, get some more youngsters involved then it can really take off, if it starts going down well and we do get more people over and more of an atmosphere at games then fan merchandise can be added into the equation, doubt the club would allow pyro into the stadium but if clapton can do it why cant we?, I personally love this idea and I would love to see it take affect and I for one would be happy to take part

[Eastside Urchin]

Right,Harry,knew you would be up for it.

Let's not [****!!****] about here ,let's get you youngsters making it the best Ultras in non league football ,spread the word.We already have a sponsor for some flags etc

[Hornchurch "O"]

Thought there was talk about Local Schools having a Penalty Shoot Out at Half Time?

[Eastside_Aggro]

of course im up for it, will put cash towards it too (banner making, pyro displays), it will be alright mate, just need atmosphere to start it off really

[Eastside Urchin]

To get atmosphere we need numbers.So spread the word