attendances

[Guest]

Please don't try to make a big thing about the attendances at Slough matches. For an accurate comparison look at the catchment areas of the respective clubs. Slough has a population of 104,000 and gets a very small attendance pro-rata compared with (for example} Berkhamsted - population about 17,000; Thame - population about 10,000 and Arlesey who beat all clubs with their attendances from a population of about 4,000. Yes, I know clubs also attract support from outside their immediate area but both Thame & Arlesey are in fairly lowly populated rural areas. Slough's attendances would probably be nearer the bottom of a table using comparative calculations. (By the way, I'm a Northwood supporter)

[Guest]

I don't get your point. Have we been making a big thing about our attendences? <img src="/forums/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

Re: attendances

 

Firstly let me congratulate you on winning the anorak of the season award for that last message, classic stuff and now I hope to get runners up with the following.

Your conclusions are slightly one dimensional as you should look at other information , such as number of other football clubs in the area (especially league and premiership teams) also the amount of local amenities such as sports centers and other leisure facilities. You should also take into account the demographics of the local populations, the amount of disposable income for instance will affect the statistics.

 

I think nearly every Rebels fan will admit that STFC manage to keep a fairly consistent level of support which when compared to teams at the same level would be considered in the upper %. That said STFC support has dwindled every season since Mr Deaner has been in charge which has also coincided with some of the worst performances on the pitch that the club has had to endure for many years.

[Guest]

Yes, of course I took all the salient factors into consideration but I did not want to bore everyone by going into such detail. However, you have done the boring job by listing some of the factors.

[Martin]

Yet you still told us not to make a big thing about it, despite the fact that we never were. Really very odd.

[Guest]

The first news item on your home page dated 13th is an article about your attendances. You also have a page on your site dedicated specifically to comparitive attendances with other clubs. The way it reads is as if you are gloating over your attendances. A community the size of Slough should be attracting far bigger crowds, even in Ryman 1. Arlesey, for example, attract approx 0.5% of their population. A similar percentage in Slough would give you gates of approx 5,000! You should really be disappointed with your crowds, not boasting about them.

[Guest]

Still not too sure what you are talking about, but it might just be the Slough home page for this forum, which lists as the latest article the first posting on the latest thread. This is a Non league UK thing. You will obviously be pleased to know that the latest article is from an Anorack in Northwood, telling us not to let attendence figures go to our heads. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/upyours.gif" alt="" />

[Paul Stephens]

Can someone point me to the page dedicated to cmparative attendances.? The only one I can find showing attendances is the fixtures. By the way the FA website says our attendance vs Totton was 306 away and 360 home so that must be right!!! (except they say the gate against Thame was 258 not 246)

Oh and any argument based on population is completely invalid unless you take into account ethnic origins, alternative sports, employment basis, number of other clubs in the catchment area and ease of trave to league and or premier grounds.

[Guest]

The attendance league you are so worried about, is on Mats Swedish site. It lists attendances in several leagues, and has done so for several years, and is updated frequently even when our attendances arn't good. It just so happens that at the moment our attendance tops Div 1 North, but thats not really a good reason not to update it. Interestingly enough our attendance is up on last years average, whilst yours is down, but as I'm sure you'll agree its the league table at the end of the season which is important. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/biggrinangelA.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

Paul--the so worried about bit was for statistician, not you. For the attendance league, look for the thread from Mats where he says his site is updated. There is a link on his posting <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" />

[Paul Stephens]

Thanks Ted, was only looking at the official site

[Martin]

Isn't it odd how "The Statistician" (if that is his real name) has mentioned Arlesey twice in three posts and all after our recent "run-in" with them.

As a Statistician should you not be using a slightly better system. You seem to be using purely population and attendance figures as your basis for argument. See: Arlesey get 0.5% of population and Slough should get 5,000.

From what I remember of Arlesey it was a small town with one street of shops, a derelict building and the football club.

Slough whilst no Utopia has a lot more to offer and different population demographics. You should make no comparisons on such a simplistic basis. So please don't bother coming back.

[Guest]

If you look back to an earlier message you will see that I take all salient factors into consideration, not just population. Most other factors, however, do not have much effect on the results. The main consideration is how many other football clubs are within easy travelling distance and the level of football they play at. Obviously a higher level of football will attract players away from the lower level clubs. I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting Arlesey as Northwood haven't played there yet but I have been to Thame and Berkhamsted, the two other clubs I used for comparison. I am told by members of other clubs who have been to Arlesey that it is a very well run set up with good facilities.

[GarySTFC]

Liked Arlesey a lot. Nice place, nice ground, nice food.

 

A good little set up and they will do well as they play within their means which in turn means, they won't meet the financial trouble we do.

 

Well worth a visit when the 'Wood do play there Statto.

[GarySTFC]

RebelRob, attendances are back on the up this season though, largely thanks to our cup run which has promoted interest in the club again, and hopefully will continue to rise as we progress up the league.

[Martin]

That was one of my points, Arlesey's ground and facilities were lovely as were Thame United's. It has to be one of the main social focal points of both rural towns. Slough however is vast, population 105,000 and made up of several distinct communities such as Wexham, Langley, Burnhum etc. Mr Statistician you say you have considered the number of clubs within easy travelling distance of each team. Slough like Northwood has to compete with the vast majority of London clubs, Reading and Watford. What competition do rural clubs like Arlesey and Thame have? Oxford? It is not much. I am not criticising Arlesey I think it is nice to have the club as a focal point but that is much easier with a population of just 4,000 and no distractions. Now, Mr Statistician please just go and set up a stats website and leave us be.

[Guest]

You obviously didn't absorb my previous postings. All these factors have been taken into consideration! I've looked at maps and checked transport. Arlesey are equally affected by alternative nearby football and other sporting attractions. It is only just over thirty miles out of London with Arsenal, Spurs & West Ham all easier and quicker to reach than from Slough, though you can probably get to Chelsea & Fulham quicker from. There is a main line station on the Kings X line with commuting time of about 40/50 minutes. They have to compete with Luton and Stevenage plus many other local clubs including Hitchin. Please don't try to come up with any other factors. I repeat: I have taken them all into consideration!

[Guest]

Is it me or has this thread got bloody boring . This squabbling over attendances is so anorak , it's like me not sending Mats his match reports and not including the crowd and away fans and he e-mailing me 100 times asking for it !! Mr Statto , you go and worry about Northwood while we worry about what we can do about ours . Why did you start this rambling anyway ?

[Guest]

I suppose you have the numbers of the trains on the Kings X line as well. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool_shades.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

No, sorry. These numbers do not enter the equation.