1899 - 2,650 average attendance 1900 - 2,500 average 1902 - 2,300 average Only 3 seasons in the clubs history have we averaged under 3,000 since records began. We've a long way to go before we can call it the worst.
1902... tsk , il bet the glory hunters were out 8 year and 10 years later when we were reaching cup finals..... colchester stubs were in short supply.
I've been in when there's been less than 2,000 Perhaps I should've kept me ticket - oh we didn't get one, just paid on the gate and went in. Does that entitle me to a smug pass if we get somebody good in the FA Cup ?
We were getting less than 4,000 in the mid-80's for some games. If I remember correctly (because I can't be bothered to walk upstairs and check) we only had around 4,500 for the first game of the season against Crystal Palace in 1987, when Carl Bradshaw scored after 29 seconds. As we then proceeded to lose our first 5 games that season I can only imagine the crowds went further down. Funny though, as I don't remember the ground being that empty in those days. I suppose it's not as noticeable in a standing ground as it is in an all seater.
By the end of the Mel Machin era Attendances were down round the 4 000 mark. Also, during Danny Wilson's first season as manager, 1994/95, gates were of a similar figure in the Autumn.
96/97 promotion season Sure we only got 6,800 or summat v Oxford. In fact we only had just over 8,000 v Hudds. Just shows how far we went and how far back we've been taken.
Re: 96/97 promotion season Whilst what you are saying is true, in 1996 we weren't in the middle of the worst recession in living memory. I would have thought the years during the aftermath of the miners' strike - which was around the time I first started going - are a better comparison. Same league, arguably more competitive team, cost on the gate much lower then than now when adjusted for inflation. In those days 8,000 was considered a bumper gate. I would say that attendances are not holding up too badly once you take into account the awful results and ridiculous cost of a match ticket these days as a percentage of disposable income.
3,900 and summat v Southend at home in 1993/94 ish or 94/95. Troy Bennett made his one and only appearance, game finished 0-0 and the East Stand was built. Lowest league crowd l've ever sat in at Oakwell.
Re: 96/97 promotion season I'm looking at where the policy of loading the matchday price to 'encourage' ST sales is taking us. ie down the pan.
Correct I think it'll be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to attract these missing fans back (not to mention bringing in new supporters) to the club whilst the powers that be continue with their current approach.
We won the Southend game 3-1. Collymore opened the scoring for them, emergency striker Gareth Williams bagged hat-trick.
Re: 96/97 promotion season That is a point I was going to make actually. I would guess that during the mid to late 80s, we only had 2500 season ticket holders and the other 2500 paid on the gate. Not sure how much the saving was by having a season ticket but I can't imagine it was anything like the difference it is now.
Re: 96/97 promotion season IIRC in 1994 a ST for the ponty end was about £150 - stand to be corrected and it was about a tenner to get in - so £230 for a full season paying on the gate. A decent saving wit a ST, but nothing as marked as today. At some point as well as long as you bought your ticket in advance, right up to Saturday I think you got a couple of quid off, but that might have been about 1996. It used to be easy to go and watch Barnsley.
That was the season before, we drew 0-0 in the 94/95 season with the crowd under 4k. In the 3-1 (93/94) defeat l thought that Pineapple head scored with a lob from a very tight angle in the ponty end? http://www.lfconline.com/head_to_head/barnsley/vs/southend_united/index.shtml