Taken from FB,At the risk of going all MASSIVES here, this was probably one of our lower crowds that season.
More than Chelsea. A few of their 'fans' who spout rubbish on social media could do with a look at that for some historical perspective. As for us, sadly a couple of years later our figures slumped dramatically what with the miners' strike.
Crowds were on the way down from the glory years 1979-81. Still healthy though but look what was just around the corner.
The average attendance that season was 15k - it was higher than 81. http://european-football-statistics.co.uk/attnclub/league/bars.htm
Not 100% but I think you may have read it wrong (or I have.).The year was 82/83 for that game shown. And looking at your table the season is represented by the 1983 figure 12.3k 81/82 was 15k. 1st season back in the second tier.
My favourite time as a reds fan, '81 and '82. I still think to this day, that we could have gone up in season '81, if the Play offs were around then.
To add context Finished 6th in 81/82 in div 2. (2nd tier) best football I have ever witnessed over a season. and not till promotion year to prem did we achieve higher.
Yeah it brings it home a bit doesn't it, that '81 season back in the Second Division was ACE!. Oakwell was a fortress, not many teams came and beat us there that year!.
Since the turn of the century our crowds have been pretty stable. odd blip when 3rd tier but that could be more to do with away followings to oakwell. Not just the drop. This season and last I believe we have more season ticket holders than for many a year. Despite all the negativity of folk saying we may not break the 5/6k barrier. Especially after the last relegation.
The standout for me is not our attendance, I remember clearly what our attendances were. I was 11 years old and obsessed with everything about the club. Our attendances were of huge interest to me. A good friend of mine was a Leeds fan, so I remember the kind of attendances they got too. And that we were often very close to them. What I don't remember were such low attendances at places like Blackburn, Charlton and Middlesbrough. It's like they're missing a 1 from the front. (I see Simon bloody Garner scored.) Things were different then though. Clubs didn't have many season ticket holders. People paid on the gate and attendances fluctuated wildly over a season. If your team started doing well you could get thousands more on the gate. Start doing badly and thousands fewer would turn up. The official attendances actually reflected that. Counting season ticket holders who didn't turn up made little difference as there weren't that many of them to start with. When there were huge gaps on the terraces, the official attendance showed that there were 6 or 7 thousand fewer than earlier in the season when we still had a chance of promotion. And the biggest games of the season? Cup games. People turned up for Cup games. FA Cup third round day was huge.
The decline in interest in the early rounds of the FA Cup is one of the saddest things about modern football for me. Reviving it really wouldn't be that difficult - I've made plenty of suggestions myself, but whether the greybeards at the FA actually have any interest in making it a reality is another matter entirely.
Great post, looking at the scorers down that list brings back great memories, and you’re right about ‘Simon bloody Garner’ must’ve scored against us every time he played against us. Noticed Alan Smith scored for Leicester who went on to have a great career at Arsenal. Dave Speedie for Chelsea eh, if only he didn’t have that alleged clash of Personalities with Allan Clarke eh.
i always thought back then we were on a par with Blackburn but they always seemed to get one over on us if memory's serves eyeeeee Garner look what happened to them over the next 30 - 40 odd years
Watched them home and away then, it was a pleasure to watch football at its best. Beat some good division 1 teams around that time in the League Cup.
No need to mate thanks Tbh it took me a while to work it out, then I noticed league positions, that gave it away to me. Interesting stats though. And good read if you are into em. The totals for each season for example. Reflecting the highs and lows.