The shame of our attendances

Not shameful at all

You're basing your judgement by comparing our attendance with other teams in the Division where supprot is exceptional and in my opinion undeserved. The English support for 2nd tier football is the best in the World and better than most countries top flight attendences. There are some big city clubs in our league this year with a history of big crowds and top flight football. For a small town the size of Donny, Rothereham, Bury, Rochdale, Stockport, Southend etc I think to average over 10,000 at &pound;24 a throw is unbelievable. Especially when you consider that within 40 miles there are over 20 other teams including the big city clubs of Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. If you look at the attendances for the 13 years before the Premier League season crowds have improved and gate receipts have improved by over 400% - (remember football was less than a fiver back in those days) - fans wages haven't gone up the same amount over the same period. So from an average of maybe &pound;40,000 a match we're now taking close on &pound;250,000 a match - I'd call that progress.</p>

<table style="border-collapse: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="96" border="0"><tbody><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="width: 64px; height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">83/84</font></td><td class="xl22" style="width: 64px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">9730</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">84/85</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">7225</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">85/86</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">6056</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">86/87</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">5860</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">87/88</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">7666</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">88/89</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">7200</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">89/90</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">9017</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">90/91</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">8933</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">91/92</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">7538</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">92/93</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">6418</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">93/94</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">7611</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">94/95</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">6509</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">95/96</font></td><td class="xl22" style="background-color: transparent; border: #d4d0c8"><font face="Arial" size="2">8087</font></td></tr></tbody></table></p>

 

One thing...

I called our attendances a &quot;shame&quot; - not shameful. There is a difference.</p>

Shame - something regrettable, unfortunate, or outrageous. I think it's a shame that they haven't picked up to what they were a few years ago. That's all.I think that is probably the view of many when they look around the ground on matchdays and see the swathes of empty seats. I said that I felt we had poor local support, and I was under the impression that, for some strange reason, we all felt that as a club we had moved on a bit and expected better. Evidently that's not the case.</p>

Nothing more sinister than that folks.</p>

I'll put it to rest now, I've said me piece.</p>

 

A lot of good points. Problem is these days people are spoilt for choice with all the other forms of entertainment on offer. In most places, local sports facilites are much better and so is TV coverage of not just football, but lots of other sports as well giving many opportunities to do things on a Saturday other than watch football. Add to that the fact that people generally enjoy a better standard of living than they did 10 or 20 years ago. This means they have more choices over how to use their leisure time. Football's competition has greatly increased. Furthermore, most of us can regularly watch football at the highest level either from the Premiership or elsewhere in Europe and some folk will then look at what the Reds have to offer and find it dull by comparison. Unfortunately more people are likely to be seduced away by the so called glamour sides these days because of the wide TV coverage.

The cost is a big issue. Some have responded to your post by saying the price of tickets and the ever increasing cost of running a car means they can't afford to go regularly (and take kids) like Bush in his recent reply. Others have said they would like to see regular deals for kids/families/16-18 year olds/students..

Not everyone likes football. The club can't do anything about people who prefer golf or tennis or the gym to football and maybe not even attract back the armchair glamour club supporter but they could do a lot worse than to look at all the replies to your original post and think more about how to turn the occasional supporter into a regular supporter and the lone dad into someone who would bring his kids.

 

RE: Fantastic post Red Rag...........pity about the W@nkers that replied to it

Agree with that Nudger. Once people get out of the habit of going to games, then like you say it will take only success to bring them back. Last season the Championship was new and more people attended. This season we are better, but the stayaway fans will only return when we are pushing for promotion, price and poor Media news is also a factor.

 

One Word................SKY

You get all the football you want, see every goal, from every league, why pay more to sit in the cold (most of the time) when you
can watch from the comfort of your chair!

The only way our crowds will go up is if we do!

 

too many manu fans in barnsley

:'(

 

RE: too many manu fans in barnsley

Man Utd £25 Adults / £12 kids

Barnsley £20 Adults / £12 kids


(dunno)

 

hmm

extend that list by 7 years either way and I think you will see the potential.

 

RE: Fantastic post Red Rag...........pity about the W@nkers that replied to it

well said young man,a brilliant post.

 

RE: too many manu fans in barnsley

for christ sake there is too many man utd fans full stop.

 

calm down sunshine nt

 

Fair enough

I read it as the &quot;The shame of our attendances&quot; as in &quot;we should hang our heads in shame&quot;, rather than &quot;The shame of our attendances&quot; as in &quot;isn't it a shame we don't get a few more thousand&quot; in which case I totally agree with you.</p>

Hwever, I still think that nigh on 11,000 average is pretty good for a little town wedged between so many other teams, especially with the price of football and all the alternative ways to spend your money. If you get the stats for the 2nd tier in Italy, Spain, France and Germany you'll find that we're one of the best supported 2nd tier clubs in Europe. Problem is the best 18 or soare also in our Division. </p>

 

Man U 6 year waiting list

Oakwell - Have a ticket when you want.</p>

Apart from Liverpool of course.</p>

 

Times have changed a lot

People supporting a football team by attending games is directly linked to the perceived value of the entertainment on offer, maybe BFC have out priced the perceived value amongst the local populous?

 

BFC could do more to win youngsters to the games

Although they give special discounts on occasions they should do it all the time. Like kids for a pound with a gown up. Why not fill the seats that would remain empty otherwise.