Tbf 12k is more than we averaged in our promotion season to the prem, and easily more than any of our previous second tier seasons dating back to 84. Interesting that many people reminisce about those days when we were comfortable second tier, but in reality, no bugger wanted to watch us then, home or away, even though we had better players.
Another problem we have are we are not a town with a massive population or catchment like Wakefield a lot there support Leeds a lot bigger club with bigger potential sad to say! Somehow we need to tap into younger fans but while we languish in league one it becomes harder to attract that age range, they want to support better teams. Signing any player is a risk look at some of the players some premier league teams sign for truckloads and they have been shocking and they have massive scouting network. We might need to resign ourselves to this is our level league one and any venture to the championship is a bonus. A footballer is like any employee they will seek a move if they are offered better wages etc
I’m not sure ‘languish’ is the correct terminology for our stay in league one. Our last 4 seasons at this level have seen an automatic promotion, 2 play off finals and a play off semi. That says to me that we’re competitive.
We haven't got a bad catchment area and wasn't our population the one of the biggest growing in Yorkshire behind Leeds and Selby at the last census? Revamped town centre and huge housing estate coming near Woolley should increase the population a lot more leading up to the next census. I'd predict we'll be the biggest town in South Yorkshire by then
Loads of new houses around Goldthorpe and Thurnscoe too. Could do with a tram/train link into town to tempt them, instead of to Rotherham or Sheffield .
There's no escaping the fact we're a well supported club. I don't subscribe to us being a League 1 club. I don't like putting a ceiling on things. That's when you start falling away into obscurity. We're a League 1 club now. Been done to death but poor decisions at boardroom level is the reason we're in League 1 going back as far as John Dennis.
A regular bus service would be helpful as a start. Never mind tram/trains. Some areas aren't accessible from our village at all, even with a bus.
I can see the logic in sales of players but if the current board have learned anything its surely that you can't have a firesale every year. Its a false economy as with a weakened squad means dipping into owners' pockets more later down the line. The key is to gradually build by having a good approach to both recruitment and sales. Dont sell all the best players every season! At the moment there is limited evidence that they've learned that lesson (although I believe Connell is here for a while) but it will be interesting to see the approach to recruitment in the summer. If its 10 non league blokes for 50 quid each we'll not be doing well next year unless the coach is better than Klopp..
I wouldn't buy Connell with funny money. He's gone on what I've seen last season. Injury or no injury. I'd definitely move to get Grant in permanent. You're basing that on sentiment.
I always get it the wrong way round. Part of Barnsley, but the address and post code and phone number is Rotherham.
Before Covid struck we were averaging around 14k. Probably more away fans to factor in though as we were in the Championship.
I lived in Highgate for about 6 years. It was always confusing being in the middle of Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham. I went to Mexborough Grammar, as I’d already started there when I lived in that town. My mates went to Wath, as that was the catchment area.
And your a disgrace apparently for even thinking that on here lol, even though we all know it's true. The only reason why this lot stay (and are allowed to stay), is because we don't seem to have any other options, I'm afraid!.
Would imagine Kane, Williams, Cole were our higher earners so hopefully with their wages off the costs, the need to sell to balance the books will lessen.