Away allocations 2022-23

[Si Robin]

Which is basically what I've been trying to say, except you put it much more succinctly, thanks Chris.

 

[Greenacres]

The other factor that has affected crowds with Gloucester City is that they played on the road for more than a decade, after the floods in 2007 when they had no home ground, and they are currently rebuilding from a fairly low base. I understand there is a relatively new owner, the club have been rebranded from the tiger related stuff (never seen one of them in the local area, fortunately) back to the traditional colours of the city which are red and yellow.

I have had conversations with friends about the club and it seems like it is currently very well run, certainly off the pitch, and after a period of literally treading water (not just when the ground was flooded) it seems in an upward trajectory...I would be more than happy to see them join us and Cheltenham in the Football League but don't know how realistic a proposition that actually is.

 

[Si Robin]

I don't think the ground is ready for it - despite being new, it's very minimalist. Obviously they could get around that by building on what's there, and I'm sure there's plenty of space to put new seats in and better standing areas, certainly on the open side opposite the seating areas.

Gloucester City in the Football League would be bloody impressive though given how low they dropped after missing out on the Conference in 1997, and the fact they never let their club die despite all the hardships over the last 15 years.

There's a hell of a book in their story.

 

[Greenacres]

I don't think the ground is ready for it - despite being new, it's very minimalist. Obviously they could get around that by building on what's there, and I'm sure there's plenty of space to put new seats in and better standing areas, certainly on the open side opposite the seating areas.

Gloucester City in the Football League would be bloody impressive though given how low they dropped after missing out on the Conference in 1997, and the fact they never let their club die despite all the hardships over the last 15 years.

There's a hell of a book in their story.

Agree with the comments about the ground, however the advantage of their current location is that it is an area that is surrounded by industrial estates and not too far from the City dump...certainly not surrounded by housing or protected buildings, so probably not too difficult to get planning through for ground improvements if necessary.

I think the fact that they survived at tier six, despite everything that has happened to them, is little short of a miracle...any success that they might have in future is surely down to the efforts of those who kept their club alive against all odds.

 

[FGR-Star]

Gloucester struggled on the pitch which knocked their crowds down after starting off getting decent numbers on their return to the City, but if they get it right next season and are challenging for promotion they'll be getting 1500-2000 I reckon.

FGR star is an example of the kids (on both sides) that don't understand the actual historical context of the Cheltenham - Gloucester rivalry, it's about more then football. We will never replicate that and tbh I couldn't give a fuck, I just worry about us doing as well as possible.

Disagree, Gloucester always hype up their potential.

They won’t have the new ground effect next season either.

No chance they will be getting 1500 to 2000 in my opinion.
Gloucester are not nearly as big a club as they like to think.

They are the 3rd biggest football club in Gloucestershire and well behind both Cheltenham and FGR.

 

[Chris FGR]

I suppose we’ll find out. They are definitely heading in the right direction off the pitch now they’re back in the City, and good luck to them. Some incredibly dedicated people there who’ve stuck with them through some bad times playing elsewhere for over a decade.

They have potential, how much remains to be seen, but they are the only decent sized club in a city of 150k so could attract decent crowds if they start getting a bit of success, which I suspect they might with the current owners investing a decent amount for that level.

 

[Greenacres]

Gloucester averaged 1190 last season, in a fairly average season, so even a modicum of success could push them up towards 1500 or maybe more...at least according to this website:

Attendances England Non-League average

Just goes to show how popular non-league football is at many levels when you see some of the attendances that clubs are achieving.

 

[FGR-Star]

Gloucester averaged 1190 last season, in a fairly average season, so even a modicum of success could push them up towards 1500 or maybe more...at least according to this website:

Attendances England Non-League average

Just goes to show how popular non-league football is at many levels when you see some of the attendances that clubs are achieving.

In their first season back in the city in their new stadium!

That is not an average season.

No chance they will average 1500 to 2,000 next season.

There are far, far bigger clubs than Gloucester in non league.

It’s a big place but not a big football club.

 

[Si Robin]

If they're fighting for promotion, they'll average at least 1,500.

Whilst they had the new stadium bounce last season, they were also absolutely dreadful until the last 5 or 6 games, and looked very likely to go down.

 

[Chris FGR]

Be interesting to see how they get on next season, they seem to have invested a decent amount so you would think they would want some return on that.

 

[Si Robin]

They're going back to hybrid status from full-time. They've worked out that there are better part-time players at NLN level than full-time ones.

 

[FGR-Star]

If they're fighting for promotion, they'll average at least 1,500.

Whilst they had the new stadium bounce last season, they were also absolutely dreadful until the last 5 or 6 games, and looked very likely to go down.

We shall see.

I’m willing to bet they wont average anywhere near that, but will certainly be interesting to check their progress.

Personally would love to see them come up through the leagues, as it is all good for Gloucestershire football, rather than that Eggball rubbish!

 

[Clem Fandango]

I dissagree, Gloucester hype themselves up to be a much bigger club than they actually are in my opinion.

It is a rugby town and in reality they have not been well supported, especially considering how big Gloucester is as a place.

They got a home crowd of 640 in their last game this season in the new stadium. That’s not great.

Whether you want to admit or not FGR vs Cheltenham is now. Huge game and all of you older Gits denying it, won’t change things.

Where did you get 640 from? Our last game at Meadow Park this season was against Blyth and the attendance was 1,788 with nothing to play for.

 

[K-Win]

I'm so much more knowledgeable about Gloucestershire now, than I ever thought I would be. I must pay a visit. Golden Valley sounds nice.

 

[cookiemonster]

Yes, all very fascinating but what it has to do with away allocations in EFL1 in 2022-23 I am sure I don't know.

 

[Si Robin]

I'm so much more knowledgeable about Gloucestershire now, than I ever thought I would be. I must pay a visit. Golden Valley sounds nice.

It's a dual carriageway that links Cheltenham to Gloucester - it's really not all that. You do get to go over the M5 and can glimpse Gloucestershire Airport as well as you go past though

 

[The Jovial Forester]

It's a dual carriageway that links Cheltenham to Gloucester - it's really not all that. You do get to go over the M5 and can glimpse Gloucestershire Airport as well as you go past though

The Stroud one is pretty nice: https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/golden-valley-stroud Used to walk up to Bisley on a nice day, have a couple of pints and stagger back.

 

[WhiteRussian]

Love it. And I thought Exeter and Plymouth might be an interesting rivalry this season.

 

[FGR Stroud]

What none has mentioned is that after the flood Gloucester played their home fixtures at four different grounds including TNL and Whaddon Road.
The Cheltenham regulars were not overjoyed to share stadium with Gloucester claiming with so many games it damaged the pitch. Their management were happy to accept payment for the use of ground but eventually caved in to fan pressure and told Gloucester to move on.
Last season I watched Gloucester play a team from the North East and it got a bit tasty but the home fans continued singing their anti-Cheltenham chant.
Four divisions below but still have feelings towards their former landlords.

 

[HutchECFC]

What none has mentioned is that after the flood Gloucester played their home fixtures at four different grounds including TNL and Whaddon Road.
The Cheltenham regulars were not overjoyed to share stadium with Gloucester claiming with so many games it damaged the pitch. Their management were happy to accept payment for the use of ground but eventually caved in to fan pressure and told Gloucester to move on.
Last season I watched Gloucester play a team from the North East and it got a bit tasty but the home fans continued singing their anti-Cheltenham chant.
Four divisions below but still have feelings towards their former landlords.

Forest still sing about Notts and vice versa, so I don’t see the problem?

 

[kieran_vale]

What none has mentioned is that after the flood Gloucester played their home fixtures at four different grounds including TNL and Whaddon Road.
The Cheltenham regulars were not overjoyed to share stadium with Gloucester claiming with so many games it damaged the pitch. Their management were happy to accept payment for the use of ground but eventually caved in to fan pressure and told Gloucester to move on.
Last season I watched Gloucester play a team from the North East and it got a bit tasty but the home fans continued singing their anti-Cheltenham chant.
Four divisions below but still have feelings towards their former landlords.

Us and Stoke haven't played each other since 2001 and we've been 3 divisions below them at times but a good amount of their songs are about us. Am pretty certain the same is true of the Bristol clubs too and they haven't been in the same league for ages either. Exactly how things are meant to be.

Not really a major surprise as they're each others historical rival and am confident in saying that as now learned more than I ever possibly could have dreamt of knowing about football in your part of the world

 

[Si Robin]

Wait until we get onto the local non-league scene with Cirencester Town, Bishops Cleeve, Shortwood United (FGR's traditional rival) and Cinderford Town (my wife's hometown team).

I went to a Gloucester City home game in 2004 - Cheltenham were away at Carlisle who were getting relegated from the Football League - and they were playing Ilkeston Town. I stood on the old T-End at Meadow Park for about 20 mins before the anti-Cheltenham songs drove me to stand with the Ilkeston fans for the rest of the game. Ilkeston won 1-0 as well, and I celebrated as if Cheltenham had scored. Was a great day.

 

[Chris FGR]

Not really a major surprise as they're each others historical rival and am confident in saying that as now learned more than I ever possibly could have dreamt of knowing about football in your part of the world

Always said Gloucestershire was a real footballing hotbed.

 

[Greenacres]

The cost of fuel is increasing at eye-watering rates, almost £2 per litre for petrol and diesel, we are approaching the point where it costs more than £100 to fill the tank on an average sized car...on the radio this morning there was someone from the fuel industry predicting further rises of maybe 25% in the coming months...this is something we are going to have to live with, at least in the immediate future.

It strikes me that all this talk of away attendances might prove irrellevant if football supporters priorities are things like putting food on their plate and heating their home, with travel to away games not featuring particularly highly, I know what I will be spending my money on and it won't be jumping in the car on a Saturday (or Tuesday evening) to drive miles from home to cheer on my team. Spending a tenner on fuel to travel to a home game is bearable, can't justify half a tank or more for an away game...sorry folks!

 

[longmover]

Wait until we get onto the local non-league scene with Cirencester Town, Bishops Cleeve, Shortwood United (FGR's traditional rival) and Cinderford Town (my wife's hometown team).

I went to a Gloucester City home game in 2004 - Cheltenham were away at Carlisle who were getting relegated from the Football League - and they were playing Ilkeston Town. I stood on the old T-End at Meadow Park for about 20 mins before the anti-Cheltenham songs drove me to stand with the Ilkeston fans for the rest of the game. Ilkeston won 1-0 as well, and I celebrated as if Cheltenham had scored. Was a great day.

Didn't a city fan run on the pitch and punch the ref in one of their final games in the 97 season? Never had any time for them, should of turned their ground into an aquarium in 2007.

 

[Si Robin]

Not sure he hit the ref, but their final game was delayed by 15 mins because of a pitch invasion after they went 3-1 down to Salisbury, which in turn led to us being promoted to the Conference

 

[Clem Fandango]

From memory the guy attempted to but didn't quite reach him. Was a crazy season that with what seemed to be crowd trouble at almost every game. The game a few weeks before at Gresley was also delayed due to fans kicking off.

 

[kieran_vale]

At risk of posting something on topic in this thread but appears discussions are still ongoing regards us switching the home and away ends round at VP. Reading between the lines I suspect ultimately things will stay as they are for this season (and then change for 23/24) as will have been a quick turnaround from the playoffs and a Robbie Williams concert held at the ground to sort some logistics but it is something that Vale fans have been pushing for. Was certainly a popular move in our playoff home leg.

Port Vale considering options for Hamil end after play-off success

Port Vale chief executive Colin Garlick explains the club's thinking about the Hamil end stand and home supporters

www.stokesentinel.co.uk

 

[valefan16]

At risk of posting something on topic in this thread but appears discussions are still ongoing regards us switching the home and away ends round at VP. Reading between the lines I suspect ultimately things will stay as they are for this season (and then change for 23/24) as will have been a quick turnaround from the playoffs and a Robbie Williams concert held at the ground to sort some logistics but it is something that Vale fans have been pushing for. Was certainly a popular move in our playoff home leg.

Port Vale considering options for Hamil end after play-off success

Port Vale chief executive Colin Garlick explains the club's thinking about the Hamil end stand and home supporters

www.stokesentinel.co.uk

Has to be done really, the atmosphere against Swindon was superb with that stand rocking and even though its not likely to be rammed out in a standard league game its 10 x more nosier than the Bycars.

Obviously it means Away fans are kept out of Burslem and filtered through the back of Dimensions but fans are wanting it, DC wants it lets get it worked out.

Aside from Sheffield Wednesday and possibly Derby its not likely even in this league to be needing a 4000-4500 away capacity anyway.

 

[kieran_vale]

Has to be done really, the atmosphere against Swindon was superb with that stand rocking and even though its not likely to be rammed out in a standard league game its 10 x more nosier than the Bycars.

Obviously it means Away fans are kept out of Burslem and filtered through the back of Dimensions but fans are wanting it, DC wants it lets get it worked out.

Aside from Sheffield Wednesday and possibly Derby its not likely even in this league to be needing a 4000-4500 away capacity anyway.

Just looking at the league next year there are potentially three teams I see that would likely bring over 2500 and that’s Derby, Wednesday and maybe Bolton. Depending on if they are going for promotion etc on the last day am happy to throw in Plymouth too. For every one of them though there is Accy, Morecambe, FGR etc who will bring about 150-200. Allocating a whole 4500 seater stand for them is a waste to me unless can partition it like other clubs do.

Some of this would be a moot point if ever got round to opening the other side of the Lorne Street but it was ridiculous announcing a home sellout last season v Newport when there was what 8500 home fans there and the Hamil was virtually empty?