Plummeting Attendances

[Posh Red]

I was about to refer to a post on our forum about our crowd - are you the same posh red on that forum as well?

We seem to have only lost around 400 home fans last year, given the drivel we served up at home, that could have been a whole lot worse!

Yes, that’s me.

I’d agree that the attendances have held up quite well, considering how poor the results were at home, particularly in the first half of the season. Successive heavy Home defeats by Barnet & Crawley were a particular lowlight

 

[shoddycollins]

4005 doesn't look brilliant for a team fourth in the league but that's currently over 2/3rds our capacity. I'd like to think that would have been at least an extra 500 had we had all four sides.

Surely if the lowered capacity is affecting attendances then every game would be a sell-out.

 

[Maple Hatter]

Of course, Luton are the best supported team in the division.

Maybe Nathan was looking at the stats recently put up on the away support thread.

 

[shoddycollins]

Maybe Nathan was looking at the stats recently put up on the away support thread.

Wouldn't be surprised if he's a regular visitor. Thinks 'this Kenny End knows what he's talking about, I need to get him on my backroom staff'

 

[denzel ecfc]

Surely if the lowered capacity is affecting attendances then every game would be a sell-out.

The seats sell out every game. Not everyone wants to stand so there's an opportunity lost. Many just want to turn up and pay and that isnt always possible. Add in that the likes of Coventry and Swindon would have brought an extra thousand had we been able to offer it.

 

[Greenacres]

People get bored very quickly. Fans want to watch winning football, regardless of the level it's at.

This is of course true, although our crowds held up reasonably well despite the football being unwatchable at times, we added about 1000 on our previous season's average. Clearly some of that, but by no means all, was due to opponents bringing a sizeable following. In our first few games there were visits from people trying to maintain their membership of the 92 club, and others probably satisfying little more than their own curiosity. However, our attendance against Grimsby on the last day of the season was I believe our largest ever for a league game. The total of 3880 contained around 3000 home fans, which augers well for next season if the majority keep coming back.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

This is of course true, although our crowds held up reasonably well despite the football being unwatchable at times, we added about 1000 on our previous season's average. Clearly some of that, but by no means all, was due to opponents bringing a sizeable following. In our first few games there were visits from people trying to maintain their membership of the 92 club, and others probably satisfying little more than their own curiosity. However, our attendance against Grimsby on the last day of the season was I believe our largest ever for a league game. The total of 3880 contained around 3000 home fans, which augers well for next season if the majority keep coming back.

Think I saw extrapolated home figures that had us averaging 2,200 home supporters which I would have never thought possible just a couple of seasons back.

 

[shoddycollins]

Think I saw extrapolated home figures that had us averaging 2,200 home supporters which I would have never thought possible just a couple of seasons back.

I wonder what the environmental impact is of all those extra car journeys

 

[The Jovial Forester]

I wonder what the environmental impact is of all those extra car journeys

They'd only have been driving to Tescos if they didn't come the footy.

 

[Greenacres]

Think I saw extrapolated home figures that had us averaging 2,200 home supporters which I would have never thought possible just a couple of seasons back.

Me either, I have only been watching Rovers for around fifteen years...just a few games at the old ground...and when I started following them the average number of home fans was maybe 600 or so. That was fairly constant until maybe 5-6 seasons back, since then the growth has been pretty impressive...due to a number of people working incredibly hard on a number of initiatives to get more people in.

People take the mickey out of us for being tin-pot, but if some of those big time Charlies set up something like the ambassador scheme or shirts for primary school kids, just think how much they could grow their support.

 

[Kenneth E End]

View attachment 8324

Wow a 60-something % drop in 4 seasons. Not good that.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Of course, Luton are the best supported team in the division.

Did anyone suggest that? I think its clear that Coventry were the biggest team in the league this season - and if they ever get their ownership sorted, they should get back to the Championship in a relatively short period of time.

Lincoln are on the crest of a wave. I'm surprised at their numbers - and good luck to them.

 

[Conker]

While I have been supporting the stags Coventry are up there for being the biggest club (and therefore the biggest fuck ups) at this Level.

Portsmouth and Hull spring to mind too.

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

Yes John Fry is still there (sadly), 22 years and counting. Trust me none of us like him either and the TV vote was not something the fans agreed with at all.

He never wanted us to reach the Championship as the thought of the money he'd have to spend shit him right up. Because of this when it did happen he stuck his head in the ground and didn't spend any.

Our recent stagnation have been a factor in falling attendances but there are others as I previously mentioned. The club's refusal to listen to what the fans want, the lack of stability and quality in the squad due to an unwillingness to spend any money on players and management, a ground unfit for league football with a matchday experience that Evo-Stik League clubs would be ashamed of... There's very little reason to go to a Yeovil match anymore unless you are a hardcore fan.

Surprised at that regarding the matchday experience, I remember when we visited about 6 years since, you had a large marquee up, with food, beer a relatively funny and quite knowledgeable Dj with football pitches round the back where kids could play.
Remember thinking it was only small but a very nice run friendly club with opposing supporters mingling and getting on fine.
Tbh honest I thought many so called bigger clubs (us included) could learn from you.
We have had a "fanzone" open for the last couple of matches, where you can purchase beer, food etc whilst the kids are entertained, I haven't been yet so don't know how successful it's been, but to me it sounds like a step in the right direction for us.
But only place I have seen anything similar, was at yours that day.

 

[shoddycollins]

Did anyone suggest that? I think its clear that Coventry were the biggest team in the league this season - and if they ever get their ownership sorted, they should get back to the Championship in a relatively short period of time.

Lincoln are on the crest of a wave. I'm surprised at their numbers - and good luck to them.

whoosh

 

[MrGloverLover]

T

Surprised at that regarding the matchday experience, I remember when we visited about 6 years since, you had a large marquee up, with food, beer a relatively funny and quite knowledgeable Dj with football pitches round the back where kids could play.
Remember thinking it was only small but a very nice run friendly club with opposing supporters mingling and getting on fine.
Tbh honest I thought many so called bigger clubs (us included) could learn from you.
We have had a "fanzone" open for the last couple of matches, where you can purchase beer, food etc whilst the kids are entertained, I haven't been yet so don't know how successful it's been, but to me it sounds like a step in the right direction for us.
But only place I have seen anything similar, was at yours that day.

That's really interesting as i've never met a Yeovil fan who wasn't anything but embarrassed about our matchday experience.

 

[MrGloverLover]

Wow a 60-something % drop in 4 seasons. Not good that.

Diabolical.

 

[UTS]

While I have been supporting the stags Coventry are up there for being the biggest club (and therefore the biggest fuck ups) at this Level.

Portsmouth and Hull spring to mind too.

Hull?!

Might as well stick Swansea in then as well.