Week ending 2nd April

[AdamStag]

don't forget us.

They’ve got us to visit as well, that’ll sell out in about half an hour

 

[Sestonpoolie]

Aye last 5 home games are more reflective
6,678 northampton
6,702 exeter
4,815 colchester (tues night)
5,851 leyton orient
5,728 walsall

I thought you only had around 5500 on Saturday ,obviously mis read it.

 

[AdamStag]

I thought you only had around 5500 on Saturday ,obviously mis read it.

around 5,700 home fans yeah.

 

[FGR-Star]

Looking at the attendance figures it is abundantly clear that FGR are punching well above their weight and club will probably not be able to sustain a long term position in the EFL. Especially now that their main sponsor Ecotricity is being sold.
But if that be the case the fans must relish what the club has achieved in the past five or more years.

Jesus you are negative and tedious. Clubs with similar attendances to us or even smaller are in league 1 like Accrington, Cheltenham and Burton etc.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Lee's home league record is 3-6-2. He was unbeaten until the Bradford game but too many draws, especially against teams near the bottom (Scunthorpe, Oldham, Orient, and Stevenage)

The main concern is our slow starts. Having scored the opening goal in each of first five home league games under DC, we've only done so once in the 15 games since, and even that was courtesy of a Peter Clarke o.g. The last Pools player to score the first goal in a league game at the Vic was Luke Molyneux vs Exeter. In September.

Looking at the bench at 0-2 yesterday, I saw no options. It would have been very useful to have Holohan available, but hey ho, those costs won't cut themselves. But credit to Salford too. Two excellent strikes and, while they weren't flash, the kept us out with ease and efficiency.

Yeah the slow starts are a concern, i've rarely seen us come out the traps under Lee, particularly at home. It all just seems quite passive that we are waiting for something to happen. There's no one on the bench as you say and Lee will be aware of that but doesn't exclude him from criticism. Without Molyneux the 433 just doesn't work.

 

[Trapdoor]

Jesus you are negative and tedious. Clubs with similar attendances to us or even smaller are in league 1 like Accrington, Cheltenham and Burton etc.

Hate to break it to you but most of those clubs are on a negative trajectory and will be back down here in the next few years.

 

[FGR-Star]

Hate to break it to you but most of those clubs are on a negative trajectory and will be back down here in the next few years.

Are they.

All clubs look to be holding their own in league 1 quite nicely. What are you breaking to me?

 

[Trapdoor]

Are they.

All clubs look to be holding their own in league 1 quite nicely. What are you breaking to me?

Morecambe are on their way back down this year. Fleetwood and Burton have both been struggling for survival after getting nosebleeds and will be no doubt be in the mix for relegation next year again. Accrington have -17 goal difference, which highlights the lack of quality in their side.

Cheltenham are doing the best of the bunch, however they have a significantly bigger fanbase than the others mentioned. They could probably sustain L1 just about. If they lose Alfie May they will struggle.

 

[Chris FGR]

Jesus you are negative and tedious. Clubs with similar attendances to us or even smaller are in league 1 like Accrington, Cheltenham and Burton etc.

None of them average smaller, they all get more Cheltenham especially (over 4k). We’re doing brilliant to get the crowds we do, but we aren’t averaging 4k anytime soon especially if we’re struggling in league 1 next season. We’ve been top all year and can’t regularly get more then 2500 home fans, often less.

The aim should be to emulate Accrington who have done very well to establish themselves at that level, like them we are going to need to box very clever to do that on what are tiny crowds compared to some of the teams up there. With Vince selling Ecotricity we won’t be allowed much of a budget under FFP rules. Which is a good thing as I want us to be as financially sustainable as possible above all else.

 

[Casey]

View attachment 17012

I think the Crawley attendances shows three things.

Although we are mid table the general consensus of people I talk to (that are not long term fans) is that our general level of play/entertainment and the matchday experience is pretty poor This then impacts getting floating fans through the gate.

The big clubs in this division are mostly all a long way from Crawley (Orient and Northampton are nearby but it's a three train journey through London).

Without a sugar daddy we are back in the lower levels of the National or even national south.

Casey

 

[shoddycollins]

They’ve got us to visit as well, that’ll sell out in about half an hour

we already went there and took a thousand

For fans across the North, Salford represents an opportunity for a bonus 'home game' if you can take enough fans, so I think that boosts attendances.

They did of course beat us though.

 

[Trapdoor]

For fans across the North, Salford represents an opportunity for a bonus 'home game' if you can take enough fans, so I think that boosts attendances.

We sold out our away allocation as well. Last minute winner was nice.

 

[SELatic]

I'm not sure if it helps but here's average away attendances:
View attachment 17015

Assume this is the average attendance at games where you are the away team? In which case, given we won’t be top of the away following table and given our last 3 away games are Vale, FGR and Tranmere which should increase our figure, does that mean that you all only come out to see the famous Oldham Athletic?

 

[Bottega Don]

View attachment 17012

Exactly what you'd expect for us really with our boycott going on and the general lack of interest in the club

 

[hellogregory]

Quite surprised Tranmere even bothered appealing the reds to be honest.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

On highlights thought the first was a 100% red, of course had it been a Carlisle player we’d moaned about it and tranmere would have said 100% red……one of them challenges that will normally get a red if it catches player.

Second was harsh if a straight red, ok if second yellow, have seen a Carlisle player red carded for a high boot at orient a long time ago so can happen.

Either way Carlisle so deserved that very late goal just to spite that group of fans on 90 minutes p*sing about not giving ball back to wind our team up, for once that backfired big time and cost them the game…….usually doesn’t when either fans or ball boys do that

 

[valefan16]

The first one is a modern day red I guess. Both feet are forward and off the ground so can see why it was given. Not much different to the Luke Joyce one against them last season. Soft yes but as we saw that day they go against us now days. 20 years ago it’s a half decent tackle.

Harsh to throw and extra game on the ban though!

 

[shoddycollins]

Assume this is the average attendance at games where you are the away team? In which case, given we won’t be top of the away following table and given our last 3 away games are Vale, FGR and Tranmere which should increase our figure, does that mean that you all only come out to see the famous Oldham Athletic?

Not sure how to interpret it to be honest. You'd think Bradford would be at the bottom given how everyone else's figures (by the end of the season) will include a trip to Bradford which should be by some distance the highest attendance of anyone's away games, enough to drag their average up, but they aren't.

 

[northstandexile]

Dont suppose you have one with away fans not included?

14689	Bradford City
8788	Swindon Town
6776	Bristol Rovers
6282	Tranmere Rovers
5141	Port Vale
4899	Hartlepool United
4768	Northampton Town
4529	Exeter City
4477	Carlisle United
4467	Leyton Orient
4445	Mansfield Town
4270	Walsall
4203	Oldham Athletic
3733	Newport County
2820	Barrow
2649	Sutton United
2488	Colchester United
2355	Stevenage
2236	Scunthorpe United
2218	Rochdale
2150	Forest Green Rovers
1901	Crawley Town
1845	Harrogate Town
1410	Salford City

I am not saying it is 100% accurate as it has some estimates in there as not every away fan attendance has been published

 

[chipmunx]

14689	Bradford City
8788	Swindon Town
6776	Bristol Rovers
6282	Tranmere Rovers
5141	Port Vale
4899	Hartlepool United
4768	Northampton Town
4529	Exeter City
4477	Carlisle United
4467	Leyton Orient
4445	Mansfield Town
4270	Walsall
4203	Oldham Athletic
3733	Newport County
2820	Barrow
2649	Sutton United
2488	Colchester United
2355	Stevenage
2236	Scunthorpe United
2218	Rochdale
2150	Forest Green Rovers
1901	Crawley Town
1845	Harrogate Town
1410	Salford City

I am not saying it is 100% accurate as it has some estimates in there as not every away fan attendance has been published

Salford should be expelled from the EFL for that number.

 

[Trapdoor]

Salford should be expelled from the EFL for that number.

Everyone below Scunthorpe tbh.

If those scunny fans are turning up to watch the dross being served up there every week, that should become the league baseline.

 

[kieran_vale]

Salford should be expelled from the EFL for that number.

It’s dreadful really. At some point you have to think their owners will realise that there just isn’t the interest in them locally. Last night was a real chance for them to fully announce their arrival into the promotion battle and they barely had 50% of the total crowd (and that I think has been through some creative accounting).

Suppose have to say as well FGR when you are pretty much nailed on winners of the league would probably wanting to draw in more than that too. Especially as their football is generally quite pleasing on the eye.

 

[Essex2Wessex]

FGR figure is a bit distorted by very low attendances (sub-2000, even sub 1700) at the start of the season among fears about COVID and so on (I realise this may be true elsewhere too, to a lesser extent). Attendance has picked up quite a bit since (and is now better than in any previous season): most recent home matches have had closer to 2,500 home fans than the 2,000 that had become the norm earlier (and in most recent seasons). Bristol Rovers' arrival in the league did kind of make up for Cheltenham's departure numbers-wise- absolutely cracking atmosphere at that match. Certainly we could do with more, but location, location, location....

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Suppose have to say as well FGR when you are pretty much nailed on winners of the league would probably wanting to draw in more than that too. Especially as their football is generally quite pleasing on the eye.

There's not much more to come from the catchment area really, which is why I was always a bit lukewarm about the stadium move despite liking the design and the transport improvement. In the way of small town neighbours even a lot of Stroud people five miles up the road don't really think of a Nailsworth side as their team, so unless that changes with the move (and we could do a lot better at promoting there IMO) it's only going to grow slowly as that's all there is.

 

[Indian Dan]

That figure for us equates to an average away following at the CG of 220. That’s horrendous. And it’s the reason why certain clubs with very small away capacity will always struggle - even when the ‘big boys’ come to town they can’t make enough money out of it. Clubs doing well and/or getting promoted have to take advantage of increasing crowds otherwise the only assets they have - decent players - will inevitably get sold and the cycle of years of poor squads with the odd year when it goes well will repeat itself.

 

[FGR-Star]

There's not much more to come from the catchment area really, which is why I was always a bit lukewarm about the stadium move despite liking the design and the transport improvement. In the way of small town neighbours even a lot of Stroud people five miles up the road don't really think of a Nailsworth side as their team, so unless that changes with the move (and we could do a lot better at promoting there IMO) it's only going to grow slowly as that's all there is.

Completely disagree that Stroud people don’t see a Nailsworth side as theirs. The majority of our crowds are now made up of Stroudies, I should know I have seen the survey results. FGR are now rightly seen a Stroud valleys club. Lots of negativity about our crowds, however Essex2Wessex makes the best point. Crowds are now higher than they have ever been at FGR. Covid played a huge part at the start of the season as we have a lot of elderly/vulnerable fans compared to most clubs. If you took our home attendances from Christmas we would be averaging 2,500 home fans, not great at all by overall EFL standards, but look, where we have come from.
I Remember 900 home fans being good for us not that long ago.

 

[northstandexile]

FGR figure is a bit distorted by very low attendances (sub-2000, even sub 1700) at the start of the season among fears about COVID and so on (I realise this may be true elsewhere too, to a lesser extent). Attendance has picked up quite a bit since (and is now better than in any previous season): most recent home matches have had closer to 2,500 home fans than the 2,000 that had become the norm earlier (and in most recent seasons). Bristol Rovers' arrival in the league did kind of make up for Cheltenham's departure numbers-wise- absolutely cracking atmosphere at that match. Certainly we could do with more, but location, location, location....

Partially true, the average of the last ten home games since the new year is only 2279 (home fans only) as against 2150 ( home fans only for the full season. Improved but not as much as you implied.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Completely disagree that Stroud people don’t see a Nailsworth side as theirs. The majority of our crowds are now made up of Stroudies, I should know I have seen the survey results. FGR are now rightly seen a Stroud valleys club. Lots of negativity about our crowds, however Essex2Wessex makes the best point. Crowds are now higher than they have ever been at FGR. Covid played a huge part at the start of the season as we have a lot of elderly/vulnerable fans compared to most clubs. If you took our home attendances from Christmas we would be averaging 2,500 home fans, not great at all by overall EFL standards, but look, where we have come from.
I Remember 900 home fans being good for us not that long ago.

Agree about the growth being amazing and remember the tiny crowds too, but would still argue that even if we are getting more from Stroud it's just that it's so much bigger and proportionately we're not drawing i anything like we should/would like to/deserve. Though have been away for a while so maybe that really has changed.

 

[FGR-Star]

Partially true, the average of the last ten home games since the new year is only 2279 (home fans only) as against 2150 ( home fans only for the full season. Improved but not as much as you implied.

We also have had a lot of Tuesday night games since Christmas.

Again this really affects us with where the club is situated. Would not be surprised if it’s down at 1700-ish home fans for about 5 atuesday games.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Home support for FGR will remain small even after club relocates to Eco Park, 'cos the new wooden 'vanity' stadium has same capacity as at TNL: - around 5,000.

I agree with others that the poor home support for a club that's been top of table for the entire season is utterly embarrassing.