1 of 1- Mikem
- RH Lord of The Bog End
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- Posts: 854
Chris Jackson - Attendances
Chris,
Your posting included reference to the crowd numbers at Imperial fields, which has also been posted by others on this forum. The attendances plummeted alarming after Billy Smith left, and the Football club was in total disarray and chaos for a few seasons, and nearly relegated to the Combined Counties League. Fans voted with their feet, and only the hardcore of the hardcore remained. Those fans have never returned, some were staunch supporters for many years. The 273 who turned up for the Greenwich game was a really good turnout considering past gates. Some of the hardcore fans that remain travel some distance to support the club, and take a look around most of the supporters are either middle aged or pensioners, and aging year on year.
Media coverage of local football is now nonexistent in the local press which was always a great advert for clubs. Only fans from other clubs follow local non league football, so the audience is very narrow for publicity. If the club maintain their current form then gates may well start to pick up a little. Many local residents who are football supporters are completely unaware of Imperial Fields although they are aware of the club name. Only something dramatic will change this attitude. Getting to the Ryman Premier League is not one of them.
A photo appears on this forum of the pre season Possibles V Probables game. Take a look at the attendance for this game. The original section of the New Stand is nearly full. The Fans behind the Sandy Lane end would match the whole of our home crowds today. We cannot see the main terracing but I bet there was a large crowd on this section as well. These gates were built up over the years, Football and life is totally different today, it will take a while to even double our gates today.
- Plumpton
- Bog End Elite
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- Posts: 324
Re: Chris Jackson - Attendances
Mikem wrote:
The 273 who turned up for the Greenwich game was a really good turnout considering past gates.
Well, looking at the T&M site (fixtures & results page: ), it seems that the 273 was the biggest attendance of the season. The Horsham game (3rd September) was 272 and Corinthian-Casuals (2nd January) was 269. Lowest was the LSC game against Erith & Belvedere at 89, with an average of 190 (according to my maths)........
1956/1957 season to 2016/2017 season - 60 years of T&M in the Isthmian League, and League Champions
- chrisjackson
- Captain Terror
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Re: Chris Jackson - Attendances
Mike
Very interested to read your comments.
We are all very aware of what happened when Billy left and the effect it had on the club.
When it comes to publicity I feel you have underestimated the power of social media.
To give you an example I had to rush away after the Greenwich game for a family gathering. When I walked into the restaurant all 23 in our party new exactly what had happened and the fantastic performance of our team. I also know that there are other ex supporters who are becoming aware of what we are doing and are starting to show an interest again. I hope of course that if we continue to seriously challenge our support will improve.
I hope you are not saying that there would be no advantage in gaining promotion. I will never accept that.
- Mikem
- RH Lord of The Bog End
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Re: Chris Jackson - Attendances
Chris,
I was merely responding to your frustrations at the absence of better crowds at Imperial Fields, and giving my views as to the low attendances for a team which is in a leading position to go for promotion. A significant number of teams in a similar league position as Tooting over the last few years have attracted far larger gates.
I am not surprised at your family gathering they knew of Tooting's performance, as I would have been disappointed especially with your involvement with the club over the years, and also President of the Members Club. My family and very wide circle of social friends and business colleagues also know of my passion for the Terrors, does this have any influence on the gates, I am afraid not.
I really hope the Terrors win promotion , but I cannot see attendances growing significantly, I hope I am wrong. Away support will help the gates, especially from the more fashionable clubs in the Premier Division. We played Carshalton away on Boxing Day (Bank Holiday) which drew a crowd of crowd of 641, the two local derby home games over the New Year Bank Holiday drew 256 against Whyteleafe and 269 against Corinthian Casuals, making a grand total of 525! A club with the facilities and the current team should at least be drawing crowds of 300/400 on a regular basis.
I have provided my views to your frustrations (and mine) , what are your views? Indeed how would others who post on this forum increase crowd attendances, I don't mean "Frog Marching" Junior, youth and academy players to attend games, as this is only a very short term solution. An FA Cup run or promotion to the Conference South would start to help.
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Thread Starter- Plumpton
- Bog End Elite
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Re: Chris Jackson - Attendances
New Year Bank Holiday drew 256 against Whyteleafe and 269 against Corinthian Casuals, making a grand total of 525! A club with the facilities and the current team should at least be drawing crowds of 300/400 on a regular basis.
This thread has got me wondering........the season which for me drew the most interest was the 2007/2008 one, with notable characters as the Vines Brothers, Bouadji, Dave King etc, plus the promotion run and the LSC win too. Due to this the memories I have are of much bigger crowds, wanted to see if I was right.
Looking at the website again, it seems our average home gate for that season was 301, which is over 50% again on what we average now. Highest was a Dover game at 1041, second was the Cray playoff match at 939 and lowest was again playing Cray in an LSC game but this had 100 attending.
I know that's not quite a view on drawing people in but I was curious to see the comparison on what was seen as a successful season............
1956/1957 season to 2016/2017 season - 60 years of T&M in the Isthmian League, and League Champions