Why the low attendances? (this is just a thought as to the reason why!)

[eufckev]

All of us Gravesend fans have noticed the fluctuating attendences of late, since our first season in the Nationwide Conference. This has happened despite the change of quality in the team at this present time (no offence to our past players, of course!).

 

As most of us probably know, since the start of the season (or the 2005-06 season), Charlton Athletic's attendances have had a boost, yet Gillingham's and Gravesend & Northfleet's attendances have gone down. Is this because Charlton Athletic have been sending coaches out to the entire county and East Sussex to give football fans a day out at a Premiership club.

 

On BBC South East, Gillingham have complained a numerous amount of times about Charlton Athletic's scheme to drawn higher attendences for the Premiership club, and that it is driving away their attendances. Is this likewise for Gravesend & Northfleet?

 

[This may only be minor (or not true at all), but the opening of Dartford's new football ground, Princes Park, may drive some of the Dartford-based Fleet fans away.]

 

What are your views?

[Stu M]

Quote:

kevthegnfcfan said:
What are your views?

I won't lose any sleep if Charlton go down, put it that way (as long as they keep their reserve side with us!!).

[Hempstead Gaz]

Without trying to be negative, many floating punters still have bad memories from last year.

We all know we are playing better, more fluent football, for the non attendee, it is a case of once bitten, twice shy, I'm afraid.

[KShep]

Chatham Gary I agree completely. If I suggest to my mates that they come down to Stonebridge Road, it's a case of, 'no, they were sh*t last time, who'd pay to watch that?' (With their first game inevitably being one of our dire underperforming days). We need to find out what draws them back though. You'd think being in and around the play-offs and 'knocking on the Football League door' would draw people back, but it hasn't. One thing that would really highlight what needs to be done is some kind of study or survey. I don't know if we have the people/time/money to do this, but a day or two in and around Gravesham, picking apart attendance statistics etc. could be very revealing!

[chilled out entertainer]

it's TOO EXPENSIVE to get in to watch a conference game, be it a top of the table clash or a couple of midtable obscurity teams battling it out. the conference is rubbish quality compared to the premiership. many people would rather watch jeff/geoff?? stelling than stand watching a conference game.

should have left the price alone.

[Stu M]

Quote:

chilled out entertainer said:
many people would rather watch jeff/geoff?? stelling

As long as I don't have to listen to him.

[Hirsty]

Quote:

chilled out entertainer said:
it's TOO EXPENSIVE to get in to watch a conference game, be it a top of the table clash or a couple of midtable obscurity teams battling it out. the conference is rubbish quality compared to the premiership. many people would rather watch jeff/geoff?? stelling than stand watching a conference game.
should have left the price alone.

It's not too expensive...it's the going rate for Conference Football.

We ( GNFC ) do need to have some income to fund the club you know !!

Regards,

[chilled out entertainer]

In that case the whole conference is overpriced. relatively poor quality football should be at a relatively cheaper price.it IS to expensive. We have to remember it is not league football.the whole pay for what you get argument. If the price was reduced and heavily advertised over the news/web/papers/posters on a well chosen weekend and was going to stay lower the crowds would increase. more so if the fleet play well and win!

[StuThompson]

Went to the game at Charlton last night, and to be honest you just can't beat the closeness and family like atmospere of a Conference game.

[eufckev]

Quote:

Stuart Thomson said:
Went to the game at Charlton last night, and to be honest you just can't beat the closeness and family like atmospere of a Conference game.

This is exactly why I think the Conference is the best league in England!

[Slartibartfast]

If it was £30 to watch the Fleet and £12 to watch Charlton I would still watch the Fleet.

The quality of the football isn't the driving factor, I have no axe to grind against Charlton but I just cannot get excited about a team that I don't care about whatever league they are playing in.

Having said that I hope Charlton stay up as they have supplied 5 of our current squad and hopefully will continue to do so.

[Hirsty]

Quote:

chilled out entertainer said:
In that case the whole conference is overpriced. relatively poor quality football should be at a relatively cheaper price.it IS to expensive. We have to remember it is not league football.the whole pay for what you get argument. If the price was reduced and heavily advertised over the news/web/papers/posters on a well chosen weekend and was going to stay lower the crowds would increase. more so if the fleet play well and win!

Fortunately in this country we still have a little bit of freedom of choice so, if you don't like the price, and you don't like the quality of football, you don't have to attend. Sit & watch Jeff Stelling in the pub and help pay not only for the overpriced overpaid Premiership players but also help the Chancellor raise some money for some wasted cause by paying over taxed beer prices ! or do something completely different ?

The choice is yours.......

cheers,

[chilled out entertainer]

Quote:

Stuart Thomson said:
Went to the game at Charlton last night, and to be honest you just can't beat the closeness and family like atmospere of a Conference game.

that is fair enough if that is what you are looking for, but how many football fans want a close family atmosphere over games at massive stadiums with roars every time something good happens or the weird awe like silence that descends when you are just waiting for that magic from a special player. all we get at the fleet are blokes at the tea hut moaning, random line-o chants and such like. i bet many people rate the notts county/villa games higher than they should purely because of the atmosphere of a big ground or big attendance. If, as we all do, we all want the fleet to progress up into the leagues and further on (league one anybody?) then we will lose this close family atmosphere that comes with being a minnow. I know i would prefer to watch the fleet in front of 9000 odd in league one as opposed to 1100 in conf for the rest of my football watching days.
what do you think??

[Hirsty]

I am with Starti on this one ! I would rather watch GNFC than a Premiership match.

 

Cheers,

[Stu M]

It's not really what WE think that counts, though. It's what all those non-attending, non-paying buggers think and, as COE points out, they'll be more attracted by the big-game, big-time Charlieness of the leagues above us.

 

That said, I'm not sure the cost has as much to do with it as downright laziness and ignorance on the part of those that will never lower themselves to watch Conference football unless there's something in it for them (instant glory, getting on telly, etc).

 

There's no cure for these people except success and more success... All the initiatives in the world won't bring in more than a handful otherwise.

[eufckev]

Quote:

Hirsty said:
I am with Starti on this one ! I would rather watch GNFC than a Premiership match.

Cheers,

Same here, at Conference matches, you feel more part of the game and the club!

[Hirsty]

Not just that Kev, although valid points. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am (also !) a Sheff Wed fan and have been since 1965 ! However, Gravesend is my home, & where I was born, as was my dad, and probably where I will die ! So Chelsea, Charlton et al, am I bovvered about them ? not at all !!

 

So it's Stonebridge Road for me ( with the odd trip to Hillsborough if I may ?).

 

Cheers,

 

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bow.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bow.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bow.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bow.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bow.gif" alt="" />

[Jeff]

Interesting. If you and your dad were born in the S'end, how did you end up a Sheff Wednesday fan?

 

Did they not play in the Cup Final in 1966??

[Fleet boys]

Quote:

Stuart Thomson said:
Went to the game at Charlton last night, and to be honest you just can't beat the closeness and family like atmospere of a Conference game.

i went to right behind the goal and the atmosphere was not as good a fleet but i was told it is better on the weekend matches

[KShep]

The £5 tickets that are sold for Charlton usually are for seats in the West Stand. When I'm standing next to the drum at the Fleet, the atmosphere is so much better than Charlton's, especialyl in those morgue-like £5 seats. There might be other seats for a fiver around the ground, but whenever I've gone that's where I've ended up, and the Plough End is much better. Premiership grounds on a whole don't have the atmosphere of some of the Conference grounds, as the others said, alot of people watch the Premiership to see other players. I've got three mates who are CAFC season ticket holders and they support Man Utd, Man Utd and Arsenal- at GNFC you go because you are part of that club because you are local.