Quote:
Originally Posted by alan7554
i also think that i was there from many years ago when we were in the northern premier league or cant you remember that or did you not go then in the late 80s- early 90s
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Right, I've been supporting Stanley since 1960, including Lancs Comb at Peel Park in the '60's, and Lancs Comb/Cheshire League/North West Premier in the 70's/80's/90's, so don't brand me a Johnny-come-lately.
One of the many charms of Stanley has always been throughout our history that, logically, in terms of size of town, support base etc., we shouldn't exist as a league club...yet we do and hopefully will carry on doing so. It's the triumph of dreams over reality.
In terms of cold, hard statistics, I don't recall the conference gates being any higher than our league gates overall. Sure, we started off with some high gates in the first flush of success, but that soon dropped off and gates plummeted towards the 1,000 in our first conference season.
Secondly, the economic climate does have something to do with it. It grieves me to say it, but Accrington is a poor town which seems to be getting poorer - witness the rows of closed shops in the Arndale. Seventeen quid to get on the Crown is quite literally too much for some people.
And as Dave says, people won't come to watch a losing team.
What do you suggest we do? Say to ourselves as you do, "not enough support, never has been, never will be" and give up? Us Stanley fans are made of sterner stuff than that!