Reason for poor gates?
 

No doubt just like most of Stanley's regular supporters I am at a loss to understand the reasons for the decline in our attendance figures. Stanley play a high tempo, skilful brand of football which has even caused a poster on the Morecambe fans forum to admit we are the best visiting team they have seen this season, and to doubt that we can sustain our run for much longer as we are bound to run out of steam!
We'll see about that, but the product on offer at the Interlink beats into a cocked hat the turgid sort of rubbish served at the Chelsea v Liverpool game last week. Only a connoisseur of cheating, diving, sideways/ backwards passing and harrassment of referees could possibly prefer that brand of football to the 100% committed, free-flowing games we see in the Conference, as to their credit, most visiting teams come out to attack us and are not afraid to throw men forward. Of all the teams in the top 5 leagues, plus the 3 Scottish divisions, only Reading and Sheff Utd have more wins, and they have played 3 games more than us.
So this morning I thought I would do a bit of research. Most days on my bike ride to work I pass a former regular at the Interlink who has not been seen there for quite a while - one of the missing thousand or so, personified. I always shout "Get down there on Saturday, its good stuff!", but he never shows up. Today I got off my bike to have it out with him.
"How come you never get down these days, George?"
"Well Mick, I'm firstly a Burnley fan".
" I know, but Burnley were at Sheffield Utd on Saturday and you always used to come along when they were away"
"To be honest, the bloody drum gets on my nerves, and I'm not the only one".
I couldn't think of a reply to that and rode off. He does have a point though, and maybe it is a factor. I certainly don't think any of the waverers living within earshot of the ground will be tempted to come any closer to the source of their discomfort!
I know the Ultras will be outraged, but I am only telling it as I heard it from the horses mouth. What does everyone else think?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

i think it is the drum. it is too much to bear.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

If they don't want to hear the drum can they not sit in the stands or stand on the other terrace?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

But you can hear it all over!

Saying that, it doesn't put me off!




But...... I think that, although all these 're-arranged' games have paid off, in spades, regarding our league position, we have to remember that our supporters are not the 'Prawn sandwich' brigade, & cannot possibly afford to attend so many home games on the trot. Having paid for my season ticket, it doesn't matter to me, other than work commitments do not allow me more than one Saturday a month off, with the occasional 'sneak off early' day.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I doubt the drum is the cause, and as Zayno14 remarked, theres plenty of areas within the ground if it's too offensive to the ears, however it is the excellent work of the Ultras and the drum that creates the right atmosphere to spur the team on and make the game a fantastic experience.
We all know some other reasons, Blackburn, Burnley, Christmas shopping, another may be one of complacancy " it's on the door step, perhaps I'll go next week ", but next week never comes, it's all too easy to find an excuse not to bother.
I live now on the edge of the Lakes, but rarely go in the mountains for the same reasons, but having been a life long supporter of Stanley ( first game was in 1956 ), my wife and I make the 130 mile round trip every home game, and the odd away one ( always to Morecambe, thats the nearest ), so come on you Accringtonians, if we can make it to all the home games, then surely you can make the short trip to the Interlink, it's a great afternoons entertainment for all the family, supporting a great team.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Quote:-If they don't want to hear the drum can they not sit in the stands or stand on the other terrace?


George always used to sit just in front of the press in the main stand, and still found it offensive.
Just think how annoying the drum is at Ewood echoing around the empty seats when you hear it on TV.
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Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

yeah the drum is loud but it aint that load i stand next to it and im not fussed it creates a bit of an atmosphere around the ground you dont expect to see keep quiet signs around the ground do you and as redraine says they have a drum at rovers and other clubs so they put up with it

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

We had the drum for the big cup games though & still got 4500 against Bournemouth. Aldershot have 6!! yes 6! drums in their eastbank yet they have no problem getting 3000 when doing well

I can understand though and if you look on the terrace in the photos its always packed. The fans that ain't coming seem to be the older generation in the main stand & the traditional "shed moaners". (Sorry) Maybe we upsetting them?

Dunno?

We should all ask anyone we know who ain't comin anymore. Most people I know its about money. £12 is fine by me, but accy was always the budget option for football & now it ain't! Unfortunately, for 37 years we found ourselves in pub leagues & Burnley & Rovers took the core support. There is a finite limit to the amount of Stanley fans at the moment & without a cup run for 2 full years, then I am afraid the novelty of being in the conference has worn off. We need a few years (not 3 or 5 but 10 or 15) to build our core support. This was always a worry when we went full time.

I'm sure the people who get disturbed by most of the ground moving across their view in the main stand at kick off won't be impressed. So thats either the way we've set up the main stand or the fact we don't have a roof. I'd like to see away fans given all the Coppice End. It then means we don't change ends (which I hate anyway). It also means the folk that like to stand in the shed can move along the shed as they used to before segregation.

Then the roof over the Clayton End, a definate crowd getter as people will then be drawn to the atmosphere which will be electric. But we been saying that for years. But in winter anyone looking outside & remembering one of the bad days stood on our terrace will have them reaching for the remote control on the tv. We probably lost a lot by not getting that roof straight after the Bournemouth game. I mean we had the cash.

All in all, its up to us to keep spreading the word & get Accrington Stanley in the minds of everybody we speak to. Success, improved facilities, passionate fans, driven staff & directors all bode well for the future

On Stanley On!

Jase

PS remember www.stanleyultras.co.uk & the forum for all things Ultra; we have plans for Xmas & New Year games & need willing helpers & supporters.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I was driving this afternoon listening to BBC Lancashire. PB was responding to comments made about the council not being fully behind the club. He made several calls for local support to be increased stating that Accrington Stanley deserved to have double the gate than it was currently getting. Nothing was said that I heard that related to financial support or ground development.

I regularly attend the Bloomfield Road Ground for non football meetings; those that have been to Bloomfield Road recently might agree that should there be a similar development in Accrington the club could only benefit beyond our wildest dreams. I think the key to the future now is in how the town responds to developing the ground. HBC and the Club need to be focusing on the ground now, you’ve got a talented team and a good manager, sort the ground out and the crowds will follow.

I would also suggest that a discounted gate for the winter months with plenty of hot drinks and grub available at reasonable prices will swill the numbers. Accrington Stanley is now a business, treat it like one and all of us will benefit.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Maybe a point that some people have left cause of thwe drum but i reckon the ultras have created more fans e.g. the young lads who stand just infront of the crash barrier who seem to really enjoy the atmosphere of the games. Watever anyone does though there will always be moaners!!! Lower the ticket price alot of season ticket holders will complain that they are getting ripped off! Cant Please everyone!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Still think Saturday that the Clayton End was busy & so was the Main Stand

Its that bus shelter down the side that seems to have lost its "fullness". Maybe I am wrong but that could be segregation & the fact that people used to wander from one end to the other & now can't

I think the atmosphere behind the goal is the key especially in the day & age of all seater stadia but maybe we should make sure the drumming at home is NOT non stop. We can only try.....

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Drums shouldn’t be an issue, this is only drawing attention away from the real issues and that’s the fact that the ground is poor and open to the elements. Parking, Food, Cover from the elements and a focus on the ground image. People have so much more choice open to them these days and will choose to stay warm, fed and dry on a Saturday afternoon, remember you’re seeking to increase local pride and build support from the local population. These people aren’t die hard fans, their soft and want more than pure entertainment that the game will provide alone. Some of the people on this site have become ardent fans only after catching the bug of being at a real intense match, its show time; build your fan base by building your business. The ultras have been a successful element in the teams and clubs success, as have the official supporters club. You now need to bring all the facets together.

Drums? I recall promising someone that I would come over for a match; I got to Accrington but got way laid. I was in Accrington Cemetery when I heard and uproar and the drums came alive. Proud are what. I had tears in my eyes and I regretted the fact I didn’t get there. What I’m saying is that the drums have a place, but you need to find out what’s missing not what you already have.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

The drum is a very poor excuse. Like other people have said there are plenty of places in the rest of the ground where it's not as loud.

Personally I love the drum, and the rest of the Ultras adding to the atmosphere, even if it takes me 24 hours for me to stop humming the tune from Ring of Fire.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

In my job I travel to peoples homes around the borough & on mentionng the Stanley receive comments as "yes, I was in my garden on Saturday & could hear the crowd." On telling them to get down & support what is their home town team often the reply is somewhat apathetic. We need to create more excitement, a buzz about the club, something Jase & the Ultras are trying out in town. Get John & the players out into the community visiting schools, taking part in sports lessons to show the club is a part of this community. OK odd ones as Rommy Bocco went to Hollins but more of this is needed & on a greater scale. Blaming the drum is a lame excuse, look at the continental clubs where they have almost a full orchestra of drums, trumpets etc. The whole reason the club is doing well is to quote JC "the noise, songs & atmosphere created by the fans that encourages the players & creates an imposing environment that travelling clubs find intimidating." Lets have less excuses & more encouragement. Talk to ex fans, mates etc. Tell them how the club is on the brink of realising its dream of a return to league football, how exiting the play is at this level & that you can't beat being there. Try & encourage just one person to take another look & come to the next home game. If only half stay as regulars & do the same we can pull the crowds in again. If a farming community as Hereford can pull in crowds of 3000 plus with their dingy facilities we can do better. COME ON, AFTER ALL - THIS IS THE SEASON!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I've mentioned it before and have been shot down, but I still think for a lot of people it is the cost, and yes I know we are only charging within what is the admission guide lines. Mum, Dad, plus two children is a big chunk out of a lot of people in Hyndburns weekly income.

In fashion you have a sale. Why not early next season, whilst we are still in a strong promotion position, have one week free admission? Yeah we would loose the revenue for one week, but with the right publicity you could get guaranteed television coverage, and press besides the Observer. With the right promotion we'd have a capacity gate, and hopefully show alot of people who haven't been before, who have stopped coming for whatever reason, what a cracking afternoon we have at the Interlink, and get them hooked on becoming regulars.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I'm all for the drum and the atmosphere the Ultras create. I'm sure Coley and the players would prefer that to the fairly quiet home crowds we had a couple of years ago. At away matches they're awsome and worth an extra player.

As for the poor gates, they were even the main point in The Times article on Saturday's match: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...921911,00.html. Here we are with a return to the league more than just a possibility and still the punters won't turn up. All power to Jase and the Ultras in their efforts to drum up support but where are they? Even winning Unibond Div 1 we had over 1800 when promotion was beckoning.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I think you’ve made some excellent points there big al. It is a matter of instilling pride and developing the passion for local football back into people, who have for the most part seem apathetic to what’s happening out there on the pitch. The Drum’s are incidental, but can be used effectively to build up the adrenalin and awaken passion within the supporters, played badly or at the wrong time they become an annoyance and a distraction for the real hero’s….Coleys Gold “The Players”. I’ve have paid interest into what’s happening over there, not in the stands but here at home, Kipax’s photographs, the Ultras site and the Official Accrington Stanley site and of course this site have all played there part in keeping me informed. But it’s the local population that needs to be informed. What big al is suggesting is in part a large piece of the answer, more as got to be done to promote the club in the minds of our own people. I take issue with Rindy on the point of free seats, it won’t work without widespread promotion, and if your going to spend money promoting free seats you loose out twice, the loss on the gate and the cost of promoting free seats. Much better to have a lower gate price coupled with other special events prior to the main game. If you’re going to spend money to promote something you need to recover your costs. A 2300 plus gate at £9.50 is always going to be better than 1300 at £12.50 and 6000 at ****** all won’t help anyone if they don’t come back the following week. Facilities and publicity is the key to future success, you need to build on the positives. Good publicity, Pride, Passion and a good Business plan will take you beyond the known future.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Trust me, a loss leader does work if done properly. As for cost, in advertising a major promotion it can be kept to a mimimum, or better still free. Promotion was my job for seventeen years in London's fashion industry. I took a fusty old gentlemans shirtmakers, with an annual turnover of 500k to over six million in five years, all without spending a friggin' penny, as well as attracting younger trendier clients like Beckham and Eubank. All it takes is a couple of calls to the right tv station/newspapers if you have a story worth picking up on, which a free admission to our famous club would be.

Sometimes you have to loose a little to gain a lot.

Doug was it Saturday you came from the Fylde coast to Ossy Mills, but not the Interlink?:confused:

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I think the problem we have is the local radio stations. They play to the big crowds at Blackburn and Burnley, who can blame them.
Its difficult to follow Stanley when they are away if you can't travel, because the rare full radio coverage we get is only for home matches when we should be at the ground anyway.
Other clubs don't have the problem of two big clubs in the area stealing the broadcasting air time.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Have anyone noticed how many former Accringtonians travel from out of town to watch Stanley. I regularly attend most home matches coming from Wigan, as well as as many away games I possibly can (work permitting). I know a guy that travels over the pennines from Teeside to most home matches and the odd away match, especially when we play Scarboro, halifax, he was even at the Morecambe game earlier this season. Then of course there is the couple from the Lake district who do a round trip of 130 miles.
Yes we have a core from Accrington itself, but after the match against Kidderminster (which I couldn't get to because of work commitments) I was listening to Radio Lancs and who got pride of place - Morecambe for beating Grays 3-0 (btw thanks Shrimps), not Stanley who moved 4 points clear at the top. Even the phone in after 6 pm was dominated by Dingle whingers or someone wanting a pop at the Oystons etc etc - not one call about Stanley that I can recall. JC is right in the story in the Times. God help us if/when we get promotion because I cannot see us sustaining a team on the back of 1300-1600 supporters.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

No, it was Sunday……However; I have been to Accrington on a number of occasions on a Saturday and not attended the ground. Having admitted that I support the team and what they are now achieving at a distance. Your comments mean what exactly? That I shouldn’t hold an opinion on the subject. Some time back a prominent member of the site criticised a number of people who were expressing opinions and an interest in the club, as a result of his comments all of them stopped expressing anything regarding Accrington Stanley. Support is not exclusive to those who turn up on the day. And it not the likes of me who are the problem, the problem is at home and less than a couple of miles in any direction.

A loss leader usually indicates an abstinence from profit not a loss of income. Free admission on a 1300 “gate paying” attendance would cost the club over £16,000 on the day that figure excludes the costs of operating the facilities, staff wages, policing and all the other associated costs. A loss leader must be within the realms of affordability and have a positive effect of the gate. If you fail to sustain the increased numbers beyond the period of free admission you’ve gained nothing but lost an incredible amount of money that would take the rest of the season to recoup. The Club needs to promote its image, its heritage and publicise the positive aspects of it rise from the depths. It’s got to become business like and operate within the realms of reality. The next few seasons will require as much effort in the boardroom as on the pitch. Funding will be needed to improve the facilities, including amenities for the increased numbers at the gate the club deserves. They will come as a result of promotion, when they get there you better have something to offer them to make them come back again and again……. The club is already providing good on the edge of the seat football but it’s not enough. A slow game with good facilities will hold them; a slow game with poor facilities will make them stay at home the following week. It’s just my opinion.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I have tried to indoctrinate a few friends by taking them on to see a match at the IES.

They inevitably ask "How much does it cost to get on?" Expecting me to say a tenner or something even less. When I tell them it's £12, I'm invariably met with "That's a bit steep for Conference football innit!"

I think the club created a pschological barrier when it put the matchday price up above the £10 mark. I think sticking at that amount might have helped keep the attendances buoyant. I know there are some "recommendations" on admission prices, but some clubs do charge less.

Other constructive criticisms I have include:

Going for a pee is like an expedition in its own right.

Getting served at the bar in a reasonable amount of time is an art-form -- pleasant though most of them are, the staff always seem to be to'ing and fro'ing with trays of drinks for the "elite" in the sponsors bit.

The catering is expensive and not too good.

The atmosphere suffers through lack of a roof to project the sound (although nor doubt the drum will sound even louder when we eventually get one).

The approach to the ground from the Crown end is a filthy mess -- nothing a few loads of quarry bottoms wouldn't sort out.

BUT, overall, I think the price has to be the single most important influence on crowd size -- nothwithstanding the presence of two League clubs in neighbouring towns. After all, its only a couple of seasons since a dad and lad could gain admission for a tenner -- for both of them. And I know my earnings have certainly not doubled in that time!

For what it's worth ....................

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

moaners
 

:engsmil: .... personally i think the decrease in our attendance is due to the moaners in the main stand. they now have nothing to moan about so they dont bother turning up. were top of the league for points clear so the abuse and coments hurled at the management sounds even more ridiculous than before,

i must point out that it is only a small minority of the main stand but does this acount for some lost fans around the rest of the ground ?

i myself go to every midweek game i can and saturdays when im not working
REGARDLESS weather it hail rain or snow or
that i might not be able to get a snack or beverage at half time
or the drum

as long as i get to see the football i do not care !!!!

if you want somewere sheltered to go on a saturday wer you can have a coffee and sit down go the bloody TRAFFORD CENTRE!

if your passionate about the stanley then join our club!!!!!!!


on stanley on!!!!!!!! :engsmil:

Re: moaners
 

Lol, it does make me wonder why people spend good money to moan each week. There are a couple of blokes who stand behind us who just grumble for 90 minutes. All the team are rubbish, Coley's rubbish, the weathers rubbish, etc.

At least they come to every home game and spend their money, so perhaps I shouldn't moan.:)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

If the good folk of Accrington are asked to come along and support the team then they might come. Well done the Ultras for doing rather than talking on saturday in town.

If the good folk of Accrington are moaned at and told off for not coming then they will feel insulted and stay away. Wrong approach Eric and Coley.

Look after the fans. the match day experience isn't just about the team winning. It is a day out and the day out isn't very nice when you are not treated well.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

The psychological factor of exceeding £10 for non-league football is a very good point. There is no better indication of underlying support for a team than the first home game of the season. Here are the attendances from last three years:

'03 - 2003 vs Leigh RMI on a Wednesday night (adult ticket price: £10)
'04 - 1705 vs Burton on a Saturday afternoon (adult ticket price: £10)
'05 - 1012 vs Canvey Island on a Saturday afternoon (adult ticket price: £12)

There was no bigger example of a problem with attendances than on the opening day. Just over 1,000 people turned up to watch the start of a new season. We can't blame holidays as it would have been no different to the last couple of years. We lost 700 people or over 40% of last year's opening day attendance this year. That's where the problem started and answers needed to be found. The psychological factor of exceeding £10 for an adult ticket would certainly explain some of this shortfall of 700 spectators, but not all of it.

Just out of interest, in our last season in the Unibond Premier we opened with 602 against Runcorn on the first Saturday of the season. We won our first nine League games and that turned out to be the lowest home league gate of the season. If we had decided to move the Woking home to Friday night rather than 1pm before the England game, we would certainly have got more than 959 in the ground and our opening day gate would remain the lowest of the season ... as it had been in 2002, the last time we won promotion ;)


There has been a lot of points made about the ground ... open to the elements, standards and queues for toilets and catering facilities and the mud outside the ground ... and most people would agree with them. The point is that if they were an issue, attendances should start to fall once the colder, wetter weather sets in (and hopefully rise again by Easter if the Club has something to play for).

Taking attendances for the last four seasons, here are the median number of people attending the games up to this stage of the season (I use 'median' as a measure of the average to counter figures being distorted by teams with very a large travelling contingent, e.g. over 3,000 turned up to watch Carlisle at a midweek game at the IES last year):

'02 - Aug/Sept = 1114; Oct-Dec = 942
'03 - Aug/Sept = 2012; Oct-Dec = 1627
'04 - Aug/Sept = 1507; Oct-Dec = 1357
'05 - Aug/Sept = 1142; Oct-Dec = 1506

The point is that we traditionally lose 150-400 people (or 10-19% of early season attendances) once the colder weather sets in and that does include the 2002-03 season when we started the season by winning every game. By contrast we have GAINED 364 people (or 32% of early season attendances) on average, which is something that we have not done before now. And let's face it, the number of visiting fans has been laughable at most games this season.

The conditions in the ground could certainly be improved and an improvement on the underfoot conditions outside the ground would be most welcome, but unlike previous seasons it has not deterred as many 'fair-weather' fans as in previous seasons; the problem was that they decided not to return at the start of this season. The club must make sure that does not happen again next season.

Full credit to Coley and his attacking style of play as it does keep the crowds coming back and full credit to the Ultras for the atmosphere that they bring to the game as it is certainly bringing younger fans to the games. We now have a higher number of 'core' supporters than we did twelve months ago.

So it's not all doom and gloom about attendances. Yes, if stadium conditions were better and more effort was put in by the club in targetting the local schools with players and ticket offers, attendances would be higher, but we're attracting as many people to the IES as we could expect to do so at this stage of the season. Over the Christmas/New Year period and from March onwards, attendances will start to rise again very rapidly and next season we'll have a ground and attendances fit for the Football League!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

i do agree with one thing regards to the cold weather. the oaps stanley do or did have lot of older followers because of the history of the club. and i suppose for them its just not possible in our cold english winter for them to attend the games

bless .

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

the Ramsbottom game was an excellent opportunity wasted to offer a night out at the football at a ridiculously low cost. Maybe the next round is an opportunity. I work saturday morning and saturday night so it is a big ask on the family for me to be out all afternoon as well. I have to try and cherry pick my games as Forest Green at home and trudging through the mudbath car park to stand in the exposed elements for 90 minutes before refreshing with crap lager in the now refurbished bar and paying £12 to get wet is not all that appealing. I have done my time home and away with the reds and cannot be called a fairweather or bandwagon supporter, there is though a serious lack of facilities which helps me make my mind up whether or not to go on a rainy day. Knock me for it if you will but its honest. When the weather is better I will be on more often

where's the roof
on the subject of the drum, it does not make people stay away. Nobody goes to the football for peace and quiet. Most folk expect jamboree and carnival when they go the match.

In my opinion 50% of stayaways are financial, 40% cos of the weather/lack of roof and 10% miscellaneous of which a minimal amount will be the drum. For every 1 who does not want it there are 100 who do.

Interestingly, after our Grays game, the Grays management bought a drum for their fans in order to whip up the atmosphere a la The Ultras. A lot of the fans at Grays did not want it and hated the idea but yet they still go to the games.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I am reading with intrest that once again the subject of low attendence is on these boards, last year it was the roof, this year its the drum, next year it will be Blackburn and Burnleys fault, (though why any one would want to go to Ewood with atmosphere of a morgue I will never understand.) Why did the last team go out of the league, apathy of the local population and a big push when it was to late to do anything about it, to late to surpport them when they have gone. Good on the Ultra Guys and Girls for getting out there and selling the club but we need surpport from the local rag, a couple of paragraphs about a game keeps no one intrested they need to get to the ground and interview players and management even the ground staff and backroom staff, keep it in front of people put it on the front page and ram it down there throats let them know they have a team in town, will it happen? can't see it not with the observer, but maybe a writing campaign if everyone wrote to them about Stanley they may get the hint.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

We had some poor home performances last season when the crowds were building up. Coley and the lads must remember that the fans pay to be entertained, they want to see a good, spirited, never say die home match, whether we win or lose.
So far this season that is exactly what we are getting and that is starting to show in the attendence but it will take time to persuade the good folk of Accrington that if they part with there hard earned on a cold winters night they are not going to be dissappointed again.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

It's simple....twelve quid for a ground with our facilities? However well the team are doing, people weigh up the all round package. A tenner was just about acceptable. £12 is just not!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Loads of good stuff in this thread, by people that know what it's about. A little FA Cup run would have done no harm.
We got to 2,468 against Farsley Celtic from a base of around 350. It's going to be bigger this time, we've only got 9 home games left, and people will want a part of it.
It won't help immediate attendances, but a nice commemorative badge for vouchers would be good, 9 - free, 8 @ a quid etc. minimum 5 vouchers.
e.g. "Stanley are back - before the bandwagon", "I was there before the roof", all suggestions welcome.
At the very least it would keep a few peoples' gobs shut after the event.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Bazf is right, more should be done to feature Stanley in the local press, and not just on the sports pages, as a lot of people don't even read them. How about how our Benin international, who previously played in the south of France, and how he is finding playing in wet Accy? Even if it was just the likes and dislikes column. Is he learning to speak English with a scouse accent? We need to know.

The story of the roof, and the generosity of our benefactor would also make a good main story.

We have an Observer journalist on here called Vitty, who is always on the look out for stories in the general chat threads. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to do a follow up if contacted by the club.

Sadly we made the front pages earlier this year, lets do it again but on a more positive note, and help maintain a high profile for the club.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

it's all well and good having all the headlines (on back pages that is) but when people hear the prices of admission im sure a lot would grumble!
Stanley need financial offers if they want to bring in new support.
Over the winter period i think 'money-off' vouchers or kids-go-free with an adult days would benefit the weekly attendance.
also, new burger van! new, cheaper, better burger van please!! :D (well we can hope, cant we!?)
oh and while im at it......



WHERE'S THE ROOF?!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

So you don't want to pay 12 quid to watch stanley but you will waste your money on a burger and chips.
How much would you spend on food 2-3 quid, talk about dropping the price to 10 and giving yourself more money for the burgers?
Why not pay 12 and don't clog your artiries with grease in the end you will be able to watch stanley for longer.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I stand in the shed as Jase calls it,yes you can hear the drums,but to me it actually adds to the atmosphere,I love the noise all be it from afar, and the swirling flags. My mate who I come with dos'nt like the drums but it does not stop him coming,he will travel to all home and away games if he can possibly get there.
I think also that the drum noise is an excuse. The real reasons are many,the cost for many families coming up to Xmas, is too much for many ordinary working families. Another reason I have had said to me are the facilities namely toilets, if you stand in the shed you have about 220 yards to walk round the ground to the nearest toilet,unless you go into the Club House, which really should not be allowed during a match,but anyway when you reach the toilets they are an absolute disgrace,escpecially for ladies, men do not mind so much walking through wet floors, maybe the club should employ a young man to mop and generally tidy up the toilet facilities during a match day, any way thats my opinion on the subject.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

to be fair to both newspapers and the local radio stations, we do get good coverage. the observer sports pages are dominated by stanley news and the telegraph try to get something in each night, with a main preview on the friday before the game... we have had good interest from the media since eric's comments on monday morning and hopefully more to come...

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Most of the population of Accrington brag about Accrington Stanley when they are asked where they come from, but they cannot be bothered supporting the team unless there is something at stake. A big draw in the FA Cup would have attracted more 'supporters' just in case Stanley won then they could say 'I was there'. If we are top towards the end of the season these 'supporters' will come just to say 'I was there'. When we got promotion from Unibond first division - 2468 for the last match, the first home game the season after attracted just over 500 as far as I can remember. It's not the toilets, it's not the lack of roof, it's not the £12, it's just the 'can't be bothered' attitude of the population of Accrington. If we win the Conference there will be a full house at IES, the first home game next season will have a full house, but after that ??????????????

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

To be fair if your going to have a paddy about the drum get to burnley and have a moan with them rejects it is the worst exuse for poor gates ever. I don't really care as long as our away days are always as good as they are i don't give one what the moaners think.
If you want silence at a football game go to Barrow.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

as a person that used to go stanley 2-3 years ago, the main reason i have not been since is the price.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I think jeff has nailed it here.....

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Just got back after 10 days in Chicago, during which time I avoided internet cafes and English newspapers, as results which have not gone our way have tended to send me into a holiday sulk in the past - something that never goes down well with Mrs H. When I arrived this morning, I looked at the table and was immediately on cloud nine. Not for long though, as I viewed Eric's statement on the fishy site and the gates for the last two matches.

Sod the admission price, sod the roof, sod the drum, at the moment we are the best non-league club in the country with seven straight wins under our belt AND GATES ARE GOING DOWN??

Does anyone realise how heartbreaking this must be for Eric, Coley and the rest? All the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into the club and now gates fall weeks after week, as we rack up win after win. Would this be happening in any other town in the country?

Jeff is right on the money. Accringtonians like to namecheck Stanley, but actually go and watch them? They'll go to Turf Moor, Ewood, the Castle, the Broadway, Asda, their living rooms, anywhere, in fact, but the IES.

How much longer before the public of Accrington and district wake up to their hometown club?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

some simple ideas could help to remedy certain things. The simplest idea is wear your colours loud and proud, when you are out shopping on saturday morning, put your damned shirt on. Lets make Broadway a sea of red and white. Walk through town on your way to the game instead of going round. The more shirts are worn, the busier it looks. Physchology. If people think they are missing out on something then they want part of it. Secondly sex sells. Lets shamelessly use our lady fans to hand out leaflets, they dont get punched and they dont get abuse. If blokes think that loads of 'birds' go to the Crown then they will follow. Lastly, we need to wallpaper every pub in the borough with flyers. Does anybody have an in with a printer who can run off 3000 flyers for us? Something along the lines of a picture of the big flag and words stating your team needs you, then the next match printed underneath. The next match may be too soon, but the match after that has to be a realistic target for a big push.

How about we call our own meeting where we get the fans in (not an Official Supporters Club meeting), just beer and brainstorm?

Get all interested parties in, advertise it and do it.

Also I had a thread a couple of weeks ago called Spreading The Gospel which invited anybody with any skills or contacts that can be put to use to offer them. Rindy turned 500k into £millions by utilising advertising facilitations, any chance of lending us a hand? turn 500 people into 3000 people.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Quote:-Does anyone realise how heartbreaking this must be for Eric, Coley and the rest?

Of course, Wynonie, ALL posters on here realise how heartbreaking it is! You are preaching to the converted. It's no good just bleating about it ad infinitum - how about some constructive suggestions to follow the many excellent ideas in the replies above for everyone, especially the club management to take on board?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I asked at work and the £12 admission charge kept coming up time and time again so I asked would they go if it was £10?
I got 5 people who said they would go if it was a tenner so I called their bluff and I'm bringing 5 new supporters and I'm paying the extra £2s, hope we play well and get them back again.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

well good folk of accrington i stayed in accy for the weekend and made it a great weekend with a visit to the ground of a team ive come to love and a small selection of loyal fans that travle to home and away matches that i meet at all away games in the south of our great country, they have become freinds to me, when i walked into the clubhouse cheered and made me feel at home straight away and as usual i felt proud to stand with them on the terace and have a good old sing song, i hate loud music as a norm but at a footy match i find it a great asset to have the drummer and all the singing, i also as a keen supporter of stanley give up my time to go and watch the opposition down here and relay relevant information onto the club, so what im trying to say is that if a person down in kent can get off his arse and help a team like accrinngton then surely the good folk off accrington can go and support your local side. may i wish you all a hole harted merry christmas to one and all in accrington, jase and all keep up the good work and had i known you were in town doing what you did on saturday id have given you a hand

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I don't have any suggestions to give to the club management because, as far as I'm concerned, they're doing a perfect job. Top of the conference by four points and all done on a limited budget. You really can't say better than that, can you?

As for us die-hards, as I've said time and time again, the only way we can boost the gates is to talk friends/relatives/workmates into going. I managed to convince an old Accy Grammar School mate to come along to the final Unibond home match and he's been coming ever since! I've also got a couple of other "prospectives" who I'm working on at the moment. I know Outback Ozzy has mentioned bringing a few along and Bagpuss's gesture in the preceding post is exactly the sort of thing we should be doing, even if it leaves us a little out of pocket. So, come on everybody, cajole, wheedle, persuade, even blackmail people into going if you have to!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Geez! There are some depressing points of view around here. Anyone would think this is the 1998-99 season all over again and we're about to be relegated, not on the verge of making history!

"Accrington Stanley, the club that refused to die" ... sounds like it's on a ventilator by some of the comments here.

Maybe all those clever people on the confguide forum are right and we will only go bankrupt again if we get promoted to the Football League because the Accrington people are so apathetic :bangh8:

I've been through too many seasons, since before Shurm first put on a Stanley shirt, to not notice the tremendous progress this club has made and particularly under Coley and Eric. We have shown with the attendances that have been mentioned already in this thread what can be achieved and particularly the attendances that we sustained in the first Conference season.

Jeff is right to say that people from Accrington like to identify themselves with Stanley when talking to people from elsewhere. That is a legacy of our history, how many other Conference clubs can claim the same? Morecambe? Alty? Southport? Grays? And it is that attachment to the club, however passive, that shows that we can survive and prosper at a higher level. We may not turn everyone into hard-core committed fans, but there is a very large market out there for Accrington Stanley, the club.

Do we truly believe that we have reached as far as we can in terms of support? If so, and promotion is at best, pointless, and at worst, dangerous, what is the point of carrying on paying £12 to watch home games and spending a lot more on away games. What is football without ambition? And what a kick in the teeth is such an attitude to the likes of Jase who do so much to 'drum' up support!

Yes, Wynonie Harris, attendances have fallen in the last few games, but there is a very clear reason for this as outlined in my first post. Are attendances abnormally low for home games in Accrington in late November to mid-December? No!

2003-04
Sat 29th Nov, home vs Barnet, won 2-0, 1120 people watched
Sat 13th Dec, home vs Aldershot, won 4-2, 1407 people watched

2004-05
Sat 27th Nov, home vs Canvey Island, won 1-0, 1249 people watched
Sat 18th Dec, home vs Dagenham & Redbridge, lost 3-0, 1131 people watched

2004-05
Sat 26th Nov, home vs Southport, won 2-0, 1630 people watched
Sat 3rd Dec, home vs Atrincham, won 1-0, 1436 people watched
Sat 10th Dec, home vs Kidderminster, won 2-0, 1336 people watched


In my first post, I tried to show how compared to previous seasons, we are attracting as many people as normally do to home matches at this stage of the year, and if anything, we are bringing more people to the ground than previously.

The psychological factor of the £12 admission has been mentioned and I'd also say it's a factor, but certainly no more than the conditions that people encounter once they've paid their money, or even beforehand in terms of the conditions underfoot outside the ground.

Some simple facts. In the 1988/89 season, there was a total attendance of 18.5 million across all league games; last season the figure was 30 million.

Sky has played its part in attracting newer fans to the game of football, but the rapid rise in ticket prices has put just as many people off. The difference post-1988/89 season was the Taylor Report following the Hillsborough disaster and clubs were forced to spend money on renovating their stadiums and making the whole experience of watching a football game much more enjoyable.

The Club has made a lot of progress in that respect since I started coming to games, but there is generalised unhappiness about the conditions at the ground. As the club has progressed, we have come to expect more; as newer people have come to watch the team, they have come to expect more.

I can live without a Clayton End roof and clean toilets and stand in the rain in my mud-coated shoes so long as the money is going into the team and the dream of returning to the League becomes a reality. And with success on the pitch, more and more people from Accy will come to watch and say that they were there when we made history. We have shown that a very large number of people from Accy will come and watch us.

If 2,468 turned up for a Unibond Premier League game, how many do you think will turn up when we are about to return to the Football League?

The potential market is there, I have no doubt about that, but we will only keep a large number of them if we make a significant investment in the facilities at the club to make it more comfortable for them. The Club has announced grand designs for renovating the ground if we achieve promotion; they are long overdue IMO.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

now THAT is bangin the nail on the head WR :D

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

WR, I can see your point about the onset of cold weather affecting attendances, but things are different this season insofar as we are top of the league. Surely, that should be enough to pull in an extra few hundred? I still think that Eric and Coley have every right to be very disappointed with the current gates.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I'm also disappointed when I see how many people turn up for games, but a discussion like this needs a benchmark: how many people should we realistically expect to turn up for our home games at the moment? I refer to my first post:

And in terms of how much "Eric and Coley have every right to be very disappointed with the current gates", I think Rob rather let slip some of the hidden agenda behind this:

So let's not lose perspective on this. I'd expect the attendance to drop again on Saturday as season ticket holders have to fork out that extra £12 that they don't do for any home league game (as well as the usual arguments about successive Saturdays with home games, playing Alty twice in three weeks, unimportance of the FA Trophy given our history in it, etc.), but maybe some of the extra media attention this week will offset that. If it doesn't, it shouldn't mean that there is no worthwhile support for the Club in Accy. It is there and now we have a great opportunity via success on the pitch to get those people back into the ground, but it is only via continued success on the pitch and improvement in the conditions for spectators will we retain a large number of them.<!-- / message -->

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Bringing a mate does work. Lindsay Ormerod asked me to my first Stanley game in April, I was hooked from that night and have been to every home match since, as well as a few away ones. I even get a lift from Harwood Red to make sure I'll be there.

Very often we are talking to the converted on here, we need to encourage new or part time fans back, and show them what a bloody exciting time they are missing out on.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Vitty, the Observer jouralist, pm'd me to say he'll be doing an article about why the gate is so low when our league position is so strong. He said anybody with any comments can post them here, or pm them to him direct.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

OK, then, I'll try to take a more positive approach. I still think that personal recruitment could help to boost the gates and in some unlikely places, too.

When we look around for potential Stanley recruits, we naturally tend towards existing football fans - those who already support Blackburn, Burnley and other clubs and who might be persuaded to support the club on a part time basis. All well and good, but don't forget the "football virgins" - those who have had no interest in football up to now. I suspect that Garinda was one such virgin (if I might be permitted to use such a term in relation to him!), but, as he says, once Lindsay brought him along, he was hooked. My mate certainly had no interest in football at all until he came to his first Stanley match. Now, he can't get enough!

This type of supporter is often pleasantly surprised by their first experience of Stanley - no threat of violence, no petulant ego-trippers on the pitch - just good, honest passion, both on and off the terraces. However, this type of supporter also demands a reasonable level of facilities and this why the club must start to improve the stadium soon.

So, come on folks, ask your auntie, ask the nerd sitting in the corner of the pub, ask the quiet lad at work - they are all potential Stanley fans!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I think the positive approach is an excellent way of responding to this issue. New blood is always the answer to growth and more often than not it’s the one people chose to ignore. I have absolute respect to the die hard fans who eat sleep and drink Accrington Stanley and for them the game is all important and if it meant climbing up the coppice to watch the team play they would undoubtedly do so and there effort would be well worth acknowledgement.

But the virgins and the might be tempted are perhaps a little more refined in what they eat, were they pee and how wet their prepared to get for a mere 90 minutes of entertainment, so yet again the facilities are highlighted. And please for god shake don’t allow these to be neglected, if we’re going to go up at the end of the season the club should be looking for funding and planning ahead now, not after it happens. Wynonie highlighted the need for a positive approach, if vitty is to do a piece for the Observer it needs to focus on not why the gates are so low, (we’ve had enough inquests on here) but on the stride forward the team as made this season and what the virgins and the might be tempted can expect in terms of entertainment if they go down to IES and watch Stanley Play there game….I might suggest that the experience is extended out and an afternoons entertainment is put on to keep families happy and make the fee for the gate worth while to them. Stanley use to open to a Pipe Band, why not now? Cheer bores? Why not if it brings people in. Food, Choice, A nice place to Pee, pee and some cover for the ladies and gentlemen with hair stiles (the pun was intended) might be helpful as well. And that’s were vitty and the club could benefit by telling the public in the piece that vitty writes what’s planned for the future of Accrington’s League Team.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Quote:-if vitty is to do a piece for the Observer it needs to focus on not why the gates are so low, (we’ve had enough inquests on here)


You are dead right, Doug. I can see the negative headlines already, as most journalists go for the cheap "shock/horror" approach. What on earth does Garinda mean by "pm" - how can we get hold of this journo bloke?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

He's a member on here and like everyone else you can "private message" (PM) him. Hope that helps :)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Some excellent points there.

In my opinion it is a number of factors, however £12 is simply to expensive to watch conference football. Yes we are top of the league which is a magnificent achievement for everyone involved in the club, yes we play great football, however in my opinion does not justify that pricetag.

£2 mite not seem alot but the amount of people ive spoke to that have said

"Its too expensive to go and watch now"

I am a full time student at Huddersfield University in my final year, and as a result only get enough time to get paid work 12 hours a week!,

Just for example i can go and watch Huddersfield town for no more than £8 every game. And quite often tickets are a fiver!

and they are 2nd in League 1.

im not trying to compare clubs but maybe if the club could come up with a discount scheme on certain games to atract more people?

or maybe take the plunge and get the price back down to £10??

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Message edited to remove foul language

Please refer to the T&Cs regarding inappropriate language. You can find them here: http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=6072

This is a family forum and such language is unacceptable.

Ok sorry. I used exactly the same language in the general chat thread except for the term puffda. Strange that.;)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I'm not sure whether the admission cost is a major factor contributing to the low home gates but I don't think Burnley will help this weekend. They are having a 'Christmas Cracker' versus Watford. Adult admissions £10.00, concessions £5.00. It won't tempt me but will it persuade people to watch The Clarets as opposed to Stanley?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

As I Don't live in Accrington any more I don't feel able to respond to the stated question but I do try to make as many games as I can. As to recruting more fans why is it that on a Sat afternoon if you look outside the Superbowl or shopping centre there are loads of young adults Male/Female Asian/White, surely the club should be targeting these people to get them involved and giving the next generation of supporters a goal, as they are going to be the ones that carry and support the club in the future.



The above opinion is expressed without bias or fortitude

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Big article on back page of Observer.
As well as rallying cry from Eric, there are quotes from this thread, with some reasons we gave here on Accy Web.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Surely the main reason is that the catchement area is minute, there is a premiership and a championship team within 5 miles, both of whom are suffering falling gates, and a general amount of apathy in general.

I am a regular down there but when I ask anyone if they are going it's either I'm going Ewood/Turf or I'm off down pub to watch dodgy channel showing Man U/Liverpool/Chelski/Arse.

The only thing I can think of to increase the attendance is continuet he form we are in and they will end up in the crowd as at the end of th=it all everyone wants to be associated with a winner!:)

P.S. for a decent non-league forum try http://606nonleague.proboards77.com/index.cgi

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Pm= personal message, it's not rocket science. I didn't ask him to write anything, just alerted him to this thread because he's very often in general chat thread asking for stories. I thought it could be a good way on doing a rousing piece away from the sports section, and hopefully alert more Accringtonians to the shame of the failing gates whilst in our attempt at re-entering the league.

Was trying to help, but because of some of the prima donna quops, and nasty comments with the karma reductions, I'll leave you to it. Sorry if I trod on anyones dainty little toes. Di-dums, and good luck.;)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Blackburn Rovers spend a lot of time and effort getting school children to come. They frequently give away tickets to local schools knowing that if they can get the kids hooked, pester power will force the parents to bring them again and again. They send players along to give out prizes at prize day and for competitions and they will always support a local good cause i.e. signed shirts etc.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Although I would agree that it is a shame that the gate is low at this time I think that making suggestions that appears to target the population it in a manner that puts shame on the people of Accrington is a little strong. Publicity is the key too many a door and many successful clubs promote themselves far beyond the pitch. The Accrington Stanley of today stands in the shadow of a fascinating past that holds so many ups and downs, tremendous highs and giant killing lows from which we can all learn the odd lesson and like so many other areas of life we neglect our past and look only towards tomorrow and the hopes that it brings, yet the club as so much to offer local kids clubs, schools and armature associations, all that’s needed is foresight and a little commitment from those in a position to spend a few hours with those groups that would benefit from history tours around the clubs past, groups of school kids attending games as part of there own physical sports activity or education will promote future interest that will open the doors to a host of supporters of tomorrow. The same might be derived from a positive televised publicity promotion that builds on what the club as achieved this year and the future plans for this historic and future league club. The past is full of positives yet we prefer to concentrate on the negatives of the day, even when the clubs is sailing high there’s still those niggards that focus on the obvious negatives. Get them young, infuse them with pride and fill the ground, sit around doing now’t and it will sink before our eye’s. Any written or televised stories about this fantastic club must be positive and full on, Talk it up and paint the whole of Lancashire and that crappy world beyond Red and White.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

...which leads to the obvious question - why should Blackburn and Burnley be permitted to promote themselves in Hyndburn schools? Neither of these clubs are based in Hyndburn and they both have quite enough of the limelight in East Lancashire already. Who gives permission for this? Is it the council? If so, isn't it time they put a stop to it?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Drum.........Brings more than it keeps away(if any really stay away just for the drum?)

Many people have talked a lot of sense on here..many have talked from the heart of a true stanley fan. We have a good hardcore base of fans that will grow slowly. We need to attract the casuals, burnley and blackburn fans that we have lost over the last 40yrs, people just looking for good entertainment on a saturday ETC,ETC

FIRST we need to attract them.... Then we need to KEEP them... HOW ????

Many people I dragged along last year to a few games have not come this year AT ALL so far..:( They all quote £12 as the reason... These people can all afford it no problem...... It is the mental block of so many people, put the price up and straight away they ask WHY ??....WHAT DO I GET FOR MY EXTRA £2 ??

So if we get them there and they ask WHAT DO I GET EXTRA FOR MY £2 ? Toilets are the same, stadium is the same(the roof I keep promising them is still missing)Food is worse and dearer, Bar is bigger but still hard to get served at main times,mud is the same, football is great(but I can watch fantastic footy tonight for nowt). So getting them there is NO good if we cant keep e'm.

I am not moaning here just trying to look at it through the eyes of the audience we ALL want so badly to come and join us....

A........... We need to get people there, The best marketing is FREE marketing...that means US, talk and invite them, Vouchers in the press to tempt them,This saturday would have been a fantastic oppourtunity to offer a deal and tempt some. or give the 1,300 fans that pass through the turnstiles a voucher to bring a friend next game at a reduced rate. Be POSITIVE on the back pages of the observer, "Top of the league, havin a laugh" with a clever photo of the crowd havin a laugh.... Telling people off for not supporting ASFC is a bit negative (IMHO). As has already been said, Get into the schools, Regularly with vouchers for free kids with paying adults. By the time the kids have got home some of them and there mates will have got excited about going to a footy match with there mates :) . Positive press in the front (school visits would be ideal).

The above are mainly free, but all would be wasted if the parents are disgusted by the loo's or the kids mess there shoes and pants up in the mud,etc etc.

So to keep them there we need to do some things....... Toilets need a GOOD coat of paint, and good lighting, and keeping clean. Mud needs sorting, Our own burger bar would be good,Block built with ASFC staff providing GOOD food at the right price, and ASFC takes the profits :) Burger £1.50 - £2.00, cans 60p hot choc 60p etc.

If we did the above, then REALLY try and get them in, we stand a good chance of keeping a lot of them and building for the future. I even think the roof would wait a bit (but hope not)

The hardest part looks like it is sorted.................. FANTASTIC football :):):):)
Well done to Eric and team, and Coley and team :)

We dont need to do too much more and we can really have something Fantastic to offer the CASUALS and keep e'm....


.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Quote:-"Blackburn Rovers spend a lot of time and effort getting school children to come. They frequently give away tickets to local schools knowing that if they can get the kids hooked, pester power will force the parents to bring them again and again. They send players along to give out prizes at prize day and for competitions and they will always support a local good cause i.e. signed shirts etc."




A certain Clayton-le moors headmaster was surprised at the poor take-up of tickets for the last Rovers home game! The canny kids preferred to pay to watch the Reds!
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Sorry Redraine if I was a bit pithy about my answer as to what I meant by pn, I was still a bit touchy from the offensive comment someone gave me for my input into this thread via a karma comment. Vitty is the journalist who is a member on here. If you go to the member's list at the top of the page you'll find him under the V's. He did say anyone can contact him, and he's always on the look out for quotes.
Cheers.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

No one will find any parking near the Burnley or Blackburn grounds for less than £2. Take that into account and £12 seems pretty good value. :)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

<TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width=334 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" colSpan=4>Tale of the turnstiles</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana"></TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>topticket price</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>2004-05 ave gate</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>Current ave</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Arsenal</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£54</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>37,979</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>37,969</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Aston Villa</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£31</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>37,354 </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>32,653</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Birmingham </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£45 </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>28,760</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>27,070</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Blackburn R</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£38</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>22,315</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>20,017</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Bolton </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£39</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>26,006</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>25,305</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Charlton </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£35 </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>26,403</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>25,282</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Chelsea </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£60</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>41,870</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>41,768</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Everton</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£34</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>36,834</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>37,720</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Fulham</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£49</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>19,838</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>18,542</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Liverpool</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£32</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>42,587</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>44,915</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Manchester City</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£32</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>45,192</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>42,380</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Manchester United</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£41</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>67,748</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>67,886</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Middlesbrough</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£40</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>32,012</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>28,729</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Newcastle</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£37</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>51,844</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>52,051</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Portsmouth</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£30</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>20,072</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>19,770</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Sunderland</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£30</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>28,821</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>33,153</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Tottenham</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£70</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>35,926</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>36,023</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">West Brom</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£40</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>25,987</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>24,671</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">West Ham</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£53</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>27,403</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>31,505</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Wigan</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>£25</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>11,563</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana" align=right>19,146</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width=334 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Premiership: </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Tottenham have the most expensive seats in England - up to £70.</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Championship: </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Leeds were criticised by fans and have seen crowds slump after a price rise this summer - up to £45. </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">League One:</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Tickets to watch Gillingham cost up to £37.</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">League Two: </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Up to £20 for tickets at Bristol Rovers. </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Conference:</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Main stand tickets at York City are £16. </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Germany:</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Prices at Bayern Munich range from £15 to £33.</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">France:</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Tickets to see champions Lyons a maximum of £40 and minimum of £14.</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Spain:</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Tickets at Barcelona start at £30 and climb to £80. </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Holland: </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">£8 to watch a league game at Ajax, where the highest prices are £30.</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Italy:</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">Juventus prices start at £25, but their most expensive tickets are £120. </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">US: </TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">See DC United v MetroStars in Washington at the Socctoberfest and get two free beers, a free beer glass, and executive suite admission for £25.



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Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

It is also £16 to sit and watch kidderminster if your an adult..

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Gates were higher in the Conference when £10 was the entry fee. I would, until there are substantial ground improvements, urge the club to return to a £10 admission price. Let's see the results of same over the remainder of this excellent season! Eric & Co might just be surprised. Mind you, when you regularly see the likes of meetings of "Accrington Clarets" advertised it is tremendously disappointing. Those attending have big questions to answer about supporting the team of the town where they live. There are no Burnley or Blackburn Stanleys meetings as far as I know. In the real world, never mind an ideal one, "Accrington Clarets" should not exist!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Dead right! All the more reason for catching 'em young!

So, why are Blackburn and Burnley allowed to steal potential fans in Hyndburn schools? Could someone from the council please explain why this is allowed?

However, more importantly, it's high time the club were more aggressive in recruiting young fans. How about a promotional pack with a team picture, club info, Stanley sticker, ruler, pencil and a couple of free tickets for a forthcoming game? Take 'em into the schools and create future Stanley fans!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

hallelujah! Are You Listening Eric, Rob?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

In most of our posts about attracting new fans, we (myself included) talk about "Accringtonians"...but what about potential recruits from the surrounding townships? Everytime I go for a few pre-match beers in the pubs around the canal bridge in Clayton, I'm pleasantly surprised at the number of people I see in Stanley shirts. Couldn't we build on this with leaflets and posters on the lines of "The best non-league football in England is only a walk away"? And what about Ossy and Church? Again, a promotion drive in the pubs on the theme, "The best non-league football in England is only a bus ride away". We need to spread our net far and wide!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

It’s a pity you can’t get a live video feed from the ground to the big screens around the local pubs. What could help is four or five locals that would be prepared to have a memory wall and a fixtures and notice board. I know there’s the web site but not everyone lives in this unreal world of ours. Public places are breeding grounds of popular interests, sports, living discussions and the like. How many of the local landlords are behind the team? Nice to see the Nags Head coming back to life by the way…

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

always listening...

teams of players and coaches will be in schools from the new year running lesson time coaching sessions and after school activities, and handing out tickets and other stanley goodies. more details to follow...

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

That's great news.:)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

thats a good move rob, pity no one thought of it pre 1962, i wish you the best of luck and keep fighting.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I agree, I myself live in Harwood and I know of several others who trek over to watch "real" football rather than the plastic corporate affair offered in Blackburn and Burnley.:D

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

It's worth 12 quid to sit in the main stand and listen to the lad in the wheelchair. "Organise" "Offside" etc.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Is this dude enjoying the football when offering advice?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

"clear your lines"

frequently when we are attacking...........

on the post by Rob... good. I don't for one moment think that we have planted this idea to the club, but what if we could liase with the club and have a real recruitment drive co-ordinated?

Jase started the ball rolling with the leaflets in the town centre, lets build on it with the pubs targetted. We need to get together and co-ordinate it properly for it to be effective, but if we aim for Dagenham & Redbridge on the 11th February it gives us time to organise (clear your lines, offside etc) properly and gives us Burton, Morecambe and Grays quickly afterwards. If we are still in the same sort of position our crowds will pick up anyway, but we can push it further and aim for sell-outs at the arse end of the season.

Stanley are going up...

are you?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I got told this week by someone who used to go regular with his wife that they have stopped going now because of the drum and too much foul language, dont know how true this is though as I dont get chance to go myself nowadays

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

:( A very disapponting gate today, for what was a cracking game, and a cup win over the Alty.

Nice to see Roy, the owner of this site, and his Dad Less there though. Perhaps he can organise a Moscow branch of the Red's supporters club.

Keep it up Stanley.:)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

If foul language is a reason for not coming to Stanley then I hope he doesn't go elsewhere or watch it on TV, because how often do you hear the phrase "The referee's a w####r or should have gone to f*****g specsavers coz your blind. I for one hear it most matches either at the IES or on TV when watching other teams/european matches/national games etc etc. It is all part and parcel of life these days and lets face it, how many on this site have been told where to go by some spotty kid, I'll wager a few. I know that it is not supposed to happen, but which steward is going to be brave enough to stand up to 4 to 500 fans on the terraces telling them not to swear as it might upset the female or elderly. When stewarding at Old Trafford some years ago, we had a problem with a small minority who wouldn't sit down. We were told to eject them if necessary, but it is alright for those sitting in their ivory towers telling others what to do, in practice it aint goin' to be done.
BTW got to agree with Garinda, cracking game today, players didn't rise to the bait of Alty players trying to kick or punch lumps out of them. Hope Steve Jagielka's injury is not much, because he had a factastic game today as did the rest of the team. Just a pity only 810 could be bothered to turn up. Is this a protest against prices???? Can't make Halifax on Boxing day due to work commitments again,. but will be bringing extras to the sandgrounders game on the 30th and will make the first home match of 2006. Got to go and book my time off for the remainder of the season.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I’ve just got home after being in Accrington most of the afternoon, it was nice to see Accrington Pipe Band on Broadway, but I would have thought that opening for Accrington Stanley at IES would have been a nice touch. In the 3 hours I was in Accrington town centre I didn’t see one Stanley Shirt, Scarf or Flag.

I was elated to hear about Stanley’s 2-0 victory from Radio Lancashire about an hour ago, and then they quoted the Gate figure of around 810, I felt gutted for the Team and those who have worked so hard this week to motivate people.

However, it was bitter cold today so maybe so maybe things will improve for the next game, but perhaps some positive publicity in the local press and free soup on the day might help motivate people. Well done to the Team for today’s result and my utter respect to those who braved a bitterly cold afternoon to support their club.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Here's some views as an outsider and I promise these are nothing to do with rivalry or today's game which was a perfectly fair result reflecting the difference in standard between the two teams.

Firstly, Stanley have risen through the ranks very quickly which possibly has meant there hasn't been a steady growth in the hardcore fanbase. Also you may well still be attracting the same fans as in the Unibond years, and unfortunately to a lot of people, whether football fans or not, non-league is non-league.

I might be wrong but people in your town who have supported football for years are probably already loyal to other, higher placed clubs in the area and as we all know fans don't easily change their loyalties.

The ground is not particularly inviting and people who are used to Burnley, Blackburn or Preston will not be impressed i'm afraid. Might be worth some investment on the speculate to accumulate rule. You are also competing for sponsors and backers with those clubs and you have to appeal to their egos. A tatty ground and ineffective floodlights let you down.

Now i've never complained about Accy's achievements as a club or a team (apart from when you play Altrincham of course!) You don't seem to employ some of the miserable ego driven cynical tactics of some other clubs, but I think you have to sell yourselves a little better to get the recognition you so desire.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Very fair and interesting comments by Mr Ex Coalminer - spot on.
I, for one, thought the gate was not too bad today all things considered. I was wearing 5 top layers and winter, fur lined pants and still felt cold - goodness knows how Jase and co. managed in their short sleeved shirts!
Another classy performance; much credit to all concerned and much appreciated I'm sure by all who turned up.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Cracking match today. This was the first game I've seen since Southport (due to holidays, not apathy!) and the team seem to be getting better and better.

Although the gate was poor, it was the sixth home game in quick succession and I'm sure that's been a little too much for some budget-conscious casual fans. Also, the FA Trophy in its early stages is never as attractive as a league match. Hopefully, we will get a reasonable gate for the Halifax match in the New Year.

Very impressed to see Jase on Broadway with his megaphone, offering free tickets to the game (although when I spoke to him, he'd had no takers - hope you managed to get a few recruits, Jase). That's the sort of thing we need more of!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Whilst I can see where you are coming from on this, I think you will find a lot of season ticket holders will be aggrieved at a free match for everyone.

I believe a much fairer idea is a deal with the club shop, say attend 5 games and get x% of merchandise. or two adults and a kid free (it's not that much for an under 12 only £3) it may encourage adults to take an offspring and once they get hooked they will drag the parents in. As people have said before invest in the youth and they will insist the parents go.

Come on how many times do they have to "can we" before we give in?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

[quote=garinda] Nice to see Roy, the owner of this site, and his Dad Less there though. /quote]

I saw you chatting to Less and Harwood Red at the end of the game and thought to myself I know that other guy but couldn't give him a name, now I know cheers.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Unfortunately I couldn't be there today as I've been very ill since Wednesday. However, I was disappointed to hear about a sub-1000 gate after all the coverage we've had this week.

I just hope we have a massive home gate against Halifax!!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

... which is precisely the reason why the Club should look at Cup matches as opportunities for very aggressive pricing in exactly the same way that Sunderland did against Arsenal in the Carling Cup (£5 adults) and are doing in the FA Cup against Northwich (£10 adults after the FA ruled that Sunderland's initial proposal of £6 was too low).

Until the Club do that, it will have to get used to attendances at Cup games being far lower than at League games.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

[quote=Bagpuss]
:eek: You saw me, but I didn't see you because I don't know you. Say hiya next time.

Me and Harwood Red still play the game of guessing who Wynonie is, as we still believe there is a tenner for tapping him on the shoulder and identifying him.:)

Be great to put more faces to names from the forum.:)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Not from me, there isn't!

Walked right past you two today.

Will try and say hello at the Halifax home match, if I can find you amongst the huge crowd that will obviously be there.