1,633
 

...that's Stanley's average gate this season.

The next lowest is 2,007 (Dagenham & Redbridge).

The average for league 2 is 4,343.

In other words, John Coleman has been running a race with a weight tied to one leg...and he's still managed to keep us in the league.

And some of you want to get rid of him??

Well, as far as I'm concerned, the man's a miracle worker! Keep up the good work, Coley! :cool:

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I echoe the sentiments Mr Harris but shouldnt it also be noted that it shows the measure of Mr Coleman - that he doesnt hide behind this figure and himself believes he can push his miracles with our meagre resources even further.

Long Live King Coley :)

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From memory our average attendance in year 1 was 2600.

So on that basis if Dagenham and Morecambe have a poorer season in year 2 and "lose" the 1k as we did, what will their avearages be??

D&R 1,000 Morecambe 1800.

Whilst we need to improve and retain our core following, providing we improve again at home and continue to build for the future, the future can be good.

The exhibition this summer and some astute signings will help:)

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Good quality signings will help!
Hopefully the price of Season Tickets will help drive up the Core Support
A couple of Top Name Pre-Season Friendlies may help
The Exhibition will help promote the Club where it most's matters which is in the Centre of Town itself!
Getting off to a flier when the New Season Starts will help
Positive Press will help!
Some matchday incentives may help:
One game for any Season Ticket Holder bring along a friend for a fiver

First two Home games Try before you Buy Scheme if you like what you see and buy a Season Ticket at the normal price knock off the value of the Two games attended so long as Ticket Stubs are kept, may not bring in hundreds of people but in terms of money may encourage a few to part with their hard earned cash earlier than they normally would and have a few more regular attendees:)

Family Day where a Family can be admitted for a set price

Ladies Day where all Ladies attendees can be admitted for a set price

Red Day where everyone who enters the Ground wearing the teams colours gets a raffle ticket and a Draw takes place at Half Time to win Stanley Goodies

No stone should be left unturned in the pursuit of trying to increase the footfall of people into the FES:)

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You must have missed the announcement, one's already sorted for July 26th, so only one more to sort out ;)

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That's always a good one for the annual contest of running the rule over the opposing players and having a guess at who they will be selling come the "Next January Transfer Window Competition":p

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I can't see attendances rising unless we go on a good winning streak. Credit crunch is in the news every day. Its an expensive day out. I live in bury and can't afford to go petrol prices are high. Admittance is high. Kids more important

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Been displaying that all thro today on sky sports news - bottom eh but we're still above the bottom end of the former season tho top at beginning of new season:p

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just as we discussed with black sheep wynonie.:D;)

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400 difference to the next poorest team? that's £120,000 over the season based on £13 a pop. Looking at the average figure of 4343 that's a deficit of over £800,000.

and people wonder why we struggle to complete? that's the only thing that makes me mad about many of last seasons performances. In many of the games that I watched there was not much difference between us and them yet we failed to win games we could and should have - Rochdale, Notts County, Wrexham at home are the ones that mainly spring to mind. We need a cutting edge up front and we need to cut out the sloppy mistakes at the back, beyond that we are not too much different than many of these far richer clubs.

What a difference it would make to us if we could get 3000 a game at the FES and double our operating budget.

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it would give us a bigger budget but just think of the noise coming from the clayton end with another 500 people stood under it all singing. if that would not spare the players on than who knows what would

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He played Graham Branch.
He played Lee McEvilly.
He played Jay Harris on the wing.
A lot.

'Tactically flawed football manager who does quite well under circumstances' is more apt than 'Miracle worker' I feel.

Better football = more fans. Simple, and fickle, as that.

Re: 1,633
 

100% behind the boss!!!! ultras flag!!!!!!!!!!!! we love jonny coleman

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Quite well? Name me one other manager who's kept a team in the football league on gates of 1,633. You can't, because no one else has ever done it. So, not just miracle worker but trailblazer and an inspiration to all non-league clubs struggling with public indifference...and that's not just the Black Sheep talking! ;)

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it shows that clubs on low gates on low budgets,cant sign big league name players and yet we finshed higher than last season! so whats that say about coley and the management and the players! coley is king long may coley and jimmy be at stanley

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think yer in the wrong town for that shaker, the side of 61/62 did play much better football than that, true there was just about double that gate then, but that was it. n those who were young fans then became lost forever in the main, sad fact but true, n football i reckon is much harder now fer the little clubs to attract, money, hype, n bullsh**. talks, simple as, if the reds can get up to 3000 average thats great n also a miracle.

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we are expecting a better season !

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you lot had a good year last year but still conceded bragging rights to your poor neighbours!

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maybe but we got our "pride of Lancashire" title back !

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Again - Lee McEvilly? Graham Branch? Harris on the wing? To keep us in the league has indeed been quite an achievement due to the attendances etc. However if our abilities with regards to the squad were used to the full all season instead of persisting with crap players and crap tactics, we could've done better. And that is not, before the Coley groupies start up, being greedy. I would've been happy to be relegated if we'd have given our best all season. We don't need more people through the gate to get the tactics right. For the record, I don't believe John Coleman should be sacked. I do believe he is tactically flawed/inept though and needs to be much less stubborn and more professional.

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Yep, Coley's made his share of mistakes this season, just like many managers have. However, I still maintain that what he's achieved is nothing short of a miracle - and a unique one at that. If it's only "quite an achievement" then how come there aren't more ex-non league clubs on 1,500-1,600 average gates in league 2?

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I believe that it is very misleading to look for a correlation between gate receipts and team performance. I don't believe that JC's 'building' of the squad was only based on the 1600+ fans through the turnstile, as the figures don't really tally.
We haven't just lost games this season due to lower ability players, but because of poor tactics and a general lack of awareness of other teams changing theirs.

Next season I think that the budget for playing staff will be more reflective of the gates and then we'll see how JC does then.

Re: 1,633
 

Surely, there must be some link between gate receipts and player budget, TM...or am I missing something?

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There is a link obviously Wynonie, but it isn't the only factor. Player's wages for last year's squad must have outweighed the income through the turnstiles and so other factors must come into play.
There was the Craney transfer, for example, which didn't come from gate money.

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When Stanley came up the figure Eric had in mind was 3000.

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Don't understand, TM. Are you saying we've survived on such pathetic gates, because we've another source of income coming from somewhere else? And if that's true, why should "the budget for playing staff be more reflective of the gates" next season...is this source suddenly going to dry up?

Sorry, can't agree with you. Apart from income streams from draw tickets, bar takings etc, which all clubs have to a greater or lesser extent, I reckon that there's an almost umbilical link between gates and money available for players. And I STILL say that Coley is performing a miracle here at Stanley. I know I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but name me one other manager who has kept a club in the football league on 1,500-1,600 gates? I certainly can't think of one!

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I went to Pompey's cup winning homecoming yesterday. Amongst 200,000 (allegedly - definitely more than 1633) very happy people I'm almost sure I heard someone say "Redknapp's going to be completely out of his depth in Europe next year, we ought to get rid of him now" and his mate replied "Yeah, and Gaydamak should sell out to someone who's prepared to spend real money". :D

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There will also be Money from Shirt Sponsor, Board Advertisng, Football League Revenue, Transfer Fees recieved. Coley does deserve great Credit but so does everyone else at the Club from Eric & Rob down to the Bar Staff at the Crown & Lounge they all play a part in keeping the ship afloat and on an even keel as do the fans for keeping the Faith!:)

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Players are signed in the summer and offered a contract that will pay them a basic salary plus performance bonuses for the next one or two years. So it is the expectation of the coming season's gate revenue that determines how much money the players are offered in their contracts.

I agree with TM, if Eric is downgrading his expectation of how many people will come through the gate next season based on this year's gates, that will mean smaller contracts for this summer's new players ... so low gates in one season affect the quality of players acquired the next season.

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You also need to ask how many people don't come because thay don't like the antics of Coleman and the way his stupid attitude influences the way the players play with a scouse chip on their shoulders.

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Think the real problem gets pushed along the wayside, fact of being a small town, sandwiched between other long standing teams in our surrounds, being out of the league 44years, multi cultural/people movement over the years, unemployment etc etc thats before we get to the footballing issues or even coley, in light of that he hasn't done too bad with what he had tbh & maybe looking outside scoucepool for talent on the cheap:rolleyes:. Also improving on the efforts with fanbase & community links will help as well as hopefully good results on the pitch:D

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don't honestly think theres many of them if any mate, in accy its either they go elsewhere or apathy. the latter the club can work on hard n they WILL see some results if they do.

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Problem is as I understand it there are no resources for a scouting setup. There are only so many matches Coleman & Bell can watch to find talent.

Somehow the club needs more investment. The gates will not improve dramatically for years if ever. The only rise will be through success and therefore the chicken and egg theory comes in to play. How do you be successful enough to get higher gates without the resources to help gain that success

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This from Keith Hill in today's LT, on Rochdale, players,attendances and apathy

"We've brought young, hungry players in who wanted to be given an opportunity in the Football League," said Hill.

"It's not been a question on changing their attitudes - we've had to change the mentality of the town and the people around the football club.

"You hear, same old Rochdale, falling at the final hurdle, never achieved anything except League Two status'.

"I'm sick of hearing it and it is difficult to change the mindset of some of the supporters, I must admit.

"But they're all believing now. The majority of the crowd probably came for the first time today but hopefully they'll come back for Wembley.

"The only good thing about going to Wembley is winning and that's what we've got to do.

"We know how to win and we've got an appetite for it.

"If we keep knocking on the door then nobody will knock us back and that's the mentality we've all got."

Seems to echo some of the problems that Stanley have and if we're to move forward we need to emulate what Rochdale and Hereford have done. Hereford came up with us but have moved on where we have stood still, and they didn't spend a shedload of money. Sticking with some of the players that won the Conference hasn't worked and they've now been cleared out. We need a smaller squad of better quality players , augmented by the likes of Grant, Bell, Murphy etc to cover injuries. Hopefully with better players and some early home performances, support will increase. As Shakermaker has said, simple and fickle !!

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the projected turnover of the club for the first season in the FL was £1m according to the quotes given last time a balance sheet was published (around nov 07) Average gates of 1600 would produce less than £400k in gate receipts based on a tenner apiece (allowing for kids/concussions :rolleyes: etc). Wages can be 60% or 65% of the total turnover of the club. Quite obviously the gates are being supplemented by other means of large income. There is the £250k from the TV rights money and IIRC the Fraser Eagle sponsorship of shirts and ground was £250k per year over three years (according to the reports at the time). That allows for around £100k of 'other' income which can't be right as that is only £2k per week

there is a large pot of income but the pot of expenditure must also be a massive drain. Each form of income is going to have to start producing more revenue. How that is done is another matter entirely but if you look at each aspect separately and make it into its own little business that must produce then surely you can't end up negative?

OSC will buy the Egg, have we any volunteers for the purchase of a chicken?



The club has to find ways of increasing its revenue from every angle but every angle is being ignored from what we see.

the Clayton End bar was dry for the Bury match. The away end bar was dry. At the Clayton End there was a queue from 3:35 with at least 30 people in it that were all in time for two pints. I don't know what the away end was like but I would hazard a guess that they drink more than home fans. Especially when they outnumbered our end about 3 to 1. There also has to be more variety in the drinks please. Especially seeing as we dont do draught beer the cans or bottles keep for some time so there is no excuse for not having the stock.

The Crown has picked up recently but the club could still do more to entice people in. Shirt signings? autograph or picture days? more Stanley oriented theme nights? OSC discounts? happy hours?

The Club shop. The OSC backed away from doing certain lines of clothing as the club said they were doing them - but there is never any stock of things like th efleeces or the hoodies. The Ultras wanted to buy 40 hoodies (at cost) but backed away so as to avoid upsetting the club. Maybe its not a money spinner in one respect but it is awareness when fans are wearing them around town.

Post match in the bar has been really poor over the last few months. A bit more razzmatazz maybe a happy hour if we win and better presentations for Man of the Match. There are folk who go in every match but for many you can take it or leave it because you don't feel like you are missing anything. BOGOF has brought a bit more professionalism to the Presnetation because at least you can hear what he is saying. Make an effort on this one please and I am sure that more folk will come in.

Be more aware of what the fans want and at least make it look like you are listening. For years Rob Heys has said that the club do listen to the fans but to some extents I beg to differ. I know that this site is not flavour of the month with the club or the Ultras etc but it is representative of what is being said by the common fan in the pub. Forget the arguments about whether this or that should be said or not - it is being said and more than likely will never cease to be said regardless of league position. I hark back to threads surrounding the Leicester match last season. Due to the Foxes fans being all-ticket there was confusion whether the match itself was all ticket or not. The debate rumbled for a few days and brought out unnecessary comments about other things and more highlighting of the various shortcomings. It could all have been avoided if one of the numerous club officials who do read this board every day had just posted something to the effect of "pay on the gate" - discussion ended. Yes you could have just picked up the phone but do they really want to have to field many calls when one post could have finished it?

That is the nutshell of where the club could pick up massively and cheaply. Communicate what is happening at every possible juncture and the tittle tattle disappears. Where specualtion is rife it gives way to rumour and conjecture which is rarely accurate. That in turn feeds the doom mongerers and the circle continues. Talk to us and make us ffel like valued customers again please.

Above all else communicate to the absent fans. It is no good complaining that people aren't coming unless you are aggresively pursuing them. I understand that these things cost money but for every ten new fans that come you have £1300 in the till over a season. Reckon on wanting another 300? then spend the money that 50 people would bring on advertising around town. £6500 would go a long way around town with a few appropriate billboards/cinema-taxi adverts/full page spreads/leaflets/competitions. Just being there is not enough to entice the customer.

None of these comments are intended destructively and none of them are anything new to the powers that be. But they are what I think are essential ingredients to attracting the casual fan. There are many more little areas that could be hugely improved on with a bit of investment but you'd be reading all day if I listed them.

I will also add that I think that we have come a long way in short time and Rome wasn't built in a day - but it only takes a day to knock it down. I have ideas and try to act on them via the OSC, the Ultras have ideas and try to act on them through their various ways. If we all did a little more then we could make a difference.

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Can I just add a bit of a contentious comment in that Stanley may move forward quicker if they are seen as a more modern club rather than continually focussing on a past that few if any current and potential fans remember. A new future with a new forward thinking nationally recognised manager would help.

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We've won an award from the Notts County Mad end of season listings!

The 'nothing' award: Accrington Stanley

This is not a nice award to dish out at the end of a great League Two season but Stanley are not exactly basked with compliments from the divsion's followers.

It is not easy for a side of Accrington's size and resources to survive in the Football League two seasons on the bounce, for that they deserve credit, but <TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=middle><TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=1 0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=arial8wht bgColor=#fdd017>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>it is fair to say it is a pair of games most sides would prefer not to see on their fixture list.

They have done ever so well to survive again but it is only a matter of time before they sink out of the league.

Re: 1,633
 

about the club shop aswell the tracksuits the players wear at most of the games the black ones i would of got one of those but i dont think the club do them and yet clubs like rovers, burnley sell team tracksuits

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If it weren't for the six points they took off us again they might not have appeared on our fixture list but might have had the consolation of staying on Wrexham's whilst at the same time seeing their close neighbours Mansfield stay up.

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can i be contentious also, what planet are you on? wheres the funds fer this nationally recognised ones wages.:rolleyes:

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Baudelaire is right bring in an ex high profile footballer who doesn't need the money(wages) just wants a stepping stone and they will have far better contacts than the scouse duo who signed more clowns than chipperfield circus last season.
Backward thinking, cloth capped idiots who adore Coleman and company need to wake up who's going to invest in a club that loses the amount of games we lost at home this season.
We need fresh impetus to take us on to the next level.

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and backward numpties like you need to realise that the money isn't there to fuel your spending spree.

A high-profile ex top drawer pro (like Alan Shearer?) may come for next to nowt but he would expect money to be available for his transfer fee's and the wages of the high calibre personnel he would bring with him.

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until we get more people at the FES we aint going to be able to buy players! coley is doing a great job with the resoureces available! so until more people come an watch stanley, we aint going to pay for any players

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There aren't many L2 clubs who pay for players to be honest. Since the Bosman ruling you don't have to. It's the wages and sweeteners that cost.

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[quote=maccawozzagod;579746]and backward numpties like you need to realise that the money isn't there to fuel your spending spree.

A high-profile ex top drawer pro (like Alan Shearer?) may come for next to nowt but he would expect money to be available for his transfer fee's and the wages of the high calibre personnel he would bring with him.[/quote

********************************************
A backward numpty?
Thats not very nice!!
Who's talking about Shearer and players with big fee's and wages certainly not me!!
What I am saying is I am sick of My club being portrayed as that club from up north with no money and who's supporters are outnumbered by the local sunday league team.
A lot of people will not come to watch a team that constantly lose a club which as nobody with any P.R skills and a website that is updated once a month.
People like you remind me of brain washed idiots who will follow any leader
no matter the harm they do and if anyone dare say anything about that leader they are classed as a numpty.
I have a Degree 3 A' levels and 10 GCSE'S so don't call me a numpty!!!!!:dummy:

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[quote=Darwenred1968;580626]Thats a lie for a start - no-one in Darwen is that intelligent, and that includes me!!!;)

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bit of a pot, kettle, black situation going on I reckon

I am certainly not brain washed and will knock the club , the players, or the staff if I wish or if I think it may make some sort of difference. What I am is a long time supporter of my town team and one who recognises that the contribution that John Coleman has made to the rich history of our club is second to none. For that I am willing to allow him time to make good the mistakes that he has made. For what tools he has had at his disposal with which to get players in I think he has done a good job. More so considering that I and others think that we should have done better last season. Our club, on paper, should finish bottom of the league every season as we stand at the moment. every point above bottom is testament to the skills of the management team. There is no guarantee that a new man could bring anything else to the table so I wouldn't waste time or money trying to find him.

For somebody as educated as you claim to be you are particularly short sighted in believing that someone new would automatically turn things around. Coley does a good job but could definitely do better. That to me is a good sign.




what an appropriate end to your post