Interesting Piece on Withdean Crowds in the Argus..

[Uncle Spielberg]

also the away seats is frankly a complete and total disgrace. It must be the worst view and value for money by far of the 92 league clubs. Not really the clubs fault by word is spreading and away supporters are not coming

 

[seven stands]

Have you ever sat in the crap stand? The view is absolutely awful and far from encouraging people probably puts then off. I'd rather not go if I couldn't see in the South or North

Besides which anyone with any sense moves at half time to empty seats in the South Stand so they can actually see the game.

no not been in there got a season ticket in south but want to do a game in there just to sit in each of the stands ( im upto 1 at mo). good point maybe if going to be empty seats every where they should move the "club" to another stand with better views

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Besides which anyone with any sense moves at half time to empty seats in the South Stand so they can actually see the game.

Never thought of doing that.

 

[Hannibal smith]

Never thought of doing that.

Be warned it does have it drawbacks. We found a spare seat so we could sit next to each other in the 2nd half rather than alone. Unfortunately, the seat was being kept free by the wife in memory of her husband who had sadly passed away a few weeks back.

She wasn't best pleased when my mate rolled up and sat down next to her, who then had to made a quick exit back to whence he came.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Experience says differently though. When we were in the old First division and not winni ng every game we struggled to get 20-25,000 in a ground that held around 36,000. We had bigger crowds in the old 2nd division when we were chasing promotion and winning games. Most fairweather fans only care about results, if we're winning games they will come, lose a few and they stay at home. If we manage to get a good run going and look like promotion even the Withdean will be full. Basicly Albion fans are just a bunch of glory hunters, as shown by the 30,000 that went to Cardiff.

Our time in the old first division coincided with a huge slump in football attendances across the board due to a number things, early 80s economic depression plus the problem of hooliganism being but two of them, which didn't bottom out until the mid 80s.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Be warned it does have it drawbacks. We found a spare seat so we could sit next to each other in the 2nd half rather than alone. Unfortunately, the seat was being kept free by the wife in memory of her husband who had sadly passed away a few weeks back.

She wasn't best pleased when my mate rolled up and sat down next to her, who then had to made a quick exit back to whence he came.

That is quite funny though.

 

[JJ McClure]

It must frustrate chairman Dick Knight and his co-directors to see all the time, effort and money which went into putting extra seats in going to waste.

Well if a little more time, effort and money had been put into a playing squad that would have kept us up then I'm sure the seats wouldn't be being wasted.

 

[withdeanwombat]

Our time in the old first division coincided with a huge slump in football attendances across the board due to a number things, early 80s economic depression plus the problem of hooliganism being but two of them, which didn't bottom out until the mid 80s.

Yes,yes!Bloody Thatcherism.


Course,the players' excrutiatingly tight shorts and girlie-perms didn't help,either.Nor did being caged into the terraces,the 30 minute queue for a piddle,then 20 minutes for a burger.The people who spoiled your view by leaving before the end.Jackpot tickets sixpence each.


Up the Albion!

 

[Robot Chicken]

Unfortunately, the seat was being kept free by the wife in memory of her husband who had sadly passed away a few weeks back.

This might explain why there are so many empty seats at Withdean?

 

[Spiros]

Yes,yes!Bloody Thatcherism.


Course,the players' excrutiatingly tight shorts and girlie-perms didn't help,either.Nor did being caged into the terraces,the 30 minute queue for a piddle,then 20 minutes for a burger.The people who spoiled your view by leaving before the end.Jackpot tickets sixpence each.


Up the Albion!

And the fact that most teams travelling away in the late 70s/early 80s would ruthlessly use the offside trap. I remember Spurs and Stoke as being the worst offenders at the time leading to some spectacularly boring 0-0 games

 

[Silent Bob]

When they decide to reduce the price of tickets for league games who will be the first season ticket holder to ask for a refund of the money that they paid last April for this seasons ticket.

Not me. I'd rather see Withdean full.

Albion have a bigger proportion of fair weather supporters than most clubs, together with their own version of the law of diminishing returns.

I don't think that is true at all, we just feel it more because of the Withdean effect.

 

[surrey jim]

Good article

 

[Screaming J]

To repeat my earlier unanswered question, wasn't at least one of our top flight seasons restricted to season ticket holders only? And anyone know if this was because of hooliganism?

To add to Ernest's (correct) answer of no; the only club that did this was Luton, after their ground got smashed up by Millwall (surprise!) after (I think) a League Cup tie.

It was around the time of their plastic pitch when they got to two League Cup finals; and were quite a decnt Div 1 (as it then was) team. Not sure when the experiment ended, but it was going between 87-89 when I happened (temporarily) to be living in Luton for a while.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

To add to Ernest's (correct) answer of no; the only club that did this was Luton, after their ground got smashed up by Millwall (surprise!) after (I think) a League Cup tie.

It was around the time of their plastic pitch when they got to two League Cup finals; and were quite a decnt Div 1 (as it then was) team. Not sure when the experiment ended, but it was going between 87-89 when I happened (temporarily) to be living in Luton for a while.

I remember that - it was an eveniing game - plastic seats everywhere.

 

[CoventrySeagull]

Considering where we are in the league (3rd Division) and compared to other clubs in this division, 5499 is not the worst attendance for this level of football. How does this compare to the Goldstone days at a similar level. Bear in mind Withdean is of a temporary nature & fairweather fans don't like getting their hair wet.

Incidentally, I am a season ticket holder, but having to pick & choose which games I attend, due to travelling costs from Coventry. I didn't go to the Chesterfield game due to financial reasons, but now I've been paid I will be coming down for the Blackpool game.

Please try and get behind the boys. There is a glimmer of light at the end of the 'Falmer Tunnel' with the news LDC backed down, but NEVER give up!!! COME ON THE SEAGULLS PARTY!!!

Keep up the good work, everyone!!