Stayaway Fans

[unnameable]

Am I alone in becoming increasingly frustrated with Albion's stayaway fans?

If attendances at Withdean are the measure, the home support seems to have been reduced to a hardcore of around 5,000. When Albion played at the Millennium Stadium three years ago, 30,000 people bothered to travel to the other side of the country in support of the team. The difference is 25,000. If each of those 25,000 people went to every seventh home match (obviously, not the same seventh match) - that is, some three matches a season - then the home parts of Withdean would be full for every match. I understand that Withdean is a horrible place to watch football, but anyone who can bother to travel to Cardiff, at no little expense, surely, can visit Withdean three times a season. We have seen how the players respond when Withdean is full and the fans are vocal.

When the players run out at Falmer, I will be tempted to ask the Withdean absentees where they were when we were shite.

 

[B.M.F]

I agree with your views and have done on numerous occasions when this has been posted. I have not been this season due to where I now live as it would cost near on 1000 per game if I did which alas I can not afford. When I still lived in the UK I was a sth and was shocked by the lack of crowds especially as the money generated at home games is what helps the club survive.

 

[rusty redeyes]

after 7 seasons being a STH, I've jacked in as I hate Withers with a passion. I've been to 2 home games this season, and I'll be in the family stand this sat with my daughter, and no doubt I'll be there for a few more but no amount of concession/marketing will make me buy another st @ withers. I could be tempted if I could watch a team with passion and spirit and be allowed to match their spirit with mine. Unfortunately we have too many flask and rug "fans" who moan about anything and everything and know absolutely jack shit about football who've helped destroy what little atmosphere there was, them and over the top stewarding....

 

[Scotty Mac]

its because the fact we have tens of thousands of fans is a MYTH

 

[Ernest]

Maybe people have been priced out ?
Or maybe just won't pay that kind of money for the shit that has been dished up by Wilkins team for over a year now ?

 

[Beach Hut]

You can hardly blame people not wanting to go to Withdean it is the pits.

Trouble is coupled with a few seasons at Gillingham and the majority of fans have lost interest and probably go and watch a London Premiership club.

 

[desprateseagull]

I cannot afford to go, at present. listen to games when I can.

 

[unnameable]

I should say that I meant people who CAN get to Withdean for three matches a season but choose not to. I understand that some people live too far away to be able to attend.

We are all Albion fans. I appreciate any kind of support for the club, even if it comes from afar. We all do our bit somehow. However, I can't help feeling that some people could make more of an effort.

 

[The Auditor]

Maybe people have been priced out ?
Or maybe just won't pay that kind of money for the shit that has been dished up by Wilkins team for over a year now ?

If the product and the price are right the people will come....we have to assume too many floating fans feel that is not the case at the moment..a few more home wins like the Millwall game together with discounted prices and some extra fans will be tempted
Too many have been put off in recent seasons with poor performances and crap facilities

 

[Superphil]

Without a doubt the sticking point is the price, it's about £5-10 too expensive to watch at Withdean. Ticket price consessions just can't go far enough. It is unlikely to change, so, unless the team start doing tremendous things on the pitch the floating fans are just not going to justify paying £20+ to watch a mediocre team, in a shit stadium.

 

[The Auditor]

It doesnt help that Charlton run coaches to their home games from areas of Sussex for about £20 including admission

 

[Vatican Citys No.2 Keeper]

Go to the Worthing games mostly now....so TECHNICALLY i'm watching brighton players, albeit on-loan, but I go to Brighton whenever My dad can get tickets, so bout 7-9 times a season.

 

[clippedgull]

VFM ( Value for money ) it's really that simple, but very hard to implement when you have the current Withdean facilities and the performances (generally) of the team.

 

[Wozza]

If attendances at Withdean are the measure, the home support seems to have been reduced to a hardcore of around 5,000.

Not really news though, is it? It hasn't been more than 5,000 or so for over a decade now.

Will take a long time to build up a proper, regular fanbase even when Falmer is opened.

 

[Kukev31]

If the prices were lower then more people would go. I don't blame people for not going, £25 to sit in silence, with no cover watching an average 3rd tier team.

 

[The Oldman]

If the prices were lower then more people would go. I don't blame people for not going, £25 to sit in silence, with no cover watching an average 3rd tier team.

Look at the prices for the Barnett match. £ 10 or £12 pounds I think yet bet they have not sold thay many tickets. I don't buy this too high price reason. It's about entertainment. If we were in the top 3 playing attractive football folk would turn up. Let's face under McGhee and Wilkins it's hardly been a festval of attacking football.

Having said that there are always those of us who will attend come what may and why I am a STH. I stll think that being there is better than shopping, gardening, DIY or listening on the radio.

 

[Hercules Rockerfeller]

Not really news though, is it? It hasn't been more than 5,000 or so for over a decade now.

Will take a long time to build up a proper, regular fanbase even when Falmer is opened.

This is true. Even at the Goldstone in 90/91 we rarely got over 10,000 and we were pushing for promotion to the country's highest division. We took around 30,000 to Wembley still, but play off finals bring all and sundry out of the woodwork. I know people who have had no interest whatsoever who have gone to these games and there is nothing wrong with that. But they just ain't gonna turn up for a monkey league game against Bristol Rovers. And who can blame them?!

 

[El Turi]

I used to be a season ticket holder up until llast seasonbbut I can no longer justify the cost anymore. The prices have got higher and the standard of football's got lower so it's understandable the crowds are poor.

I think the club missed the boat this summer by only reducing the prices by a minimal amount and other than a few exceptions we will struggle to get any gates over 6,000 (unless we're near the top which I can't see).

 

[sir albion]

Look at the prices for the Barnett match. £ 10 or £12 pounds I think yet bet they have not sold thay many tickets. I don't buy this too high price reason. It's about entertainment. If we were in the top 3 playing attractive football folk would turn up. Let's face under McGhee and Wilkins it's hardly been a festval of attacking football.

Having said that there are always those of us who will attend come what may and why I am a STH. I stll think that being there is better than shopping, gardening, DIY or listening on the radio.

Well you should as the prices and facilities are a major problem amongst other things,bradford are cheap and get over 13k at home so that sums it up.Not to mention the squad is pretty poor and we never have any funds to spend on players.

Very much not with the ticket price

 

[sir albion]

This is true. Even at the Goldstone in 90/91 we rarely got over 10,000 and we were pushing for promotion to the country's highest division. We took around 30,000 to Wembley still, but play off finals bring all and sundry out of the woodwork. I know people who have had no interest whatsoever who have gone to these games and there is nothing wrong with that. But they just ain't gonna turn up for a monkey league game against Bristol Rovers. And who can blame them?!

Thats very true but you will find that crowds at every club bar a few where really shite in that era,the 80's and early 90's where poor everywhere for crowds


Our fan base is still pretty dam big,but 11 years homless etc is far to much,we still have thousands of fans and falmer will prove most of you wrong.