Todays ATTENDANCE (merged threads)

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

Sorry but this isn't really accurate. Brighton home games have always lacked atmosphere. I had a big argument with a mate over the quietness of the crowd in the late 70s when we were packing 25000 into the Goldstone. His argument was that the silent majority were at least contributing money into the club. Albion fans have ALWAYS been noisier away. There has always been an element of dullness about home games.

Yes football is far too expensive but that is true of Crawley, Reading, Pompey, Palace, Grays Athletic, Fulham and clubs all over the land.

The big drop in support is very serious and WILL impact on the team and the financing of Falmer. We used to take 3000 to Gillingham ; we struggle to get 5000 to Withdean.

Well I wasnt alive in the 70's, so I cant comment on that. What I was talking about is a few years ago - the Micky Adams era - that always had something going on - people were singing about the game, not the stewards, and there was chants most of the time. Yes, we were doing well then, but hello? We're looking towards promotion again this year!! I can't understand it. Even after we scored yesterday - there was a cheer, then 2 seconds later, it was dead in the water again.

Yes, football in general is expensive, but the likes of Pompey, Palace, Fulham are filling their ground. Then they can afford to charge more, because they will fill it. Even though I hate pompey, they are creating atmosphere all the time, even if it means that that stupid bell man can be heard all the time. We need Withdean to be filled, and basic economy / marketing means that if you bring the price down, more interest will be generated, and maybe the atmosphere will get better.

There isnt just one answer to us getting more bums on seats / atmosphere, but something needs to happen to get fans coming back.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

There isnt just one answer to us getting more bums on seats / atmosphere, but something needs to happen to get fans coming back.

Another spell in the Championship is about the only thing that can boost the numbers now. I sincerely doubt that many of the potential punters around town on Saturday could have told you which division Carlisle were in, let alone that they were league leaders in League One. Whereas, Leeds, everybody THINKS they're a big team, everybody wants to watch them. Same reason there was a stupidly big turnout for Chelski youth. Reckon there's about 5,000-6,000 people who turn out to watch the Albion, anywhere above that are turning up to watch what they perceive to be top-class opposition and/or go away to top-class grounds. IMHO, like.

 

[Yorkie]

Another spell in the Championship is about the only thing that can boost the numbers now. I sincerely doubt that many of the potential punters around town on Saturday could have told you which division Carlisle were in, let alone that they were league leaders in League One. Whereas, Leeds, everybody THINKS they're a big team, everybody wants to watch them. Same reason there was a stupidly big turnout for Chelski youth. Reckon there's about 5,000-6,000 people who turn out to watch the Albion, anywhere above that are turning up to watch what they perceive to be top-class opposition and/or go away to top-class grounds. IMHO, like.

Good point, well made.

 

[Peter Grummit]

An idea. Should we get through to Fac3 and are drawn at home then offer home tickets to those who buy (or have bought) them for the Forest game. Ditto for an attractive away draw, if numbers permit.
When we drew League Champions Derby in the League cup 1976, tickets were sold ata home reserve game and we got about 18000!

PG

 

[mona]

Well I wasnt alive in the 70's, so I cant comment on that. What I was talking about is a few years ago - the Micky Adams era - that always had something going on - people were singing about the game, not the stewards, and there was chants most of the time. Yes, we were doing well then, but hello? We're looking towards promotion again this year!! I can't understand it. Even after we scored yesterday - there was a cheer, then 2 seconds later, it was dead in the water again.

Yes, football in general is expensive, but the likes of Pompey, Palace, Fulham are filling their ground. Then they can afford to charge more, because they will fill it. Even though I hate pompey, they are creating atmosphere all the time, even if it means that that stupid bell man can be heard all the time. We need Withdean to be filled, and basic economy / marketing means that if you bring the price down, more interest will be generated, and maybe the atmosphere will get better.

There isnt just one answer to us getting more bums on seats / atmosphere, but something needs to happen to get fans coming back.

Yes, I think we are all agreeing. The worry is that our loss of support will damage the club's future. TBH the standard of opposition football in Micky's championship season 2000/01 was much lower. We were beating some very mediocre teams and Withdean wasn't cheap then.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

It is natural progression isn't it? We have probably lost an amount of our senior fans as they can either no longer afford to go or do not wish to sit in the cold/rain. Coupled with the fact that the lifeblood of our support are growing up and playing happy families. You only have to look at the amount of babies that have been announced on NSC to realise that a fair proportion of our support are going to have different priorities. These people are not being replaced as quickly as before - kids can watch 'the best league in the world' from their own front room, more so than ever before. A fall in attendances has been coming for a long time and they are exacerbated as we have such poor facilities and are unable(?) to offer a competitive range of prices.

 

[mona]

It is natural progression isn't it? We have probably lost an amount of our senior fans as they can either no longer afford to go or do not wish to sit in the cold/rain. Coupled with the fact that the lifeblood of our support are growing up and playing happy families. You only have to look at the amount of babies that have been announced on NSC to realise that a fair proportion of our support are going to have different priorities. These people are not being replaced as quickly as before - kids can watch 'the best league in the world' from their own front room, more so than ever before. A fall in attendances has been coming for a long time and they are exacerbated as we have such poor facilities and are unable(?) to offer a competitive range of prices.

This made so much sense until you referred to the Premiership as the best league in the world!

Good point.

What worries me as an older fan and father is that it is easier to get away from the kids when they are babes in arms than when they are busy 10-15 year olds. In other words if you pack up going cos you've just become a dad, you won't be back for a long time.

 

[GAFFERKNOWSBEST]

according to the fans phone in last night for forest supporters £10 is this the same for us i no it is for the gillingham game

 

[Beach Hut]

according to the fans phone in last night for forest supporters £10 is this the same for us i no it is for the gillingham game

That was also corrected it is only £10 for the Gillingham game

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

I went yesterday, and I cannot describe to you just how bad the atmosphere was. It was DIRE. When O'Callaghan got sent off, I thought it would lift the support, and it did..... for 2 minutes. Then it went silent again.

The singing section? More like the MOANING section. Most people in there would much rather moan about the stweards / say what dress size they are / what theyre drinking, moan about the away fans standing / the mascot standing, rather than concentrate on the game that theyve paid a stupid amount to watch.

This is what's bringing down the attendances, being at Withdean is becoming dull. You can't say it's because it's near christmas etc etc, because 5 years ago, we were filling the stadium no matter what time of year it was.

Rant well and truely over.

Superb post. The singing section is EMBARASSING at times. It's still the best place for any sort of atmosphere...but god, the same planks who take on the stewarts really need to get a grip. Non-Standing - it's the same for all home fans, live with it. Then there's those CRINGE-WORTHY chants (do we give a shit which Coronation street character the steward looks like?) that make it resemble some sort of berks-only playground.

 

[Beach Hut]

BAG - thought you had vowed never to go to Withdean again ?

 

[Bry Nylon]

I don't go anymore more not because of the cost, but because the atmosphere is simply non-existant. It is boring, dull and sterile beyond belief.

 

[Questions]

Superb post. The singing section is EMBARASSING at times. It's still the best place for any sort of atmosphere...but god, the same planks who take on the stewarts really need to get a grip. Non-Standing - it's the same for all home fans, live with it. Then there's those CRINGE-WORTHY chants (do we give a shit which Coronation street character the steward looks like?) that make it resemble some sort of berks-only playground.

I sit to the right of the singing section and I squirm at some of it.

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

BAG - thought you had vowed never to go to Withdean again ?

I vowed that when the gully's girls were there, i wouldnt go. i got round it by not watching!!

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

Superb post. The singing section is EMBARASSING at times. It's still the best place for any sort of atmosphere...but god, the same planks who take on the stewarts really need to get a grip. Non-Standing - it's the same for all home fans, live with it. Then there's those CRINGE-WORTHY chants (do we give a shit which Coronation street character the steward looks like?) that make it resemble some sort of berks-only playground.

Thankyou! I dont think ive done a "superb" post before, i'm honoured!!!

 

[mona]

I don't go anymore more not because of the cost, but because the atmosphere is simply non-existant. It is boring, dull and sterile beyond belief.

Honest comment.

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION FC RIP

 

[Yorkie]

Superb post. The singing section is EMBARASSING at times. It's still the best place for any sort of atmosphere...but god, the same planks who take on the stewarts really need to get a grip. Non-Standing - it's the same for all home fans, live with it. Then there's those CRINGE-WORTHY chants (do we give a shit which Coronation street character the steward looks like?) that make it resemble some sort of berks-only playground.

I agree about the steward stuff. It gets me down and I usually say something to the people who start it.
Your Dad started most of the chants on Saturday which were all Albion based. At least there is some noise and getting behind the team which isn't evident elsewhere in Withdean.

 

[Brovion]

Another spell in the Championship is about the only thing that can boost the numbers now. I sincerely doubt that many of the potential punters around town on Saturday could have told you which division Carlisle were in, let alone that they were league leaders in League One. Whereas, Leeds, everybody THINKS they're a big team, everybody wants to watch them. Same reason there was a stupidly big turnout for Chelski youth. Reckon there's about 5,000-6,000 people who turn out to watch the Albion, anywhere above that are turning up to watch what they perceive to be top-class opposition and/or go away to top-class grounds. IMHO, like.

Correct. Although the attraction of the bigger names will be offset by the fact that we'll be struggling and the part-time Brighton fans won't want to see their team lose every week.

And anyway, we're not in the Championship and we need to do something NOW. Although I'm an advocate of lower prices for unattractive games I do realise that simply cutting the price isn't the whole solution - as has been said before it's the whole 'Withdean Experience'. For example, rightly or wrongly, I find I now deeply resent paying for Travel Vouchers whereas in the early days I didn't mind. I'm still waiting for the club to implement your excellent suggestion that we be allowed to swap them for burgers instead of buses.

 

[Dave the OAP]

An idea. Should we get through to Fac3 and are drawn at home then offer home tickets to those who buy (or have bought) them for the Forest game. Ditto for an attractive away draw, if numbers permit.
When we drew League Champions Derby in the League cup 1976, tickets were sold ata home reserve game and we got about 18000!

PG

Charlton Reserves.....about 17,800 people left at half time I seem to recall

 

[Barrel of Fun]

This made so much sense until you referred to the Premiership as the best league in the world!

That was a sarcastic reference in response to the Sky/Premier League Marketing machine.