[Albion] Todays women’s game

[PILTDOWN MAN]

He's already invested in them having one of the best training grounds in the country.

Not sure why so many men have a problem in people investing in football for females to make the game grow. Which ultimately leads to a healthier country as girls get a chance to do sport previously unavailable to them

You're right and the game will only grow.

 

[Machiavelli]

For those that watch the women's team regularly, did Pattinson have an unusually good game? Thought was the standout player in the first half. Technically very good, brings the ball forward graceful, looks to play a forward pass and executes them extremely well. Kirby was obviously great, and Cankovic had a wonderful cameo: lots of intricate passing for the winner.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

For those that watch the women's team regularly, did Pattinson have an unusually good game? Thought was the standout player in the first half. Technically very good, brings the ball forward graceful, looks to play a forward pass and executes them extremely well. Kirby was obviously great, and Cankovic had a wonderful cameo: lots of intricate passing for the winner.

Pattinson is class, I can see now why my daughter wanted her name on her shirt this season

 

[Wardy's twin]

Look at how many clubs in the country make money on mens football.

and that's with the PL teams each being given 100m....

 

[Springal]

Losses in the early years. TB’s investment and business model is starting to pay. BUT he’s not just doing it for the money.

We’ve turned a profit in something like 3 seasons out of 15 and he was propping us up under Knight as well

 

[Wardy's twin]

Great win. Why can't people just stop belittling women's football , it is what it is, a game of football played by women and really shouldn't be compared to the men's game. Tony thinks it's the right thing to do, it's his money and 5-8k people wanted to watch it and in time those numbers will hopefully increase.

 

[Official Old Man]

He's already invested in them having one of the best training grounds in the country.

Not sure why so many men have a problem in people investing in football for females to make the game grow. Which ultimately leads to a healthier country as girls get a chance to do sport previously unavailable to them

TBT
I'm not dissing the Ladies teams nor Ladies football as a whole. I'd love to see it grow. My Granddaughter loves it and I've taken her to many games. I'll be first in the queue for Euro games for the Albion Ladies.
It was just that going to Crawley as I do, seeing the costs of putting on a game and knowing the returns at the gate, I just wonder why?

 

[bobbysmith01]

Six of them? With the price of pies are you sure it’s not YOU that wants them to take a packed lunch?

You are not far wrong.

 

[bobbysmith01]

You are not far wrong.

Actually enjoyed the experience and Brighton and West Ham played some excellent football and if you understand don’t expect men’s football then it’s good entertainment with a different fan base. Lots of kids and families. Superb comment by an elderly couple next to me as the man said to his wife’ you know they are all
Lesbians, both sides, but they are ok’

 

[hart's shirt]

Firstly, an excellent win for Albion Women today. It was the sort of close game that they would've lost last year. They've clearly made improvements.

West Ham will probably feel like they could've taken a point having hit the bar and somehow contrived to sky one over the bar from 2 yards out.

Albion gave them a chance with their 2nd goal by electing to play the ball forward from the back rather than to either side. Basic stuff.

But with West Ham's keeper having slower anticipation and movement than a sloth after a heavy meal, 3 points were always likely with shots on target.


Today's attendance was 4,638 (BBC Sport). Much lower when compared with the 8,369 in last month's Sat fixture against Man United at the Amex.

Now it's still double the number that would've been at Crawley - this season's WSL gates there have been 2,125, 2,152 and 2,082.

But last season's games at the Amex brought higher attendances - 6,951 for the visit of Spurs and even 4,967 for Everton on a Friday night.

The side is doing significantly better on the field, so there may be some reasonable questions as to why the numbers weren't higher on a free weekend.

 

[Uter]

Today's attendance was 4,638 (BBC Sport). Much lower when compared with the 8,369 in last month's Sat fixture against Man United at the Amex.

But last season's games at the Amex brought higher attendances - 6,951 for the visit of Spurs and even 4,967 for Everton on a Friday night.

The side is doing significantly better on the field, so there may be some reasonable questions as to why the numbers weren't higher on a free weekend.

I don't think they marketed the West Ham game particularly aggressively, plus the Man Utd game was fairly recent, and they are a much bigger draw. I think the attendance was pretty much as expected all told. Not very far off the typical attendance at the Withdean for the men's team in less successful seasons either.

I think they should move the Palace and Arsenal games to the Amex. If we are still doing OK and they market them well, I think 10000+ crowds are possible.

 

[Uter]

TBT
I'm not dissing the Ladies teams nor Ladies football as a whole. I'd love to see it grow. My Granddaughter loves it and I've taken her to many games. I'll be first in the queue for Euro games for the Albion Ladies.
It was just that going to Crawley as I do, seeing the costs of putting on a game and knowing the returns at the gate, I just wonder why?

I suspect Bloom thinks there is likely to be very significant growth in media and commercial income for the women's game in the coming years, and, as with the men's game, the big money will be in European competition. Hence the notable signings this season.

Matchday revenue is unlikely to be a big earner for some time, but players will still prefer to play in front of decent crowds in great facilities. Having a purpose built stadium will be a major selling point for prospective signings. The investment in the academy for the women's teams shows just how much he thinks the game is going to grow. He doesn't want the Albion to be left behind.

 

[sagaman]

Really enjoyed the match. Albion team is miles better than last year

 

[hart's shirt]

I don't think they marketed the West Ham game particularly aggressively, plus the Man Utd game was fairly recent, and they are a much bigger draw. I think the attendance was pretty much as expected all told. Not very far off the typical attendance at the Withdean for the men's team in less successful seasons either.

I think they should move the Palace and Arsenal games to the Amex. If we are still doing OK and they market them well, I think 10000+ crowds are possible.

I suppose it begs the question why it wasn't marketed more aggressively then. Free weekend and a Saturday fixture - plenty in their favour.

I'd agree on the Arsenal game switch as they have excellent attendances with the Ashburton Army and numbers would be significantly higher.

But other than highly unlikely policing reasons, Palace can stay at Crawley. Last Sunday, they only had 502 for the home WSL game against Everton.

We've had more than that at REMF games against Palace.

 

[Uter]

But other than highly unlikely policing reasons, Palace can stay at Crawley. Last Sunday, they only had 502 for the home WSL game against Everton.

We've had more than that at REMF games against Palace.

I really don't think a crowd of nearly 5000 at the Amex for the women's team against West Ham is in any way disappointing.

Are you suggesting Brighton vs Palace women won't be moved to the Amex for policing reasons? I have to disagree if so. If Spurs and Arsenal can play each other at their home grounds then why not Palace and Brighton. I've never seen a sniff of trouble at a women's game and I don't think there's any reason to believe they'd be any trouble for this particular fixture. Why on earth would there be any policing issues? The rivalry is a great way to market the tickets, so why not capitalise?

 

[hart's shirt]

I really don't think a crowd of nearly 5000 at the Amex for the women's team against West Ham is in any way disappointing.

Are you suggesting Brighton vs Palace women won't be moved to the Amex for policing reasons? I have to disagree if so. If Spurs and Arsenal can play each other at their home grounds then why not Palace and Brighton. I've never seen a sniff of trouble at a women's game and I don't think there's any reason to believe they'd be any trouble for this particular fixture. Why on earth would there be any policing issues? The rivalry is a great way to market the tickets, so why not capitalise?

Albion Women's attendances at the Amex (as documented on Wiki and BBC Sport):

8,369 - Man United (season 2024-25)
6,951 - Tottenham (season 2023-24)
5,265 - Arsenal (season 2018-19)
5,220 - Reading (season 2022-23)
4,967 - Everton (season 2023-24)
4,638 - West Ham (season 2024-25)
4,130 - Birmingham (season 2019-20)
3,566 - Leicester (season 2021-22)
2,264 - West Ham (season 2021-22)

Granted, when compared with Crawley attendances around 2,000, any attendance that's 4,000+ is going to look good.
But when compared with other games held at the Amex, today's attendance was only the 6th highest. Reading and Everton weren't bigger sides.
And this is after some momentum building post Euros.
With the previous gates in mind and targets, today's attendance is probably less than they'd have hoped for. A reasonable conclusion to draw IMHO.

As for Palace, I'm not suggesting that the game should be moved because of policing reasons (hence the 'highly unlikely' bit). Palace Women clearly don't have enough support home or away to necessitate a stadium switch to the Amex. I agree with you that there's not likely to be any trouble at the event other than probably some expected chants, etc. As for the rivalry, thousands of additional spectators aren't likely to be flooding in from Croydon any time soon if they only get 502 at home. Family-friendly, different feel and all that. Until the purpose-built stadium is complete, Crawley and Palace are probably a match made in heaven for plenty of reasons!

 

[empire]

Firstly, an excellent win for Albion Women today. It was the sort of close game that they would've lost last year. They've clearly made improvements.

West Ham will probably feel like they could've taken a point having hit the bar and somehow contrived to sky one over the bar from 2 yards out.

Albion gave them a chance with their 2nd goal by electing to play the ball forward from the back rather than to either side. Basic stuff.

But with West Ham's keeper having slower anticipation and movement than a sloth after a heavy meal, 3 points were always likely with shots on target.


Today's attendance was 4,638 (BBC Sport). Much lower when compared with the 8,369 in last month's Sat fixture against Man United at the Amex.

Now it's still double the number that would've been at Crawley - this season's WSL gates there have been 2,125, 2,152 and 2,082.

But last season's games at the Amex brought higher attendances - 6,951 for the visit of Spurs and even 4,967 for Everton on a Friday night.

The side is doing significantly better on the field, so there may be some reasonable questions as to why the numbers weren't higher on a free weekend.

8000 on u tube watching

 

[hart's shirt]

8000 on u tube watching

That's good - I was one of them - but they don't feature in gate attendances.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

For those that watch the women's team regularly, did Pattinson have an unusually good game? Thought was the standout player in the first half. Technically very good, brings the ball forward graceful, looks to play a forward pass and executes them extremely well. Kirby was obviously great, and Cankovic had a wonderful cameo: lots of intricate passing for the winner.

Poppy is having a great season, she occasionally gets caught the wrong side of the ball when she’s eager to get forward but she’s mobile enough to recover. Going forward she’s got some lovely skills and overlaps very well, has a good delivery too, a firm favourite in the DFP household. Was nice to see Pauline Bremer back today, felt like we’ve been lacking a bit of intensity since she’s been sidelined.

I think the ladies would benefit from a stadium of around 10k, something they could maybe share with the u-23s but would essentially be their own home.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

8000 on u tube watching

I guess the question is how to encourage some of those into the ground to support the girls.