471

[doublebarrel]

My point is that if you have more people helping more things will get done. For example I agree totally about the signage to the ground but someone has got to take that part of the package and try to achieve improved visual awareness of the ground. We have a residents' day in Feb in an attempt to get more people in the ground on that evening. Whether or not you agree with this approach it will need people to deliver flyers to local residents. A great deal can be achieved with limited financial resources if you have willing helpers and I believe this to be the point Dos has consistently made. At this point I will state that the one constant about the majority of the comments made on this forum is that they are made with good intent.
AB has mentioned on this thread the Notts County game where we had a stall in the High Street and signs at the train stations etc. This without doubt added to the size of the crowd (albeit this match was an easier product to sell) and cost nothing in terms of cash apart from some limited copying. I am not saying that an increase in club helpers is the answer to everything but it would go a long way to assist with things that everybody at the club are aware need doing.

[mmm]

I've been going to sutton games on and off for nearly 20 years. I was there on Saturday for the first time in a while, and tbh I think it's going to be another while before I'm back again. I'm not a complainer, but paying an hour's wage to watch poor quality football (for the first half, all the players chasing the ball round the field en masse, like we used to at school), plus a ref that suddenly turned spiteful, and weather so cold I nearly froze to death? For the next few weeks I think I'm going to be staying in the warm and watching the 6 Nations.

[markf]

As we know, it can cost over 60 quid to get into The Emirates this season, so for that you would expect to be guaranteed 5 times the quality and entertainment you get at GGL. But, this is football, so there is no guarantee. I have watched some pretty dire PL football on Sky this season and seen some good stuff to.

Perhaps Saturday was not the best match to choose considering the state of the pitch because of weeks of appalling weather, the fact that both teams were lacking in match practice and the fact both sides are/were desperate for a win. I don't remember seeing any play that resembled a school match (chasing around en masse) the right back never found himself on the left wing etc. And actually a rugby match looks exactly like the schoolboy football you describe to me. I think a little perspective is required here.

As for the ref, well there is nought either club can do about that I am afraid.

Enjoy the rugby in warm. I'd prefer footy in the cold myself.

[Stewart]

mmm you did not pick a great game. Come back on Tuesday, the corresponding game at the start of the season was a cracker.

[bornatotter]

Personally I didn't think it was that bad a game on Saturday but that may be the result if being starved of BSS football for so long. After all, when your gagging for a pint even Carling can taste OK. Also, we won. On the wider point I don't want to rev up the Life Centre debate but there remains something wrong with the way the council, who have got all kinds of promotional networks, ignore not just us but the other mob the other side of the hospital. Other grounds we go to you pick up more of a sense of civic pride in the senior local team. I'm not knocking anyone at the club who I know are working their socks off on the development plan which would make a huge difference as and when we can integrate facilities on the rec and build up community involvement. What sticks in my craw is the cynical attitude of Burstow and the local councillors who happily dust off the chocolate and amber scarf for a publicity op like Notts County and couldn't give a toss the rest of the time.

[wiltshire]

Accepting I live 80 miles away nowadays so I am not in the target fan base, I think the club should recognise that cost is a real factor. £12 is expensive particularly when the team is playing poorly, winning infrequently at home and the squad keeps changing.
You can get in at Selhurst Park for £20 for some games and part of Sutton's problem has always been that Palace, Fulham and Chelsea all draw support from the Borough. A lot of clubs at all levels are suffering but it does feel that we have lost momentum at GGL. 2 for the price of 1 tickets and discounting a few games might help people get back into the habit of going, and it is a habit so once people stop you have to tempt them back in. I've been to GGL twice this season and one of those was the Boxing Day washout, as somebody else has noted the late postponements put people off too.
I've seen 4 games this year and only 1 decent performance (Dorchester). Bottom line is that if the football was better more people would be prepared to pay £12 to watch.

[Amber Aleman]

I'll leave others to comment on pricing, but there are constraints on how much Sutton Utd can lower its admission charges for league matches.

I don't know whether Billy was winding us up by saying he preferred the Ryman League. In my view the standard of football in Conference South is noticeably higher than in the Ryman - and not much below the lower levels of the Football League. But anybody who's been reared on a diet of televised Premier League highlights is bound to be disappointed.

Incidentally, this evening there were only 290 at Dorchester and 326 at Farnborough. Even Welling, whose win took them just three points from the top of the table, could only attract 433. But it was cold out there!

[os]

Halving the price to get in and doubling the crowd is not exactly the answer. A couple of things which have been pointed out are true: The local council have shown zero interest in either of their local clubs which you will notice is a key ingredient for success at our level, clubs that have local LA support do well and those that don't find it more difficult.

Another key statement is that we need more volunteers to come forward to either pound their keyboards or donate some shoe leather. Talk is very cheap and armchair lawyers are 10 a penny.

We have lots of things coming up which will help the clubs profile and coffers, we need people to get the message out there!!!

We can double our attendence by sheer hard work and endevour but don't leave it to the same old people - put yourself forward.

[Andy K]

Some really interesting comments here, and the one thing that is clear is how complex the issue actually is! I really take the point about the council (the public face of it at least) not even acknowledging that the club exists. But I also see that everyone who is saying they are not coming or are going to stop has good point too, which are important to them. I can see that if someone came for the first time and watched the match on Saturday, then from an entertainment point of view they wouldn't come back. We can say about not playing for weeks, state of pitches, but that means nothing to the casual supporter. They need a reason to come back, or at least a reason to leave the ground after the game saying to themselves "I enjoyed that experience" - whether that be because of what was happening on the pitch, or otherwise.

Imagine this scenario now....no more resources (either in terms of finances or volunteers) are available. What could the club do with what they've got to increase crowds?

[Rax]

Very difficult to drag people along at the moment. A few of my regular lot support the likes of Arsenal and Spurs and as they politely put it, "I'm not spending £12 to watch your lot on that pitch in the freezing cold." I'm not being negative here but you ain't gonna change that way of thinking... or are you?

Not everyone loves live footy and would rather watch a Prem game in the pub or at home if they have the means. How do you convince them to change their way of thinking? I don't support a 'proper' team because I couldn't give a toss about some chap from the Ivory Coast who earns more than I do in a year in one week. At least at this level and the lower levels of the footy league the local club's just that, local. There's a bit of a community feel to it and you can kind of associate with the side you support.

Some Prem fans are getting disenchanted with their clubs and I can fully understand it.

[DaveF]

A lot of interesting debate and opinions; thank you, something for us to get our teeth into into.

As I said, there have been less themed days this season because we have had so few home Saturday league games. We do have some events coming up though, including:- Disability Awareness Day, Legends' Day, Community Funday, Residents' Day and Ladies' Day.

We have also introduced a special offer on season tickets for the last twelve home games to help people cope with having so many games to pay for in such a short period.

We have also made progress regarding the ground redevelopment plans and I will post an update sometime this week.

[suttoncommoner]

As a non-hardcore Sutton supporter who probably goes to (with wife) around half the home games and only moved to the area 5 years ago I thought I'd add my few pennies worth.

A winning team (like last season) is far more likely to attract non regulars to the games, even if the standard isn't that high, fans want to see victories. Some of the games this season have been disappointing. With the amount of games postponed the league table doesn't help to attract people either.

Due to work commitments it's very unlikely that I can make mid week games.

The weather, especially the rain, mean standing under one of two covered areas. At the Wrexham game there was a young boy swearing and stomping around throughout the second half, not really the sort of environment for other parent to take their kids. Down the side of the pitch the constant moaning and abuse of the referee from the 'older generation' becomes tiresome.

Have to agree with Billy that the turnover of players doesn't help, although I can understand why this happens.

As to how to increase attendances I'm not sure I can come up with any alternatives to those already tabled, just hope the team performs well and moves up the table.

[Stewart]

I agree with the last post. The behaviour of a minority of Sutton fans is a disgrace. How anyone can use the c word and think it ok is beyond me. Some of the comments towards the opposition goalie were also childish. Maybe it’s an age thing, I hope not.

[jr]

Agree with a lot of the posts on here. With regards to the Council my thoughts have always been that football clubs somehow need to get a fan or three onto the Council. How they do that I don't know but it would help the club no end if we had a true fan in a high powered job there!

[markf]

Oh, right, now I understand the falling gates. It's down to us fans who get temporary tourettes on occasion! I chatted with my 14 year old nephew recently and he says all the kids swear at school, so no different to when I was there, then. Nought has changed it would appear. I'm not saying it's right but come on...

Did a quick bit of research & our av gate the year we went up was c700. The Ryman does offer more local derbies and we got good gates for the visits of K's, T&M and Robins.

However, and it has always been my opinion & tbh, is not rocket science, the good gates come when we're winning & doing well and look likely to win something. Our last 3 home gates that season were 967 v Bury, 1552 v Hastings (community day) and 1367 against the Robins.

When the BSS was formed, alot of people spoke about higher gates etc but that has never materialised since it's inception unless you have well established fan base over many years, Dartford and Chelmsford for instance, or you do well. A good example of this is Farnborough. They had some v big gates a couple of seasons ago but cannot attract anything near them at the mo.

I think the equation is success = better gates. You could play the best football in the world but at U's level if the results don't match it, people will stop coming & that's ever more true during an economic down turn.