2,010 for 2010

[Jonty]

Here's an attendance table from the late Tony Kempster site, still being maintained for this season. If I've done my sums right we are currently 17% down on our average home attendance this season-1554 down to 1289. (Scroll down the page for a comparison 08/09 season) Generally speaking, the better a team is performing, the higher attendances- no suprise there. The exception being Wrexham- who are the example of a club not doing so well in the league yet maintaining a good average attendance against the previous season. Unsuprisingly the majority of the top 10 is made up of all the "big" ex league clubs with traditionally larger fan bases. Stevenage- doing well this season are at an average attendance level we want to be at.

Can we get into that top 8 average attendance? over the next 2 / 3 seasons. I would like to think so and I think the board are working extremely hard on identifying ticket deals and incentives. Down to the Barrow AFC fans to get down to HS.

http://tonykempster.co.uk/confatt.htm

[Jonty]

Why not make something to go in the mail or advertiser with 10x 2010 in 2010 vouchers for the remaining 10 games, maybe 20% off each game and at the end of the season if we achieve the 2010 in the ten games people can get a percentage off season tickets or kids go half price with a full paying adult all next season?

like it- good idea and Evening mail reaches out to the wider area

[Steelworks End]

With regard to admission prices I'm pretty sure the club have to charge a minimum admission price for league games (last season it was £10 for an adult) so this may have an effect on what exactly they can do.

In general terms, that's probably correct. But aren't clubs allowed to have a - probably limited - number of promotional admission prices during the season? I'm sure that's what happened when Stevenage ripped us off (sorry, had an initiative to attract more home fans through the turnstiles) last season.

Also, I think that the minimum applies to adults only and that clubs can charge what they want for kids and seniors, although I may be wrong on this.

[Andy]

It's a good idea, the local Rugby League players get involved. Its a lot harder with us, because we only have Jason Walker classed as a local lad. Maybe during this bad weather, when training is called off, instead of letting the players go back home, maybe the club should be making sure they complete tasks in the local community. IE: Go and help in schools with PE lessons etc... I am led to believe that all players on a contract with Barrow RL, have to do a bit for the community. For example go into local hospitals, go into schools, junior RL presentation nights. This is a fantastic idea IMO by the rugby and it surley helps get kids back through the turnstiles. Well it must do, because AFC are averaging 1,250 and Raiders 2,100.

That would work if we didn't train in Salford. This is one of the down sides of our training model at present.

[Lisa]

the board want an average attendance of 2,010 people for the last 10 games of the season.

tony keen said that

If we can’t get big crowds in for those games we as a board will have to look at what the real potential is for this club, because there will not be a Middlesbrough or Sunderland game every year.

board are right to look forward and try to raise attendences as games like middlsbrough and sunderland wont happen every year to make up the money lost on the decreasig gate. IMO. they should try to create a partnership with the local schools (like the rugby) to get kids invoved with the club and intrested in supporting there local team.

I know that some schools have Inside Out Soccer doing after school clubs and children that have attended them have been given vouchers to attend the matches for free if they have a paying adult with them. That is a start, but as not every child does the after school clubs, maybe vouchers should be published in the Evening Mail for the same offer.

[Leo]

Here's an attendance table from the late Tony Kempster site, still being maintained for this season. If I've done my sums right we are currently 17% down on our average home attendance this season-1554 down to 1289. (Scroll down the page for a comparison 08/09 season) Generally speaking, the better a team is performing, the higher attendances- no suprise there. The exception being Wrexham- who are the example of a club not doing so well in the league yet maintaining a good average attendance against the previous season. Unsuprisingly the majority of the top 10 is made up of all the "big" ex league clubs with traditionally larger fan bases. Stevenage- doing well this season are at an average attendance level we want to be at.

Can we get into that top 8 average attendance? over the next 2 / 3 seasons. I would like to think so and I think the board are working extremely hard on identifying ticket deals and incentives. Down to the Barrow AFC fans to get down to HS.

http://tonykempster.co.uk/confatt.htm

However I think there has been around a 10% increase in ticket prices? Cant remember what the prices were last season, so all in all I cant imagine we're that much down in gates, financially, compared to last season

[monty zoomer]

How about a free bottle of Frosty Jack,or whatever the kids are drinking nowadays, Im sure that would bring a few in.

[oasis]

How about a free bottle of Frosty Jack,or whatever the kids are drinking nowadays, Im sure that would bring a few in.

Tesco's own lagar, GET IT RIGHT

[barrow blue]

On the subject of getting 2010 for 2010, i feel it is not helped by barrow playing their games on a saturday afternoon at the same time as local teams. I myself play local football, and attend every barrow home game when we have no game or our game is called off, and also evening games as do four of my team mates.This is were barrow rugby have a advantage over the football ,as they play their games on a thursday night,saturday night, or sunday afternoon,this allowing local rugby players to attend their games,witch surely most add anything from 200 to 500 on to each of their home gates.
Now i know the football league do not allow teams to pick and choose the time they play their games,but i am sure many if not all non league teams are in the same boat.This is why i think there must be a case for the fa to look at the times that non league teams play their games,i am not saying that they should change the time of them all,as i am fully aware that part and parcell of being a football fan is 3pm on a saturday afternoon.But surely there is a case for allowing teams to play say a qaurter of there home games at a differrent time.
A prime example of this is the boxing day game against gateshead i must have reconised upto 50 or so local players just around the area that a was standing yhat would not normally be there at that time due to playing themselfs,I my not be right but this is just my view.
On the idea of theme days these need to be thought through properly,because lets be honest bring your mum along day how many is this going to add onto the gate not many if none, i for one know what my mum would say if i said come on grab your coat we are off to holker street.

[thegaffer77]

20 years or so ago, the club ran a free tickets for schools scheme. Every so often primary schools would get some (30 I think) tickets to bring kids for free. I remember going to a game against South Liverpool, sat in the old stand, seats covered with bird poo. It was great sitting with your school mates, who you wouldn't see at a normal game. The club could run a similar scheme challenging each primary school to fill their allocation, create the most noise/colour/ sponsors etc to get them into the ground. Announce over the PA who they are, get them to make some noise. Each child must bring an adult- charge them half for example and then get them in the cross bar to spend their pocket money on pop and crisps, whilst the adult has a pint. Put the 'Barrow AFC school of the week' in the Evening Mail- at the end of the season- who gathered the most sponsor money etc.... A Signed Barrow AFC Shirt goes on each primary sports display board promoting the club, free tickets as a reward for positive behaviour etc etc even if your not school of the week. All club have to do is send a letter to the schools, or go in, tell them all about it then send the tickets each week. School of the week meet in the Crossbar before the game and get escorted to the stand....job done.

Getting people through the door.

[Stu_Barrow_Afc]

I like that idea Gaffer, could be worthwhile sending to the club? Why stop at schools in Barrow though, why not extend to Ulverston/South Lakes

[Optimism]

Good thoughts, Gaffer.

It reiterates schools as being the places to target. Large, enthusiastic communities full of potential life-long supporters. There will be 14-15 year olds who have reached cynicism so see all below the top 4 in the Premier League as a bit 'naff', but, with the right sort of promotion, younger, more pliable minds could catch the football bug with us at Barrow.

I believe it has to be active though, involving club ambassadors visiting and distributing ideas, rather than dry press releases promoting the latest ticket deal through paper or website.

[Jaws]

On the subject of getting 2010 for 2010, i feel it is not helped by barrow playing their games on a saturday afternoon at the same time as local teams. I myself play local football, and attend every barrow home game when we have no game or our game is called off, and also evening games as do four of my team mates.This is were barrow rugby have a advantage over the football ,as they play their games on a thursday night,saturday night, or sunday afternoon,this allowing local rugby players to attend their games,witch surely most add anything from 200 to 500 on to each of their home gates.
Now i know the football league do not allow teams to pick and choose the time they play their games,but i am sure many if not all non league teams are in the same boat.This is why i think there must be a case for the fa to look at the times that non league teams play their games,i am not saying that they should change the time of them all,as i am fully aware that part and parcell of being a football fan is 3pm on a saturday afternoon.But surely there is a case for allowing teams to play say a qaurter of there home games at a differrent time.
A prime example of this is the boxing day game against gateshead i must have reconised upto 50 or so local players just around the area that a was standing yhat would not normally be there at that time due to playing themselfs,I my not be right but this is just my view.
On the idea of theme days these need to be thought through properly,because lets be honest bring your mum along day how many is this going to add onto the gate not many if none, i for one know what my mum would say if i said come on grab your coat we are off to holker street.

How about the local leagues looking at changing their times? Earlier kick offs?

[oasis]

On the subject of getting 2010 for 2010, i feel it is not helped by barrow playing their games on a saturday afternoon at the same time as local teams. I myself play local football, and attend every barrow home game when we have no game or our game is called off, and also evening games as do four of my team mates.This is were barrow rugby have a advantage over the football ,as they play their games on a thursday night,saturday night, or sunday afternoon,this allowing local rugby players to attend their games,witch surely most add anything from 200 to 500 on to each of their home gates.
Now i know the football league do not allow teams to pick and choose the time they play their games,but i am sure many if not all non league teams are in the same boat.This is why i think there must be a case for the fa to look at the times that non league teams play their games,i am not saying that they should change the time of them all,as i am fully aware that part and parcell of being a football fan is 3pm on a saturday afternoon.But surely there is a case for allowing teams to play say a qaurter of there home games at a differrent time.
A prime example of this is the boxing day game against gateshead i must have reconised upto 50 or so local players just around the area that a was standing yhat would not normally be there at that time due to playing themselfs,I my not be right but this is just my view.
On the idea of theme days these need to be thought through properly,because lets be honest bring your mum along day how many is this going to add onto the gate not many if none, i for one know what my mum would say if i said come on grab your coat we are off to holker street.

How about the local leagues looking at changing their times? Earlier kick offs?

Yeah, how about 6.00 am kick off?

[Lancaster Branch]

In my view, it's not just about the club offering incentives to the kids (which it should do, natch) - it's also about getting more paying adults in. 'The town' needs to decide whether or not it wants to support its team back into the Football League or stay sat on its collective arse watching Soccer Saturday and having a 'day out' once every blue moon.