Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: deebee on February 22, 2017, 08:20:54 am
-
Why we don't announce the crowd total attendance at matches any more? I have been to lots of away games this season and the attendance is always announced including how many are away fans.
-
Probably backed up by Gavin Baldwin's latest on the club very disappointed in home crowd attendances even though Rovers currently top of the League
-
Gavin Baldwin needs to get a reality check, then. Top of League 2 is not as enticing as top of league 1.
-
I agree. We had this with Mr Ryan. I started to watch the you tube thing last night and in his early bit, the crowds and the people of Doncaster blah blah blah. I turned it off when we got to about 5 mins, I was not going to comment on it in the thread because people said it was brill. I do not doubt it is but it is not for me thank you.
-
Any occasional fan who's been to see us for the last two years will have been treated to £20 for 90 minutes of toss. Have we done anything this season to bring em back in and show them the football is a completely different breed this season?
-
The football has been better and more entertaining with better players.
The trouble is that once people stop going every week the habit is broken and some take some getting back.
I deliberately didn't renew my season ticket as I knew that if I did I would get to as many games as possible. After nearly forty years of travelling across for games the journey is now a bind and since the wife retired taking five or six hours out of every other Saturday doesn't seem fair.
I'll do more if I can get my son to drive. The other thing is that if I still lived in Donny I would barely miss a match.
I'll be staying in Donny next Thursday night ready for the early start for Friday's trip for the supporters' week-end for Crawley though. 🙂
-
The crowd is probably not announced nowadays as it just sets of a chorus of "your ground is to big for you" from the half dozen away fans!
COYR
-
Not announcing the attendance doesn't hide the problem, presuming there is one.
-
We've not announced attendances at matches for years, from memory it was probably 2nd or 3rd season in the championship when every time the attendance was announced the away fans then took the piss for about 5 minutes. So we just stopped. Don't understand why we still don't bother, nobody in league 2 gets decent crowds (other than Portsmouth maybe).
-
We've not announced attendances at matches for years, from memory it was probably 2nd or 3rd season in the championship when every time the attendance was announced the away fans then took the piss for about 5 minutes. So we just stopped. Don't understand why we still don't bother, nobody in league 2 gets decent crowds (other than Portsmouth maybe).
Television has spoilt that experience of waiting to buy tickets and then basking in sub zero temps or boiling hot days. Traffic queues. Crap food and over priced too. Too easy now to sit infront of the tv. kids on computers instead of fresh air.
-
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/15108536.Bantams_happy_to_stay_cheap_and_cheerful___whatever_the_division/
Bradford don't have a problem with cold weather and TV games though. I know they have a bigger ground so can afford to do this on a bigger scale but im still convinced if we halved the season ticket price and got double the sales the club would still make more money based on after sales such as programmes and food.
-
Dead right Mick, monitor their time in front of the computer and control, get them out on the back field like we did.
-
Was talking about this Saturday in the pub.
Had the ground been on the old college site in the town centre, does anyone think crowds would be better?
Personally I don't think the keepmoat is in a brilliant location.
-
It's not just the ground itself,when new grounds are built transportation and car parks are taking into account
-
Was talking about this Saturday in the pub.
Had the ground been on the old college site in the town centre, does anyone think crowds would be better?
Personally I don't think the keepmoat is in a brilliant location.
I'm glad it's not so close to the town centre. The traffic would be horrendous! I sometimes have the pleasure of going through Rotherham on a matchday when I have to work and the journey can be a nightmare!
As for would it improve the attendances? I don't think it would make much difference. There's not a great deal in the distance from town to be honest,public transport is available also for those who don't drive and there is plenty of car parks available.
The problem with attendances is simply that we missed generations of supporters who went on to support the likes of Leeds,Wednesday,Blades etc.. all much more glamorous clubs with bigger history. The only way the crowds will improve is with success. And It won't just happen overnight.
-
Gavin Baldwin needs to get a reality check, then. Top of League 2 is not as enticing as top of league 1.
The issue is Alan we were getting bigger crowds thirteen years after being at the top of the then division three. It's very disappointing that a lot of fans have dropped us like a bad Penney after a decade of successes since that memorable first season back in the league. I know lots of lads who used to go week in week out, home and away! They don't even get down to the odd game now but probably do call themselves a fan of the club. One understands that as you get older other responsibilities take over somewhat but you would expect fans that have followed us in the old forth division and the conference would want to make at least half a dozen matches this season!
-
Was talking about this Saturday in the pub.
Had the ground been on the old college site in the town centre, does anyone think crowds would be better?
Personally I don't think the keepmoat is in a brilliant location.
Spot on, I've always said the stadium should of been on that site, it would of been far better! More fans out having a drink in town would of made a good atmosphere!
-
Does anyone think that Rovers attendances could be influenced by the fortunes of L**ds at any given time?
-
Belle Vue was much nearer town and the crowds rarely dropped below 6000
-
To a certain degree yes, there are still lots of Leeds fans who occasionally go down the rovers, probably less so in recent seasons. You'll still get young lads who end up supporting Leeds because there dad does, was talking to a youth in town before the Luton game who was knocking around with lots of rovers fans cos there his mates but his dad is a big Leeds fan from Thorne!!!
-
I have noticed recently that plenty of my customers have been asking me about the Rovers and showing an interest now that we are doing well.
Over the last few home games an odd one or two have told me they had attended a match and only today two told me they were going on Saturday.
There is a definite lift in interest just now.
As has been said though, L2 isn't such a big pull for occasional fans, although i think we did have the biggest L2 crowd last Saturday.
-
Gavin Baldwin needs to get a reality check, then. Top of League 2 is not as enticing as top of league 1.
To be fair to Gavin who IMHO works his socks off for the club and the supporters, I think his comment was more along the lines that it was disappointing that our support hadn't increased more in view of the fact we were sat at the top of the league and going very well. I share that view I really thought more people would come and watch if we were doing well.
As to announcing the crowd numbers....it was something I asked about a couple of months ago and in particular to announce the away following too. I can't remember where the supporter feedback came from but Gavin said there didn't seem to be much interest in such announcements.
-
The problem that we have is fans that are either die hards or floaters take the 90 minutes all to seriously. Yes, I want us to win just as much as the fan stood next to me.
For me it's a social event where a good few pints and having a laugh with your mates are a as important as the match itself! Town on Saturday was virtually dead, hardly any fans out making a social occasion of going to the football.
It doesn't matter what division we are in or who we play, the status quo of a good few pints and some crack with your mates is what's important!
-
Football's not just a matter of a good few pints and some crack with your mates, it's much more important than that!
-
Belle Vue was much nearer town and the crowds rarely dropped below 6000
I think they did Cantley. I recall a game against Chester when I was accompanied bu another 748 or so. We lost the crowds in 1970 after the post Christmas dire run. No prizes for guessing where they went.
-
Belle Vue was much nearer town
Actually about the same distance
-
Football's not just a matter of a good few pints and some crack with your mates, it's much more important than that
I agree with you on that, but the match starts at 3 and is finished at 4:50. If you solely try to get your enjoyment from those 110 minutes and it becomes less enjoyable due to performances and results then you'll likely stop going. If you try and have the mind set that I'll enjoy the day out with the lads win lose or draw then you'll likely to want to keep going.
I'll give you a good example. Over many years I've enjoyed many London away days, non more so than the charlton away game. As we all know this game was called off at half time and it had a bearing on how the season panned out but it was still a cracking day out! Leaving the ground I was utterly disgusted with a dozen or so rovers fans who were ganging up on a poor steward about why the game had been called off. I mean the poor lad can't stop Mother Nature or have any influence on the referees decision making.
My mindset was, the game has been called off, there nothing anyone can do about it,because it happens from time to time. At least we all got in the barrowboy and banker for an earlier than expected pint at London Bridge!
-
That's a great philosophy, JR, and everything would be fantastic if everyone felt the same. but they don't.
To a lot of people, it is of prime importance whether their team wins or loses. That's why every team in the land loses support when they lose regularly.
I, for instance, through no choice of my own, adopt a persona that reflects my team's last result. If Rovers have lost, I'm a different person than if they have won. I've been like that since I was a kid, although admittedly I have become increasingly less influenced by it over the years. When I was a kid I had a cloud over me until Rovers won again, but now I get over a defeat after a couple of pints on a Saturday night, or by midnight after a midweek match after a couple of Whiskies.
To me, everything is about winning, which seems a bit daft being a Rovers fan, but at least I'm loyal enough to stick with my local team - Unfortunately, not everyone's like me, and about 5 thousand others!
-
That's a great philosophy, JR, and everything would be fantastic if everyone felt the same. but they don't.
To a lot of people, it is of prime importance whether their team wins or loses. That's why every team in the land loses support when they lose regularly.
I, for instance, through no choice of my own, adopt a persona that reflects my team's last result. If Rovers have lost, I'm a different person than if they have won. I've been like that since I was a kid, although admittedly I have become increasingly less influenced by it over the years. When I was a kid I had a cloud over me until Rovers won again, but now I get over a defeat after a couple of pints on a Saturday night, or by midnight after a midweek match after a couple of Whiskies.
To me, everything is about winning, which seems a bit daft being a Rovers fan, but at least I'm loyal enough to stick with my local team - Unfortunately, not everyone's like me, and about 5 thousand others!
BB, I totally agree with your sentiments, I truly do!
People often wonder why fans love football and there team so much and I'll recall a game from twenty years ago.
Before I do, ill give you a little bit of back ground. My first Rovers game was in either 89 or 90 when I was about 9 against Halifax Town. 3-0 up at half time, we ended up getting beat 4-3 with Horsfield scoring a hatrick, how apt you might say.
I would describe my following of the rovers during the 90's a "bit part". I would occasionally go with my Dad, more often than not with a guy from down the street during the early 90's and also several times with a close mates dad. The 90's wasn't the greatest decade for the rovers as I'm sure your well aware off, although a 90's best eleven would be up there with any Rovers side from the last 15 years. I enjoyed going to the rovers back then and enjoy being on the popside, the odd win from time to time was exciting to say the least. I was also a keen follower of the Dons as a Kid as were many of my family and enjoyed some great times at Tattersfield, espically during he mid 90's when my following of rovers wained somewhat.
I'm still a passionate follower of rugby league and its a great sport when played at the highest level, although my following of the Dons is far less these days.
So to the point I'm going to make, the game from virtually twenty years ago now. Rovers 2 Wigan Athletic 0. There was great anticipation before the game whether or not Paul Birch would play or not. Thankfully Uncle Ken selected him to play and what a game it was. The atmosphere was amazing for a relatively small crowd that night. The performance and result was much needed.
But the key moment that hit me like a steam train and made me realise what being a football fan was all about and more importantly what following your local team was about was of course Paul Birch's 25 yard screamer. Quite surreal at the time, one second you just stood there the next you going bloody crazy!
The popside went mental as did I, jumping around like a wild monkey on ecstasy. I knew from then on, that feeling of a sudden rush of excitment was so addictive. I knew that all the money in the world couldn't buy that feeling and still doesn't to this day, just like when Alfie May scored on Saturday!
For me that's the real reason why we keep going to support our local team! watching good football is a great pleasure and all the social benefits that go with following the Rovers is great.
Finally as I said before to people, where else on the planet would you rather of been on that eventful afternoon in west London on April 27th 2013.............. Answer, nowhere other than Griffin Park!!!
-
There's no way Horsfield scored a hat trick for Halifax in that 4-3 game - it would have been about 10 years before his time.
-
There's no way Horsfield scored a hat trick for Halifax in that 4-3 game - it would have been about 10 years before his time.
Halifax had 4 different goalscorers in a 4-3 win 21 April 1990.
-
Sad but true, but any part time fans we could have hoped for are probably watching either of the Sheffield clubs or Leeds because they are also doing reasonably well.
-
Sad but true, but any part time fans we could have hoped for are probably watching either of the Sheffield clubs or Leeds because they are also doing reasonably well.
Agreed. We've missed a generation of supporters. It will take years of success to build our attendances.
Not a 5 month spell at the top of league two.
-
Sad but true, but any part time fans we could have hoped for are probably watching either of the Sheffield clubs or Leeds because they are also doing reasonably well.
Agreed. We've missed a generation of supporters. It will take years of success to build our attendances.
Not a 5 month spell at the top of league two.
People have been using that excuse for 20 years now, although it's very true I think attendances are slightly lower than they should be.
-
There's no point looking too deep into attendances because we know there are people out there who know where the ground is, who have been regulars or occasionals before. Many of those may have turned out for the Stoke game last season.
Lowering ticket prices would have minimal effect and thinking the shortfall in income would me made up with additional concourse sales is false as Rovers don't take all the profit from these.
The pricing doesn't prevent people attending. The average price people pay now is less than than what is has been for the majority of the time we've been at the Keepmoat. Buying tickets/gaining entry is easier than it ever has been.
For what ever reason, people have dropped off the bandwaggon through disappointment or apathy or other factors. Should we gain promotion, it will be interesting to see how sales increase.
As far as announcing attendances go, it certainly scuppered our Guess the Attendance sweepstake. Many times though you can hear folk saying it must be a fiddle thinking there were more in attendance than announced. In the scheme of things, does it really matter?
-
It isn't just about floating fans going to see other teams in the area.
Over the last few years people have had far more alternative options of what they can get up to on a Saturday instead of going to the football.
-
If match day attendances are the type of thing that really make your p*ss boil then I'm afraid that Donny Rovers are not going to be the team for you. This has been an 'issue' for some folk for as long as I can remember. For example in the promotion season of 1983/84 people were regularly asking why our attendances weren't higher than they were. It is what it is. Plus, if you think that they're bad now then you should have been at Belle Vue when there were about 1200 in it (and this was at a time when the ground capacity was 20+ thousand). With the exception of a handful of clubs, I'm sure that if you ask all supporters they would say that they're disappointed by their teams attendances.
What's more important for me is the Quality of the support as opposed to the Quantity. Going back to the days of 1200 in attendance at Belle Vue, whilst the place could often be like a morgue there were some occasions when those 1200 fans made the place absolutely rocking. Equally, I've been to the Keepmoat when I've thought that the atmosphere was absolutely fantastic too. On the flip side, I've been in some full football stadiums where the atmosphere has been terrible. A Hull City supporting pal of mine once told me that during their second season in the Premier league they were having to pump crowd noises over the PA system at the KCOM in an attempt to drum up some kind of atmosphere and this was in front of a packed stadium.
So, while we'd all like to see the Rovers playing in front of a full stadium at every home match we have to accept that we're on league 2 (albeit doing extremely well) and we've had a couple of very disappointing seasons but history tells us that success will bring the fans back.
-
Some good observations there particularly the sub 2000 crowds at BV.
As you say about the atmospheres, it's not driven by quantity, it's driven by engagement in the match. It was noticeable last Saturday, as the crowd turned on the ref, there was a gradual build up hence when May scored, we went mental and thereafter the crowd was well and truly willing the team on more vocally.
There was even a brief chant and clap witnessed in the West Stand Saga Barmy Army!
-
Can't believe that nobody from the BV days is not going to mention
the number of times that the crowd that was announced near end of whatever game,many times to be thounsands out by what you and all yer mates had guessed .
"Iam sure there was more than 4200 there today" for club to announce that there was 2997 in attendance .
Something was going on back then for sure .
-
Can't believe that nobody from the BV days is not going to mention
the number of times that the crowd that was announced near end of whatever game,many times to be thounsands out by what you and all yer mates had guessed .
"Iam sure there was more than 4200 there today" for club to announce that there was 2997 in attendance .
Something was going on back then for sure .
I remember the Burnley League Cup game when the crowd was a remarkable 24,999. Something to do with tax at 25,000 ?
-
3000 was a good crowd in those days.
-
The atmosphere at Belle vue was crap we only got good attendances mostly if it was a big cup tie and then it took the team doing something before the crowd got going. We are an ex conference side who has had almost continual ups and very few downs. The novelty has worn off for some who were looking for a game at a good standard seeing us one league below the top. Trips to Accrington and Newport at home don't have the allure for some to part with their cash.
Our crowds are decent but disappointing compared to the recent past but compared to when we regularly played in this league our crowds are very good. If the side keeps improving slowly a lot will come back others are lost forever to other things they want to do.
-
It isn't just about floating fans going to see other teams in the area.
Over the last few years people have had far more alternative options of what they can get up to on a Saturday instead of going to the football.
:that:
People just have other better things to do - times have moved on and a generation or two are lost to Football - not just Rovers. I said as much in this post amazingly back in Feb 2012 ! Time flies. Hopefully I will be around to trot it out again 10 Feb 2022 !!!
I still think with the LOWEST prices the Club (and indeed any other Clubs) could sustain the attendances are still going to stay low and fall more as time goes by
When I was a kid and just after I started work Football was the lifeblood of the workplace - it was a kind of Club you just fell into ***(or lots of people anyway) and today I dont think it happens that way any more
There are too many other attractions taking too many people away from Football - as an example just think of Junction 4 on the M18 and how that Moto Cross thing has multiplied. It started along where Ikea is now and gradually grew over 10 or more years and look at it now stacked FULL of 35000 ish quid Motorhomes and god knows how many Bikes
The people are lost to Soccer cos they are a) choosing that pastime and b) would probably have less in the budget to go to Footy EVEN if they had the time
OK I am not suggesting THEY are fans lost to Rovers cos they obviously come a fair way with those palaces on wheels but I use it as ONLY an example of what is happening up and down the country - and they are spurning whoever is their local team
Add to them the people who are hooked on Footy via TV watching who pay for Sky etc and get to stay warm dry and get (lets face it) a lot better view of the action with all the Cameras and technology and it continues to get worse
Ok - thats a couple of \"no shit Sherlock\" statements but I believe them to be valid
*** AND think back to how big gates across Football were in say the 60s and what the overall population was and how low they have fallen to now and the overall population now - in percentage terms it must indicate a REAL SLUMP
-
I have noticed recently that plenty of my customers have been asking me about the Rovers and showing an interest now that we are doing well.
Over the last few home games an odd one or two have told me they had attended a match and only today two told me they were going on Saturday.
There is a definite lift in interest just now.
As has been said though, L2 isn't such a big pull for occasional fans, although i think we did have the biggest L2 crowd last Saturday.
Hmm I've noticed this myself just walking in to the pub after a game now bring interest when they see you wearing your colours. People are far more inclined to ask " how did we do mate or did we win then ? "
My reply " get yourself down and for yourself "
-
Funny you should mention rovers talk in pubs within the non footballing public.
Brought my eldest 9 years old across for his first two Doncaster games this season .the Cambridge utd and Barnet home games whatever way they was round.
I never have worn rovers club colours but me lad was begging me for a rovers shirt ,so picked one up for him some days before his first game.
We went into the little plough pub after nipping round shops in town centre and every time he saw another rovers shirt he get excited.
Sat in the plough having a pre match pint and he was made up when some old dear asked him "are you going to the rovers today"
As she shouted across the bar from her table.
My lad was made and went across to sit and speak to her and The Whole back bar got involved a rovers topic of conservation for next 15 mins .