2013 Attendances

[wonder88]

Estimate 90 at Mervue v Wexford Youths

[brendy_éire]

Offical Brandywell: 2013.

(if the VAT man asks)

[NeverFeltBetter]

Estimate 90 at Mervue v Wexford Youths

I have no idea what Mervue can do to increase attendances. Riding pretty high, getting decent results...less than 100 in.

[gufcfan]

The junior/juvenile section of the club, which is the most important, is thriving, but there is complete apathy towards the Mervue LOI outfit among people in their own immediate area (and club membership), never mind the rest of Galway City and forget about the county.

There isn't anything they could ever do. The majority of potential LOI fans in Galway are already involved in football or have some sort of an affiliation with a local club, even if it's a neighbour/cousin/friend who plays or is involved with them. Mervue compete against every other club in Galway city and county.

They are seen as a small local club, representing their immediate area.

[galwayhoop]

The junior/juvenile section of the club, which is the most important, is thriving, but there is complete apathy towards the Mervue LOI outfit among people in their own immediate area (and club membership), never mind the rest of Galway City and forget about the county.

There isn't anything they could ever do. The majority of potential LOI fans in Galway are already involved in football or have some sort of an affiliation with a local club, even if it's a neighbour/cousin/friend who plays or is involved with them. Mervue compete against every other club in Galway city and county.

They are seen as a small local club, representing their immediate area.

The first two paragraphs are spot on but to be fair to Mervue and Salthill they are far and away the biggest clubs (juvenile/junior) in Galway and possibly Connacht. They aren't viewed as small local clubs particularly as they sign their players from throughout the region. Only a tiny percentage of their players come from the Mervue or Salthill area.

However as you say they will never attract any support from the wider Galway football community.

[gufcfan]

They aren't viewed as small local clubs particularly as they sign their players from throughout the region. Only a tiny percentage of their players come from the Mervue or Salthill area.
You're right. Small in LOI terms, but large in others. They can sign players from anywhere they like, but they are seen as clubs that are part of a community within Galway City and represent only that. In that sense, they will only ever be seen as a "local" club.


However as you say they will never attract any support from the wider Galway football community.
Nobody with even a passing knowledge of Galway football will argue otherwise.

[Bawnville Hoop]

Offical Brandywell: 2013.

(if the VAT man asks)

I would have said over 3000, very hard to estimate the Brandywell.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

1656 in Inchicore

[nigel-harps1954]

Offical Brandywell: 2013.

(if the VAT man asks)

Is that really the official attendance? Pretty disappointing. 2,600 estimate given on ET.

[nigel-harps1954]

On another note, the total attendances for this season have passed the 100,000 mark.

[avvenalaf]

There are worrying signs in attendances this year. If Derry v Shams can't top 3k and if Drogheda can't get 1k we are in serious ****. Mind you, it has to be said that clubs aren't helping by presenting pitches that are nothing short of disgraceful but this could be a watershed season for the league.

[trevy]

373 at Waterford United v Cobh Ramblers.

[KevB76]

Mind you, it has to be said that clubs aren't helping by presenting pitches that are nothing short of disgraceful but this could be a watershed season for the league.

The reason for the bad pitches is the weather. Low/freezing temps = no growth. No growth = bad pitches. When the temperatures improve (which they have started to in the last couple of weeks) then the pitches will begin to recover, a couple of weeks of the right weather will make a huge difference.

[wonder88]

The support for Derry has really fallen away. I remember being in the Brandywell on wet miserable night a few years ago and there was 6k there at a game against Finn Harps. OK Harps had just been promoted the year before and it was the first home game of the season, plus Connor Sammon also playing, but still a large number of fans have been lost. Would economic factors be behind this or just a further general disinterest in the LOI by the soccer fans of the city.

[Sam_Heggy]

The support for Derry has really fallen away. I remember being in the Brandywell on wet miserable night a few years ago and there was 6k there at a game against Finn Harps. OK Harps had just been promoted the year before and it was the first home game of the season, plus Connor Sammon also playing, but still a large number of fans have been lost. Would economic factors be behind this or just a further general disinterest in the LOI by the soccer fans of the city.

Maybe a good few locals have been screwed over by the previous regime??
Genuine question.

I guess it's different with Cork as it's the fans that took the club over (FORAS).

[MariborKev]

The support for Derry has really fallen away. I remember being in the Brandywell on wet miserable night a few years ago and there was 6k there at a game against Finn Harps. OK Harps had just been promoted the year before and it was the first home game of the season, plus Connor Sammon also playing, but still a large number of fans have been lost. Would economic factors be behind this or just a further general disinterest in the LOI by the soccer fans of the city.

General disinterest.

Or tickets and season tickets are cheaper that they have been.

[Bawnville Hoop]

How do they get an official figure? Rovers fans were let through the main gate showing tickets and that section across from the away corner I seen loads being let in.(must have had tickets)

[PartySaint]

1656 in Inchicore

Again this seems a good bit lower than what was actually there but it looks like an official figure

[legendz]

There are worrying signs in attendances this year. If Derry v Shams can't top 3k and if Drogheda can't get 1k we are in serious ****. Mind you, it has to be said that clubs aren't helping by presenting pitches that are nothing short of disgraceful but this could be a watershed season for the league.
Who's we?

Surely it's every clubs place to get their own house in order? All your ordinary supporter can do is to encourage a few people they know along to a few games. If Mervue and Salthill can get by in the league with low support, there's surely a way for clubs to compete in a national league without getting into financial difficulty.

[gufc2000]

Extratime estimates 550 for Longford/Athlone

[Longfordian]

Wouldn't be too far off, would have said 600ish if I had to guess myself. Best crowd we've had so far anyway, probably 100+ from Athlone.

[Battery Rover]

Small portion of the Athlone support
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLNuhPNkwUw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[nigel-harps1954]

Small portion of the Athlone support
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLNuhPNkwUw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Dear sweet feck...I thought that s**t was all forgotten now.

[Town Legend]

It's only new to them ;)

[PartySaint]

It's only new to them ;)

That means it still hasn't reached Longford yet :(

[Town Legend]

It's reached and long gone from Longford thank fook!

[outspoken]

Would have said 600-650 at Clasico last night with around 120 from Athlone. Was a great interest locally in the game and everyone was buzzing with the late win so hopefully we'll get a few extra next week.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I'd be interested in hearing other guesses because I wasn't sure, but seemed very low numbers for THEM/Limerick today. 500-ish?

[Jofspring]

I'd say 500 Bray fans at a push and even at that anytime we scored it seemed like we had plenty spread out around the ground. Must have been at least 80 to 100 Limerick fans.

[NeverFeltBetter]

There was a group of Limerick fans in the stand alright, but I wouldn't have put total Limerick numbers at more than 70 or so.

[White Horse]

...if Drogheda can't get 1k we are in serious ****.

Rumoured that they sold their bar licence to keep things afloat.

Some worried fans down there.

[gspain01]

There was a group of Limerick fans in the stand alright, but I wouldn't have put total Limerick numbers at more than 70 or so.

I thought we had easily 100. Most around me in the stand were supporting Limerick. Hard to judge because of the rain and so many away fans in the main stand.

[wonder88]

Who controls/own Drogheda now. Looking from outside it seems unlikely they can hold on to a playing squad/staff of the quality that they have for much longer with the crowds that they are getting. I know there are major benefits to being based near Dublin (Bray other example) which reduces costs and increse income from visiting fans, but if more home support don't turn up it looks like financial trouble ahead for them.

[DUFC4life]

Rumoured that they sold their bar licence to keep things afloat.

Some worried fans down there.

There are? First iv heard of it!
Our attendances have been pathetic this year. The product isnt attractive enough to get people in the gate. 15 quid into a terrace built in the 70s? Unless your seriously into the club, then your simply not going to go.

[nigel-harps1954]

Week 7. After first series of First Division matches.

PREMIER DIVISION

Bohs - 1,842 (1,496; 1,488; 1,835; 2,366; 1,993; 1,924; 1,463; 1,976)
Bray - 813 (965; 1,121; 952; 1,169; 1,106; 1,200; 1,027; 1,550)
Cork - 2,361 (2,786; 2,128 FD; 1,693 FD; 2,681; 3,142; 2,897; 2,941; 3,644)
Derry - 1,577 (1,460; 2,135; 1,965 FD; 2,436; 3,363; 2,614; 3,229; 2,698)
Drogheda - 723 (977; 811; 859; 1,106; 1,631; 1,919; 1,751; 1,682)
Dundalk - 2,039 (949; 1,355; 1,877; 2,371; 1,459 FD; 1,406 FD; 1,078 FD; 474 FD)
Limerick - 2,651 (734 FD; 569 FD; 598 FD; 429 FD; 517 FD; 670 FD; 364 FD; 669 FD)
Pat's - 1,421 (1,474; 1,346; 1,756; 1,631; 1,795; 1,910; 1,342; 1,599)
Rovers - 3,200 (3,127; 3,779; 3,794; 3,611; 1,468; 1,715; 1,089 FD; 1,539)
Shels - 1,295 (1,187; 781 FD; 737 FD; 972 FD; 986 FD; 888 FD; 1,690; 1,949)
Sligo - 2,594 (3,007; 2,103; 1,807; 1,756; 1,960; 1,448; 1,806; 1,794 FD)
UCD - 426 (506; 558; 610; 272 FD; 546; 663; 546; 653; 306 FD)

FIRST DIVISION

Athlone - 437 (271; 200; 354; 462; 387; 670; 421; 316)
Cobh - 614 (2008 - 1,122 PD; 681; 368; 403; 240)
Harps - 683 (429; 433; 644; 480; 1,607 PD; 1,164; 428; 1,347 PD; 1,106) -
Longford - 396 (365; 315; 230; 260; 406; 885 PD; 681 PD; 1,004 PD)
Mervue - 292 (243; 349; 123; 166)
Salthill Devon - 113 (182; 125; 122)
Waterford - 439 (453; 466; 619; 434; 670; 1,181 PD; 915 PD; 1,513 PD)
Wexford - 277 (302; 216; 343; 494; 767; 810)

PREMIER AVERAGE: 1,767 (1,630; 1,547; 1,512; 2,010; 1,746; 1,687; 1,535; 1,759)
FIRST DIVISION AVERAGE: 408 (372; 578; 682; 417; 641; 722; 570; 520)

OVERALL AVERAGE: 1,087 (1,101; 1,110; 1,095; 1,175; 1,221; 1,235; 1,070; 1,195)

TOTAL WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 10,332
OVERALL ATTENDANCE: 103,304

[nigel-harps1954]

Attendances are fast declining right across the board. There's some very, very disappointing averages there.

Of that list, you'd expect Derry, Drogheda, Longford and Mervue all to be much higher considering league positions.

Bohs, Bray, Cork, Drogheda, Mervue, and Waterford all saw a decline in averages over the weekend.

Only Derry, Pat's and Harps saw an increase in attendances. Derry playing Shamrock Rovers, Pat's playing Sligo. Harps only saw a very minor increase.

It's worrying times that in 10 games, there was an average attendance this week of just over 1,000 people.

[Candystripe]

On the Derry V Sham rvrs game. Don't know why they put 2013 on the big screen.

No way was the attendance less than 2,500 but probably slightly higher.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Hard to believe, after seeing so many tiny crowds in Jackman, that Limerick are the second best supported club this season (so far anyway).

[nigel-harps1954]

On the Derry V Sham rvrs game. Don't know why they put 2013 on the big screen.

No way was the attendance less than 2,500 but probably slightly higher.

Official attendance was given as 2,083 in the end.

[Macy]

Of that list, you'd expect Derry, Drogheda, Longford and Mervue all to be much higher considering league positions.
I'd like to think the buzz is starting to build around Longford again. However, the match fixing investigation has given another stick to beat the club with from those that'd use any excuse. But how can you expect any kind of buzz when the show that the FAI effectively pay for to market the league can barely bring itself to mention the 1st?

As a general point, there's a few key facilities that clubs could work on relativelty cheaply which could make it more attractive.

[nigel-harps1954]

I'd like to think the buzz is starting to build around Longford again. However, the match fixing investigation has given another stick to beat the club with from those that'd use any excuse. But how can you expect any kind of buzz when the show that the FAI effectively pay for to market the league can barely bring itself to mention the 1st?

As a general point, there's a few key facilities that clubs could work on relativelty cheaply which could make it more attractive.

A bit of buzz back in Harps this year has seen our attendances rise a bit. If we were top of the League and playing a bit of football now, we'd see the attendances rise even further.

The blame can't lie with the FAI on this one. Longford have to be doing the promoting themselves firstly.

[Battery Rover]

Looks like the buzz is growing round Athlone Town as well. 2 buses heading to Mervue along with the 50 or so that usually drive down.

[PartySaint]

Hard to believe, after seeing so many tiny crowds in Jackman, that Limerick are the second best supported club this season (so far anyway).

I wonder if one of the Dublin clubs started playing in the Aviva would their crowds numbers go up?

[Charlie Darwin]

I wonder if one of the Dublin clubs started playing in the Aviva would their crowds numbers go up?
Of course they would. It wouldn't be to the same extent as Limerick though, for obvious reasons.

[nigel-harps1954]

I wonder if one of the Dublin clubs started playing in the Aviva would their crowds numbers go up?

I vote UCD.

[oriel]

There are? First iv heard of it!
Our attendances have been pathetic this year. The product isnt attractive enough to get people in the gate. 15 quid into a terrace built in the 70s? Unless your seriously into the club, then your simply not pgoing to go.

Yep tough one to sort out. I do think 15 is too much for drogs and for the facilities they have.

We charge a tenner into the ground. Prob might go up to 12 next season. But it's still quite good value. And especially for the away fan.

[MiniMourinho]

Rumoured that they sold their bar licence to keep things afloat.

Some worried fans down there.

This bar rumour is absolute rubbish. And the worried fans thing is also bull.

Crowds will pick up, but dont forget drogs finished second last year on similarly small gate incomes. I'd be more worried about what other clubs are achieving, or more importantly not achieving , with much larger incomes!

[Martinho II]

Small portion of the Athlone support
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLNuhPNkwUw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

battery rover pls check ur pms!

[Longfordian]

A bit of buzz back in Harps this year has seen our attendances rise a bit. If we were top of the League and playing a bit of football now, we'd see the attendances rise even further.

The blame can't lie with the FAI on this one. Longford have to be doing the promoting themselves firstly.

They are working hard with limited resources. Nice looking posters were up around the town for the Athlone game. Local radio seems to have been promoting the club more. Longford as a town is still in real dire straits so attendances aren't really going to rocket. We were only getting 600/700 for a lot of our Premier Division games back in the day so if we start getting something up on that regularly in the First then it's a good crowd for us.

[oriel]

This bar rumour is absolute rubbish. And the worried fans thing is also bull.

Crowds will pick up, but dont forget drogs finished second last year on similarly small gate incomes. I'd be more worried about what other clubs are achieving, or more importantly not achieving , with much larger incomes!

I wouldnt be so sure, if I was a fan I'd be very worried why a decent enough side in 5th can only attract just over 700 on avg, thats FD stuff. And the other worry would be if 5th can only attract 700, would this fall lower if they dropped down the table. Also the likes of O'Neill, Cassidy & Rusk didnt move there for nothing.

I think its a terrible return for a large town, and it would appear they are losing even more interest. Maybe getting to the Setanta Final might entice a few more hundred to games.