Attendances 2014

[Jofspring]

It's been 20 odd years since Limerick last played in the markets field.

Crowds were poor last season because as usual we started poor and when the crowds stopped coming by mid-season we got stronger and brought in quality, which was way too late.

The key to us getting crowds in next season is signing good quality players and playing decent football in the markets field. The reality is the budget will be way down, the quality we have will be leaving and the Markets Field as it stands will be an awful ground to watch football in. Russell has a massive task and unless he can do a Stephen Kenny on it we should be one of the favourites to go down.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Oh I reckon limerick will be way ahead of Galway, Longford and Bray. Possibly bohs then Drogheda and yourselves.
Though with a friendly cup draw you never know.

[The Donie Forde]

It's been 20 odd years since Limerick last played in the markets field.
.

1983-ish?

[Martinho II]

1983-ish?

remember readin Longford Town playin there in 84/85 season. think Limerick moved shortly after that!

[TheBoss]

On the wiki entry for Limerick, states the last game was on the 22 April 1984, when Limerick City won the LOI Shield. Last league game was a few weeks before that as Finn Harps won 2-0.

[The Donie Forde]

On the wiki entry for Limerick, states the last game was on the 22 April 1984, when Limerick City won the LOI Shield. Last league game was a few weeks before that as Finn Harps won 2-0.

Yeah, that would be right, Boss. Cork City came into the League in 1984-85 and all those early games versus Limerick (City) were at Rathbane. CCFC have never played at the Market's Field, so that will be a new venue for our club.

[seand]

(ignore!)

[nigel-harps1954]

Missing the following figures from the last couple of games:

Bray v Derry
Derry v Athlone
Limerick v Athlone
Limerick v Sligo


Still missing these figures, if anyone can help, that'd be greatly appreciated. If any fans at one of the above games can give an honest estimate, that'd help too as I'm waiting on the final few figures to complete the seasons stats.

[JC_GUFC]

http://nifootballdaily.com/News/latest-set-of-irish-league-attendances/8312

Interesting to see official figures being released up North.

Just under 1000 on average YTD.

A few of the clubs are from very small communities.

[Longfordian]

Guess it depends on the area but I'm sure in a lot of places in the North football/'soccer' is the number 1 sport in the community. It's not down here, in terms of attending games anyway.

[nigel-harps1954]

Guess it depends on the area but I'm sure in a lot of places in the North football/'soccer' is the number 1 sport in the community. It's not down here, in terms of attending games anyway.

Irish League is much worse supported than the League of Ireland. League as a whole seems to be much better run though. IFA actually give a crap about their league.

[gufcfan]

IFA actually give a crap about their league.

This is it.

I would argue that the FAI are similarly well run, just that certain individuals in positions of influence have aims other than promoting football.

What it costs to be allowed enter the LOI vs the prize-money is one thing that supports the above (that won't draw a solicitors letter).

[oriel]

http://nifootballdaily.com/News/latest-set-of-irish-league-attendances/8312

Interesting to see official figures being released up North.

Just under 1000 on average YTD.


A few of the clubs are from very small communities.

It must have been a good week for some of those clubs as I check this a few times when our season is over and most of the dankse bank premiership crowds are well under 1k.

I always think they would be better served moving to Friday nights, apart from the odd Ulster home game, they would have a free run.

[pineapple stu]

This site (http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn.htm) has attendances for pretty much every league in Europe. Even the Faroes, Estonia, Luxembourg, etc. Interesting comparison (with the usual caveats on the figures that apply here, of course)

SPL average down 40% with Rangers, Hibs and Hearts in the First Division.

[Captain2007]

Still missing these figures, if anyone can help, that'd be greatly appreciated. If any fans at one of the above games can give an honest estimate, that'd help too as I'm waiting on the final few figures to complete the seasons stats.

Hi Nigel, I was at the Bray v Derry game despite a big advertising campaign pre-match I would estimate approx 750. Derry brought very few supporters and had a weaken team a week before their Cup semi-final.

[nigel-harps1954]

Updated final figures (not much extra updates really. Added in estimates of 700 for two Limerick games and 800 for Derry v Athlone as well as the Bray figure given):


PREMIER DIVISION

Athlone - 653 (754; 271; 200; 354; 462)
Bohs - 1,395 (1,597; 1,496; 1,488; 1,835; 2,366)
Bray - 718 (891; 965; 1,121; 952; 1,169)
Cork - 3,777 (1,965; 2,786; 2,128 FD; 1,693 FD; 2,681)
Derry - 1,106 (1,446; 1,460; 2,135; 1,965 FD; 2,436)
Drogheda - 1,064 (817; 977; 811; 859; 1,106)
Dundalk - 2,534 (1,997; 949; 1,355; 1,877; 2,371)
Limerick - 757 (1,649; 734 FD; 569 FD; 598 FD; 429 FD)
Pat's - 1,386 (1,687; 1,474; 1,346; 1,756; 1,631)
Rovers - 2,269 (2,763; 3,127; 3,779; 3,794; 3,611)
Sligo - 1,959 (2,342; 3,007; 2,103; 1,807; 1,756)
UCD - 397 (487; 506; 558; 610; 272 FD)

FIRST DIVISION


Cobh - 223 (439; 2008 - 1,122 PD; 681; 368; 403)
Harps - 449 (479; 429; 433; 644; 480) -
Galway - 975 (No previous)
Longford - 567 (379; 365; 315; 230; 260)
Rovers B - 231 (No previous)
Shels - 713 (1,114 PD; 1,187 PD; 781; 737; 972)
Waterford - 470 (478; 453; 466; 619; 434)
Wexford - 331 (227; 302; 216; 343; 494)

PREMIER AVERAGE: 1,502 (1,566; 1,630; 1,547; 1,512; 2,010)
FIRST DIVISION AVERAGE: 495 (391; 372; 578; 682; 417)

OVERALL AVERAGE: 1,160 (1,140; 1,125; 1,110; 1,095; 1,175)


OVERALL FIRST ATTENDANCE: 55,408
OVERALL PREMIER ATTENDANCE: 297,334

OVERALL COMBINED ATTENDANCE: 352,742

[ger121]

This site (http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn.htm) has attendances for pretty much every league in Europe. Even the Faroes, Estonia, Luxembourg, etc. Interesting comparison (with the usual caveats on the figures that apply here, of course)

SPL average down 40% with Rangers, Hibs and Hearts in the First Division.

Whenever I look at the data on that site, it amazes me how many leagues have averages lower or slightly higher than the LOI, yet have teams in the EL & even the CL. Crowds it seems isn't everything when there is investment instead.

[Charlie Darwin]

Whenever I look at the data on that site, it amazes me how many leagues have averages lower or slightly higher than the LOI, yet have teams in the EL & even the CL. Crowds it seems isn't everything when there is investment instead.
I'd like to see a study on the funding models of clubs in similar-sized leagues to ours. In a lot of cases, the interest is there but going to games just isn't particularly affordable for people, but they still watch on TV and the club benefits from the attention and their sponsors/investors benefit from the association. In Ireland, we have a rare situation where attendances at games more or less exactly matches the interest level. There's not a huge amount of untapped value there for businesses to explore, although we are seeing clubs like Dundalk do a great job of getting Fyffes involved in a mutually-beneficial relationship.

[Nesta99]

To state the obvious one of the problems with LoI is that our own wealthy business people invest in the bottomless pit of the English and Scottish game. It still baffles me really that someone hasnt taken a punt on one of our own clubs that for a fraction of the cost to get a British club in to Europe (thinking of the likes of Sunderland) they would be almost gaurenteed European qualification with an outside chance of Europa league groups and just maybe one day a Champions league group slot. It would be a damn sight cheaper than investing in the Carliles or Gretnas. Ive often thought that one of these sheiks might get bored with buying a Man City type plaything and go for a proper footballing challange and see how change of a days interest payment of say 20mil could get them with a Rovers or Dundalk et al. Of course there has to be Association will for this too.

It helps that Fyffes are a Dundalk based and owned multi-national company. I dont think they saw much benefit to being a sponsor of Dundalk FC initially beyond a kind of local social responsibility. The positive perfect storm of new owners, a top manager, increased gate and the league win with the EA cup and Setanta final, throw in the rags to (relative) riches and some roy of the rovers stuff with some players and Fyffes have seen some actual benefit from the sponsorship. Over the main door of their premises in Dundalk is a big sign 'Proud Sponsors of Dundalk FC', it has been said that they have increased their sponsorship too. They have funded a promotional/inspirational type video on their own steam. Total Produce as a subsidiary of Fyffes are also on the back of the shirt. We are lucky to have an international brand associated with us and long may it continue. With such a main sponsor and the credibility associated, with the onfield sucess i'd hope that there are other at least local companies that want a little piece of what is happening in Oriel. The last day of the season became a high profile national event where even dyed in the wool GAA folk from Tipp and Wicklow (one chap is on central council at Croke Park) were texting with their congrats and saying that they enjoyed spectacle - I was genuinely surprised! Of course this is an oppertunity that DFC can build on and no doubts we will but other clubs are bound to be able improve things like sponsorship with the right people inolved and avoid negative publicity. It also helps that in Louth we dont have the mix of sporting success that Limerick FC, Cork, and Dublin clubs deal with as an aside in their area or County, Galway and Harps(?) too.

On thread the 2500 average in Oriel this season I think can be built upon as the final day scenario meant a lot of new and lapsed fans were in Oriel. Quite a lot of the European employees from the likes of PayPal were evident in attendence and of course we told them it was like this all the time:p Corks attendence speak for themselves, both Rovers in the mix and their crowds will recover, Derry should improve and Longfords first season back will replace UCD stats (sorry Stu). On your pint Charlie re investment (must have deleted a couple of lines) it would be interesting to see a piece of research looking at the domestic private and public investment in various leagues and then the external inward investment too. Maybe this info exists and i've just not stumbled across it but would be a super piece of work to see. In our own situation league membership cost and financial return would be an interesting contrast to see; factor in national associations' pay to employees and a sing song and legal threats to British media powerhouses might get the CEO's direct and more appropriate attention...in that when he gets that being one of the lads and buying big rounds isn't helping his FAI 'role' he might stamp some developmental legacy on the league that is not just jazzing up Dalymount.

Can ye tell its a quiet night at work after that ramble and after saying that we shall probably be slammed from now on!! ..... Yup the crazies landed in after the last sentence of doom, 2 hrs to home time ugh!!

"On your pint Charlie" freudian slip or i'm jaded, and giving Danny a run for his money for the crazy long post that most will see and go 'too much so not bothering to read';)

[Straightstory]

Very interesting first paragraph. I remember the huge investment made into QPR a few years ago to make them into a Champions' League team. I can't see that happening in the near future. I agree that it would be easier to get a LOI team into the Champions League than a club like QPR. ('Easier', but not easy). It would have to be a Dublin club picked for investment though - and I'd guess you'd have to even narrow that down to Shamrock Rovers or Bohs.
I'm guessing that Rovers played more games in Europe when they were in the Europa League than Munster or Leinster would play to win the Heineken Cup? Is it viable to have a football team that would be geared (almost) completely to playing in Europe?

[Sheridan]

The reason Irish oligarchs don't invest in the league has to do (apart from cultural factors) with the model of Irish capitalism. Irish capitalism doesn't really do investment at all, it leeches parasitically off privatisations and multinationals. Thus, the Premier League/SPL (or whatever it is now) are a better fit, because the value is created overseas and they don't have to build a project from the ground up with no assistance, something most of them have zero experience of.

[oriel]

It helps that Fyffes are a Dundalk based and owned multi-national company. I dont think they saw much benefit to being a sponsor of Dundalk FC initially beyond a kind of local social responsibility. The positive perfect storm of new owners, a top manager, increased gate and the league win with the EA cup and Setanta final, throw in the rags to (relative) riches and some roy of the rovers stuff with some players and Fyffes have seen some actual benefit from the sponsorship. Over the main door of their premises in Dundalk is a big sign 'Proud Sponsors of Dundalk FC', it has been said that they have increased their sponsorship too. They have funded a promotional/inspirational type video on their own steam. Total Produce as a subsidiary of Fyffes are also on the back of the shirt. We are lucky to have an international brand associated with us and long may it continue. With such a main sponsor and the credibility associated, with the onfield sucess i'd hope that there are other at least local companies that want a little piece of what is happening in Oriel. ;)

I believe they are so happy with the relationship with DFC, that they doubled their sponsorship for 2015. Now before anyone thinks this is mega bucks, what they were giving was moderate compared to some other clubs, but its a step in the right direction. Whats more important is their non stop support in almost every other part of the club. We do indeed appear to be very fortunate to have them as partners.

On the attedance figures, finishing on 2,500 was ok for a moderate catchment area, population wise, attracting 4,500 local fans on the final night was more impressive, however basic spectator facilites must be addressed to continue the good will and attraction of lapsed and new fans, families being the key market.

[El-Pietro]

I believe they are so happy with the relationship with DFC, that they doubled their sponsorship for 2015. Now before anyone thinks this is mega bucks, what they were giving was moderate compared to some other clubs, but its a step in the right direction. Whats more important is their non stop support in almost every other part of the club. We do indeed appear to be very fortunate to have them as partners.

On the attedance figures, finishing on 2,500 was ok for a moderate catchment area, population wise, attracting 4,500 local fans on the final night was more impressive, however basic spectator facilites must be addressed to continue the good will and attraction of lapsed and new fans, families being the key market.

You do know that not all 4,500 were Dundalk fans right?

[Nesta99]

4500 + you Cork folk id imagine was what was intended. Maybe you've started to erase the evening in question from memory;)

[El-Pietro]

4500 + you Cork folk id imagine was what was intended. Maybe you've started to erase the evening in question from memory;)

I still haven't seen an officiall attendance. I thought it was about 4-5000 in total. About 1,000 of whom were from Cork.

[Nesta99]

I still haven't seen an officiall attendance. I thought it was about 4-5000 in total. About 1,000 of whom were from Cork.

I havent myself. There is a bit of a readjustment with fans' crowd estimates at Oriel I think. Attendances must have been over estimated in the past as when official attendances were released there was a lot of 'there wasnt less than x game last season' sor of discussions. For myself and while Oriel has changed a bit, there was a estimated 6-7000 at the 2002 Cup semi v Shamrock Rovers, I didnt feel that is was a bigger crowd than a few weeks ago.

[outspoken]

Portadown have just tweeted to say there has been a 12% increase in premiership games up there, an equipment of an extra 109 fans at each game. That's an incredible stat, great to see.

[oriel]

You do know that not all 4,500 were Dundalk fans right?

They were, that's why I put that figure in, as it was the home support total on tickets sales and season tickets and approx compliments.

The away support was around 800 (700 terrace and 100 stand) giving a final total of approx 5,300.

This was one of only two home crowds that an exact figure wasn't given for, the other being the LC Final v Rovers, (3,500) same reason as the Cork game, final compliment and sponsor totals not fully counted.

[brendy_éire]

Portadown have just tweeted to say there has been a 12% increase in premiership games up there, an equipment of an extra 109 fans at each game. That's an incredible stat, great to see.

BBC article on attendances (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30336663).
Lists a few factors there, competitive league this season (which it is) and some clubs trialing Friday night matches.
Will be interesting to see if the figures hold up over the next few months. Dark, freezing, rain-soaked January afternoons will lower attendances, and with the inevitable postponements due to waterlogged/frozen pitches, matches on Tuesday nights won't be as well attended either.

I go to Institute matches myself, and attendances compared last season are improved, I'd say above that 12% average too. Promotion helped, but the biggest increase has been caused by the greater travelling support.

[dundalkfc10]

BBC article on attendances (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30336663).
Lists a few factors there, competitive league this season (which it is) and some clubs trialing Friday night matches.
Will be interesting to see if the figures hold up over the next few months. Dark, freezing, rain-soaked January afternoons will lower attendances, and with the inevitable postponements due to waterlogged/frozen pitches, matches on Tuesday nights won't be as well attended either.

I go to Institute matches myself, and attendances compared last season are improved, I'd say above that 12% average too. Promotion helped, but the biggest increase has been caused by the greater travelling support.

I go to see Warrenpoint a bit (use to go to Newry a good bit before they went balls up) and the away attendances def have improved.

[outspoken]

I go to see Warrenpoint a bit (use to go to Newry a good bit before they went balls up) and the away attendances def have improved.

That's what I missed most in the first division, a weekly away support, say what you like but it does improve the home atmosphere as well. In our first season down here the away followings were generally good with Wexford and waterford two I could always remember bringing a vocal crowd but in the last few years you'd be lucky to see more than 2 large away followings at a home game.

[oriel]

Portadown have just tweeted to say there has been a 12% increase in premiership games up there, an equipment of an extra 109 fans at each game. That's an incredible stat, great to see.

I'm not sure it seems as good as it sounds. The average in the Irish Lge Prem is still under 1k, (950 I think) There are very few games with more than 2k at it, and majority are well under 1k.

They will not change from sat 3pm though.

[dundalkfc10]

I'm not sure it seems as good as it sounds. The average in the Irish Lge Prem is still under 1k, (950 I think) There are very few games with more than 2k at it, and majority are well under 1k.

They will not change from sat 3pm though.

A good few of their games are played on a Friday night now!

[outspoken]

I'm not sure it seems as good as it sounds. The average in the Irish Lge Prem is still under 1k, (950 I think) There are very few games with more than 2k at it, and majority are well under 1k.

They will not change from sat 3pm though.

Fair point but they are still attracting new fans/bringing back old ones. Why is this and can the LOI do something similar is my question?

[oriel]

A good few of their games are played on a Friday night now!


I think they only have one match on each week on Friday nights. Still think they could find a much better time than 3pm on Saturday.

[wonder88]

Brendan Ogle doing a lot of good work these days. I know he is a Dundalk fan so question I want to ask; has the club ever tried to get him involved. Clear that he is an impressive organiser and able to get people/crowds motivated and participating. Talents often lacking in the league of Ireland.

[Yossarian]

Brendan Ogle doing a lot of good work these days. I know he is a Dundalk fan so question I want to ask; has the club ever tried to get him involved. Clear that he is an impressive organiser and able to get people/crowds motivated and participating. Talents often lacking in the league of Ireland.

I'll assume that this is a sarcastic post.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Brendan Ogle doing a lot of good work these days. I know he is a Dundalk fan so question I want to ask; has the club ever tried to get him involved. Clear that he is an impressive organiser and able to get people/crowds motivated and participating. Talents often lacking in the league of Ireland.

Not sure. His love for DFC only surfaced during the Palestinian flag debate when he and others tried to portray that the club were lying about the fine. People like Ogle who I do admire could be detrimental to the club if they were actively involved as I believe he is a person who has to be the centre of attention.

We vitally needed someone of his calibre in '12 when we were on deaths door. Wonder were he was?

[wonder88]

Not sure Ogle is doing what he is up to now just to get attention. He is on Vincent Browne now and he is quite compared to rest of the panel (ok he has a long day I suppose). I was glad he replied to the stuff R Sadlier came out with on rte and I don't think he was having a go at Dundalk as a club, more standing up for some of the fans.
There is no reason why someone on the left for example should not be involved in running a club, have we not have had many from the "business community" involved in LOI clubs over the years? Have they been for good? some examples I can think of left some mess behind them.
However it looks like Brendan Ogle will be busy enough in the near future anyway.

[Nesta99]

He is a divisive character and runs toward a cause of his choosing only. He is fond of being in the public eye. I think he is sometimes misguided in the battles he takes on but he can articulate his point of view fairly well and is wholehearted when he does decide to get stuck in. He would be a liability as representative at any club though in saying that would be a decent adversary for Delaneyites, if he picked that battle skin and hair would fly as they would be quite similar in their use of media and the legal system.

[AnnaghRed]

Irish League is much worse supported than the League of Ireland. League as a whole seems to be much better run though. IFA actually give a crap about their league.

How do the two leagues compare when you factor in the far smaller population-base our league has to draw from?

[AnnaghRed]

I'm not sure it seems as good as it sounds. The average in the Irish Lge Prem is still under 1k, (950 I think) There are very few games with more than 2k at it, and majority are well under 1k.

Taking last seasons figures. The LoI would have needed an average of 2252 to match the 887 average the IL managed.

Thats allowing for your jurisdiction having app 2.5 times our population - which is generous - because not many from a nationalist background in NI would attend games in the IL.

[nigel-harps1954]

How do the two leagues compare when you factor in the far smaller population-base our league has to draw from?


Taking last seasons figures. The LoI would have needed an average of 2252 to match the 887 average the IL managed.

Thats allowing for your jurisdiction having app 2.5 times our population - which is generous - because not many from a nationalist background in NI would attend games in the IL.

Clutching at straws there. Population density has no place in your argument seeing as a large proportion of the country has no team within a comfortable driving distance down here, especially given that some rivalries between clubs often see a half an hour or an hour drive between the two. Derry to Ballybofey is a 30-40 minute drive, Sligo to Galway two hours, Limerick to Cork an hour and a half.

Also the fact away travel is much easier in the North where no game is more than a 2 hour drive away. It's often difficult to get 10 people to travel from Derry to Cork and back on a Friday night, having to take a day off work in some cases and end up back home around 4am or 5am after the match, where 200 people can comfortably travel from Belfast to Ballinamallard on a Saturday morning and back in good time to have the dinner and off for a few pints afterwards.

'Your jurisdiction' made me laugh too. No harm, but that's hilarious. If you want to use that argument, the Irish League doesn't have the same competition with the GAA that the League of Ireland does.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Taking last seasons figures. The LoI would have needed an average of 2252 to match the 887 average the IL managed.

Thats allowing for your jurisdiction having app 2.5 times our population - which is generous - because not many from a nationalist background in NI would attend games in the IL.

I am not sure you can gauge it properly. Many parts of the country are not represented with an loi club. If you took counties like Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Roscommon, Monaghan, Cavan, Meath, Kildare, laois, Offaly, Carlow, kilkenny and Tipperary all do not have a senior club.

Many Irish people would not look at a league of Ireland match but would prefer to follow English teams and sell thick instead

[AnnaghRed]

Couldn't quote exact figures but i'd imagine far more folk up here watch GAA than soccer, even if you include the NI team. We also suffer from folks travelling to the mainland for their fix.

Just gets on my goat the superiority complex many posters on here seem to have when referring to the IL, suppose its not unlike two bald men arguing over a comb at the end of the day. Neither league has much to shout about attendancewise.

[AnnaghRed]

Oh, and population density very much plays a role in my argument. Dublin has what, 5 senior clubs, and 3 times the population of Belfast and its 4 senior clubs....Derry and Cork are the only major clubs in cities with populations round the 100k mark.

[oriel]

There is no question the biggest sport in NI is GAA Football, possibly Rugby next then soccer I'd say.

I don't buy the argument on population density. Would most of those towns/areas that have an IL premier side, not have a majority unionist population anyway? The obvious exceptions been Warrenpoint, but that's just a large village, and the area where Cliftonville draw their support from.

[AnnaghRed]

Most towns with a club would probably have a unionist majority yes, but you also have to figure that none of Portadown, Lurgan, Coleraine and Ballymena have populations anything like Galway, Limerick, Derry or Cork, therefore the larger populations in the southern towns at least have the potential to attract more supporters.

[Charlie Darwin]

I didn't think arguments about who's got the smallest attendances could get any more inane, but I stand corrected.

[JC_GUFC]

Both leagues suffer from exactly the same problems. Run-down stadia, neglect from the Association (The IFA seem to be better than the FAI) and the attraction of English/Scottish Football.

In both leagues there are large population areas that have no representation, such as Omagh and Enniskillen up North (I guess some from the latter support Ballinamallard) and then the likes of Kilkenny/Tralee/Mullingar etc. - also don't forget that the 2nd City of the North has their main team playing in the League of Ireland.

When I think of the Irish League, I think of what a proper Munster Senior League would be like if Limerick didn't play in it. Obviously Belfast is bigger than Cork but aside from that you'd have teams from Waterford, Tralee, Ennis, Clonmel, Youghal, Carrick, Cahir, Cobh and Killarney and then 3 from Cork. Not exactly an exciting proposition.

There are obviously political issues regarding games in the Irish League - the first Irish League game I tried to go to was Crusaders v Cliftonville a few years ago which was postponed due to a flag protest. I was bringing along my brother in law who lives in Belfast and had never been to an Irish League game - he certainly won't be going back on his own! Recently I went to see Glentoran in the Oval and was made feel very welcome, which is generally the feeling I get from all Irish League fans.

The Irish League, with the creation of NIFL, seem to at least be progressive in trying to promote support for the league up there. The League of Ireland still doesn't have any plan of action it seems. Are there any actual targets for the league to achieve? It just seems to be making sure that the clubs balance their books, which is a step in the right direction but there should be something more ambitious than that. Why not a target for the league as a whole to achieve 10% higher attendance figures in the coming season?