2013 Attendances

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/07/2013, 3:16 PM

Originally Posted by ATFC-1887

I really have to laugh how anti-athlone you are nigel. Why would Waterford and Harps rise to 700+ and ours wont? If we are still close to top or top in the next few weeks we will easily get 800-1000 for games.

Probably because historically those sides always get higher attendances than Athlone.

**ATFC-1887** · 15/07/2013, 4:11 PM

Because the have been near the top of the league each year whereas we have been bottom 3-4. Look at Waterford premier division crowds. Really think we wont get more than that if we go up? Why would people come watch us if we are bottom few. Saying our crowds will stay around 600 are a bit off in fairness

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/07/2013, 4:15 PM

Uh, they've been getting higher attendances than you for years. Because they have bigger floating fanbases, meaning if they're achieving roughly the same results as yourselves they can be expected to hit higher numbers on account of their being more blow-ins.

**nigel-harps1954** · 15/07/2013, 5:03 PM

Originally Posted by ATFC-1887

I really have to laugh how anti-athlone you are nigel. Why would Waterford and Harps rise to 700+ and ours wont? If we are still close to top or top in the next few weeks we will easily get 800-1000 for games.

Wind yourself in. There's no anti-Athlone agenda. As I've explained to you before, I lived in Athlone for two years and regularly visited Lissywollen. I've always had a fondness for Athlone and you seem to be the only one with the agenda.

I'll happily eat my words if Athlone reach 800-1000 regularly for games, but it's just not going to happen.

Originally Posted by ATFC-1887

Because the have been near the top of the league each year whereas we have been bottom 3-4. Look at Waterford premier division crowds. Really think we wont get more than that if we go up? Why would people come watch us if we are bottom few. Saying our crowds will stay around 600 are a bit off in fairness

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Uh, they've been getting higher attendances than you for years. Because they have bigger floating fanbases, meaning if they're achieving roughly the same results as yourselves they can be expected to hit higher numbers on account of their being more blow-ins.

Exactly what CD has said here. Take a bit of a reality check before posting next time.

**ATFC-1887** · 15/07/2013, 5:20 PM

So Nigel you think if we are still fighting for the league our crowds wont get bigger haha

**bluewhitearmy** · 15/07/2013, 5:22 PM

Originally Posted by ATFC-1887

So Nigel you think if we are still fighting for the league our crowds wont get bigger haha

As far as i can see he has not said that anywhere.

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/07/2013, 5:26 PM

Originally Posted by ATFC-1887

So Nigel you think if we are still fighting for the league our crowds wont get bigger haha

Nobody said that. What I'm saying and I assume Nigel is too, is that Athlone's crowds won't grow to the same size as Waterford or Finn Harps' all things being equal, because the latter are just bigger clubs. If Harps were bottom and Athlone top, sure, Athlone would get bigger gates but if they're both on similar form and similar points, you'd expect the bigger club to have bigger gates.

**ATFC-1887** · 15/07/2013, 6:40 PM

Can i ask in what way are Finn Harps a bigger club than Athlone haha They have 1 First Division Title and one Fai cup in their history.

**bullit** · 15/07/2013, 7:36 PM

Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

to be fair lads I thought the DFC promotion of matches this season has been absolutely desperate. With the exception of here, orielweb, dfc.com and the dfc facebook page there was sweet f all advertisement and promotion of the game. throughout town I never saw any posters up around town, considering what else was on in town and the middle of summer and a heatwave I thought our crowd was around 400 better than my est prior to the game. we seriously need to drive our promotions of the matches. especially if we want to show Sk that we have the same ambition as him in developing & growing the club

There were ad's all week on LMFM & DundalkFM(Always just after the sports news,there could have been more? but i only listen to the sports news).The Dundalk Democrat had four pages of reports/articles on DundalkFC last week(Indirect advertising imo)
The F/B pages and Twitter pages also encouraged people to download the online poster and to put it up at work or in the "local" .
IMO, everyone that needed to know that there was a LOI match in OP on Friday knew that there was a LOI match in OP on Friday !

**Nesta99** · 15/07/2013, 8:40 PM

Interesting choice of words Bullit in needed to know. Everyone needs to know of course, people who are regular supporters will already know so trying to pick up floating customers like visitors to the town, those in the hinterland eg Carrick is the difference between 1800 and over 2000. There is too much focus on preaching to the already converted imo. It is regularily asked of us up town after a match what the score was followed by who were we playing, so the message is falling short somewhere. Those roadside signs going in and out of every major route in town were a great job in the past assuming they are updated first thing on the saturday with the following home fixture! There are times when you can be sure that the town knows that there is a big night in Oriel and feel the buzz, 1st European match couple of years ago and cup semi 2002 are standouts where even non Dundalk based family were seeking info and tickets

**dundalkfc10** · 15/07/2013, 9:28 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Interesting choice of words Bullit in needed to know. Everyone needs to know of course, people who are regular supporters will already know so trying to pick up floating customers like visitors to the town, those in the hinterland eg Carrick is the difference between 1800 and over 2000. There is too much focus on preaching to the already converted imo. It is regularily asked of us up town after a match what the score was followed by who were we playing, so the message is falling short somewhere. Those roadside signs going in and out of every major route in town were a great job in the past assuming they are updated first thing on the saturday with the following home fixture! There are times when you can be sure that the town knows that there is a big night in Oriel and feel the buzz, 1st European match couple of years ago and cup semi 2002 are standouts where even non Dundalk based family were seeking info and tickets

All football fans (armchair, floating fans etc...) know the LOI is generally always Fri nights

Everyone who wants to go to Oriel will in my opinion find out when the next home game is on IMO

All the advertising in the world wont change that

**Nesta99** · 15/07/2013, 9:55 PM

Originally Posted by dundalkfc10

All football fans (armchair, floating fans etc...) know the LOI is generally always Fri nights

Everyone who wants to go to Oriel will in my opinion find out when the next home game is on IMO

All the advertising in the world wont change that

Thats fair enough, people who want to go will make it their business to find out. Some though need it under their noses to notice and with lapsed or disillusioned fans decent match advertisment give a better impression than past days and give an incentive or curiosity to tip back up to Oriel to see how things are going and with current levels of positivity throughout the place they may turn regulars again.
I do recognise that there limitations or no quick fixes.

**buttyk** · 15/07/2013, 10:28 PM

to be honest clubs do need to advertise matches more and where their ground is. i also think it shud be advertised how much it is into games. the fai have a lot to answer for. we played bluebell in cup and they tried to charge us 15e to get in. kids and all. and I don't think u shud have pay 10e into salthill r mervue as neither have a stand r seat in their grounds. ooo I do reckon athlone will keep getting about 600 mark. but it don't help when away teams r not bringing fans to matches. kills atmosphere

**oriel** · 15/07/2013, 10:48 PM

People have so much more choices these days and its always going to be a hard sell for all LOI clubs. Also all of our home matches for e.g. are live on the radio, there are twitter updates every 5 mins, other internet updates, all great information sources, but also easy for people not to go.

Our crowds are not bad for our position, they'll probably increase a little if we maintain our good form, Rovers and Sligo visiting next month are always good attractions, but as ever people will find excuses not to go to some games, thats just the way it is these days.

In saying that, I think the club should be reasonably happy with the crowds so far.

**nigel-harps1954** · 15/07/2013, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by ATFC-1887

Can i ask in what way are Finn Harps a bigger club than Athlone haha They have 1 First Division Title and one Fai cup in their history.

You're just making yourself look very silly now and you're not even worth the argument.

**Bosco** · 16/07/2013, 9:18 AM

Everyone knows Athlone have the biggest hypothetical attendances in the league, stop being bitter lads.

**ATFC-1887** · 16/07/2013, 9:45 AM

Very good Bosco, but no, We just have the biggest attendances in the league....

**ArdeeBhoy** · 16/07/2013, 9:50 AM

This whole exercise does rather strike me as a good number of bald men fighting over a comb...

**Charlie Darwin** · 16/07/2013, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by ATFC-1887

Can i ask in what way are Finn Harps a bigger club than Athlone haha They have 1 First Division Title and one Fai cup in their history.

And more fans.

**Sean South** · 16/07/2013, 10:22 AM

This is like Ray Darcy always arguing over his height. He's a shortarse and Athlone, Finn Harps, Longford are all small clubs with small attendances. Get over it.