League announces massive attendance rise

**Steve Bruce** · 19/04/2007, 3:41 PM

Originally Posted by el punter

Some more details and specifics on the figures, from an FAI press release:

Attendances at eircom League of Ireland fixtures have increased by 37% this season, figures compiled during the first six weeks of the 2007 season show.

A total of 97,656 people have attended the 66 eircom League of Ireland fixtures to date. This gives an average attendance figure of 1,480.

At this stage last season, a total of 65,828 people had attended 61 fixtures, giving an average attendance of 1,079.

With an average of 401 extra people attending each eircom League of Ireland fixture, the figures show that average attendances are up by 37%.

Fran Gavin, Director of the eircom League of Ireland, expressed his delight with the figures: �We have worked very hard to promote the league, both in terms of our marketing campaign and the work of the Club Promotion Officers in local communities, and we believe that these figures show that the work is paying off. It is fantastic that more people are choosing to support the eircom League of Ireland and we want to build on these figures over the coming months and years.�

Noel Mooney, National Coordinator of the Club Promotion Officers Programme, said: �When we unveiled the Club Promotion Officers Programme, we said that our goal was to bring weekly attendance to 15,000 and eventually to 30,000. These figures show that we are getting there. The Club Promotion Officers have been fantastic and are working so hard to promote the clubs at community level. I am delighted for the league and I am delighted for the Club Promotion Officers.�

Attendances for the opening six rounds of fixtures in 2007, as compared to 2006, are as follows:

Week 1

2007 Total Attendance 20882 11 matches 1898 Average

2006 Total Attendance 12800 8 matches 1600 Average

Percentage increase 18.63%

Week 2

2007 Total Attendance 15603 11 matches 1418 Average

2006 Total Attendance 9411 11 matches 855 Average

Percentage increase 65.85%

Week 3

2007 Total Attendance 12510 10 matches 1251 Average

2006 Total Attendance 10317 10 matches 1031 Average

Percentage increase 21.33%

Week 4

2007 Total Attendance 13573 11 matches 1234 Average

2006 Total Attendance 9452 10 matches 945 Average

Percentage increase 30.58%

Week 5

2007 Total Attendance 18826 12 matches 1569 Average

2006 Total Attendance 10677 10 matches 1068 Average

Percentage increase 46.91%

Week 6

2007 Total Attendance 16262 11 matches 1478 Average

2006 Total Attendance 13171 12 matches 1098 Average

Percentage increase 34.6%

Total

2007 Total Attendance 97656 66 matches 1480 Average

2006 Total Attendance 65828 61 matches 1079 Average

Percentage increase 37.16%

Impressive start. It would be great to see your league with 30,000 going every week although I find that a bit optimistic around 20,000 to me is more realistic.

I think the IL needs to aim for 10,000 a week and then up to 15,000. We will always be behind in attendances as our country 3rd of the size of your country, but it would be great to see this island get average of 40,000+ going to local football. It could only strengthen the product of both domestic leagues and any cross border competition.

**NY Hoop** · 19/04/2007, 3:44 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

To be honest mate, Linfield has been tarred by this for years. We are trying our damnest to erradicate anti-catholic songs from our terraces. I do not see how an anti-protestant song can be acceptable in any way just like anti-catholic songs are not acceptable either.

It's a problem you cannot sweep under the carpet and use the retort - other teams sing them kinda songs. It's plainly wrong and unnacceptable no matter who does it or how many does it.

I just hope that Rovers now don't get into the Setanta cup because the last thing we need is knuckle draggers coming to the fairly successfull incident free Setanta cup.

To clarify, I'm not calling all Shamrock Rovers supporters knuckle draggers, I'm talking about the bad element that all teams have. If Shamrock Rovers came to Windsor singing that sort of trash, then similar sort of trash will be hurled back by the Linfield knuckle draggers.

I'm not your "mate". Secondly if you dont want Rovers in the Setanta Cup cos of a song then you need help. Follow cricket or bowls then.

KOH

**monutdfc** · 19/04/2007, 3:52 PM

I think you'll find that song illegal under the Incitement to Hatred Act, if not here then definitely in NI under the UK Act

**pineapple stu** · 19/04/2007, 3:54 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Unless the FAI are using these figures added to some of their own. I remember Mooney talkng about 5,000 at one game when the actual figure was about 3,500...

Would explain why they don't release individual totals, I suppose.

**Steve Bruce** · 19/04/2007, 3:59 PM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

I'm not your "mate". Secondly if you dont want Rovers in the Setanta Cup cos of a song then you need help. Follow cricket or bowls then.

KOH

So you find a song that portrays hatred, bigotry and sectarianism as acceptable?

Also pal, if you read my post you will see that the reason why I don't want teams like yourselves in the Setanta is because we have had a trouble free tournement. The last thing we want is a club with a sectarian support coming into the tournement and creating trouble and giving off a bad image. Which it seems doesn't bother you. But then maybe your mindset is stuck in the 80s where Rovers success was to.

**passerrby** · 19/04/2007, 4:20 PM

steve i,ll be your mate

**Conor H** · 19/04/2007, 4:22 PM

Very ironic that a Linfield fan is hoping Rovers don't get into the Setanta Cup because they have one sectarian song.

I'm sorry but Windsor Park is the worst ground in both North and South of the border for singing those type of songs.
They were clearly heard on the TV at the game versus Drogs and Derry.
Neither set of supporters reacted which says more about where Linfield are as opposed to the rest of us.

Fair enough ye're trying to eradicate it but the fact is a large % of the stand behind the goals still find it necessary to sing "We are the Billy boys" and "Rule Britannia"
A visit of Rovers and they wouldn't need to be enticed-in fact i'd say ye'd be worse.

**Jerry The Saint** · 19/04/2007, 4:27 PM

Week 1

2007 Total Attendance 20882 11 matches 1898 Average

2006 Total Attendance 12800 8 matches 1600 Average

Percentage increase 18.63%

etc.

Getting closer to proper figures.

So who releases official figures - Pats, Boh's, Shelbourne, Galway...? Should be able to get a better idea of how accurate the guesses are by taking these out.

**WeAreRovers** · 19/04/2007, 4:33 PM

And of course the Guardian - and an Offalyman at that - has to pull the proverbial.

See News in Brief -

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Fiver/0,,2061355,00.html

KOH

**scotsbeer** · 19/04/2007, 5:28 PM

Originally Posted by Sumac

Not the type of song that any real supporters on this Island should sing. Is there anyone else on here that feels the same. The 3rd line of that song is racist.

totally agree. am of no religous persuasion and i occasionaly get the same crap because i support hearts. 99 per cent decent fans in EL and all it needs for sponsors and uefa to take notice is if that ****e is heard at a live tv match so be warned ya bunch of morons

**WeAreRovers** · 19/04/2007, 5:32 PM

Originally Posted by scotsbeer

totally agree. am of no religous persuasion and i occasionaly get the same crap because i support hearts. 99 per cent decent fans in EL and all it needs for sponsors and uefa to take notice is if that ****e is heard at a live tv match so be warned ya bunch of morons

When someone gets this Jambo tosh translated can they let me know.

KOH

**kdjaC** · 19/04/2007, 5:57 PM

The increases imo are from Bohs 4.5k ,Pats 3k ,Rovers 3k Galway 3k and Cork 5k, derry 3k getting about the same but they will get less if form continues, drogs buggered by stadium if the 3 dublin clubs continue to play well then it will increase.

I spoke to Mooney at 1st game and his target was 30k a week but set a few years for it, If the above teams continued to play well and tallaght was opened 30k would be a very realistic target.

Derry stadium may happen now.
Pats stadium will happen.
Cork done could improve it but no major work needed.
Drogs need stadium
Rovers need stadium.
galway dundalk need stadiums.

All of the above have plans albeit some being hampered.

Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

When someone gets this Jambo tosh translated can they let me know.

KOH

Makes perfect sense really if sectarian chants in spain got rangers fined, assume the same will happen to others.

kdjac

reder · 19/04/2007, 5:58 PM

Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

When someone gets this Jambo tosh translated can they let me know.

KOH

What scotsbeer is saying is :

If Uefa or some big sponsor of the league or the Setanta cup heard a song or that nature at a game, the EL would probably get a right bashing by the media and the club in particular could find themselves in very hot water. You could end up with a hefty fine and/or a ban or fans could be banned for attending games.

He is a bit off the mark there, Rangers finally got a ban from europe this season after many warnings about their fans over singing sectarian songs and rioting in football grounds. Celtic should be banned to, until they clean up their act.

This is one song out of about 20 that were sung. Personally, I dont like it, I was very fond of Di even though I am not royalist. Its a childish song and Rovers should stick to the many good songs they have.

**TommyT** · 19/04/2007, 6:32 PM

Crowd increase are due to; Pats replacing Shels as a top club.
Newly promoted Rovers repalceing Pats a bargain basemnet battlers.
Galway replacing Dublin City/Expunged FC as newly promoted table proppers. All three scenarios have increased crowds. It's **** all to do with Mooney/Delaney

**dubman** · 19/04/2007, 6:59 PM

Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

My fault, hope you weren't offended.

KOH

ah god no, i love the chats. funny as hell, we should start a poll for the best one

**pineapple stu** · 19/04/2007, 7:41 PM

Originally Posted by TommyT

Crowd increase are due to; Pats replacing Shels as a top club.
Newly promoted Rovers repalceing Pats a bargain basemnet battlers.
Galway replacing Dublin City/Expunged FC as newly promoted table proppers. All three scenarios have increased crowds. It's **** all to do with Mooney/Delaney

As noted on the attendances thread, those factors have had a minimal effect on the attendances. Wexford replacing DC has upped crowds by 3%. Promotion and relegation is within the system, so won't affect the overall average.

Going from the figuers here, everyone bar Cobh (not been playing in their own ground), Kildare (small crowds boosted more than anyone else by Rovers last year), Shels (relegated) and Sligo (?) are up. Only Derry and Drogheda are showing a rise of less than 24% (Cork are up 25%). You can't explain that by saying DC and Shels are out of the equation.

The opening day derbies are still having an effect as well, obviously.

**Poor Student** · 19/04/2007, 8:23 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Unless the FAI are using these figures added to some of their own. I remember Mooney talkng about 5,000 at one game when the actual figure was about 3,500...

Yeah, from some things I've heard that's exactly how those positive figures are being arrived at.

**oriel** · 19/04/2007, 8:40 PM

I`ve noticed a massive increase in kids under 12 and families at our games this year, and also teenagers for that matter, seems to be a really cool thing for all to go to oriel again this year, as there is a definite feel good factor about the place. Crowds are up from 1,000 avg (2006) to 2,000. And unlike the premier, there has been very little away support.

Its a great start but it is early days (for all clubs), will be interesting to see what the figures are like when we reach the start of summer.

**kdjaC** · 19/04/2007, 9:01 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Yeah, from some things I've heard that's exactly how those positive figures are being arrived at.

Unllike the figures arrived at here ? Which are factual somehow.

kdjac

**pineapple stu** · 19/04/2007, 9:07 PM

For what it's worth, I have a total attendance to date of 105,147, compared to 97,656 per the FAI. Difference is 7.6% of the FAI figure.

I make weekly attendance figures as follows -

Week..........My total........FAI total........Diff (%)
1...............22619.............20882.........+8 .3%
2...............16610.............15603.........+6 .5%
3...............13070.............12510.........+4 .5%
4...............15068.............13573.........+1 1.0%
5...............19971.............18826.........+6 .1%
6...............17807.............16262.........+8 .7%

Week three is low because Bohs-Rovers was moved to week 5.