eircom League 2007 Attendances

**Finlay Harp** · 19/11/2007, 8:58 AM

It is bitter sweet going a certain way to making up for loosing out on a crack at the Setanta cup.

**Mr A** · 19/11/2007, 8:59 AM

We should make a few quid from the playoffs, but not a huge amount. The gate from the Dundalk game was split so would not have been hugely lucrative after paying the extra week's wages. We should bring in a fair crowd tomorrow night (and in this case it's not split) but on the other hand there's another extra week's wages to pay plus a lot of expense for travel and accommodation in Waterford. Certainly the extra 20k for winning the division plus a share of tonight's gate will see Cobh make more than us from the season's end, unless we get a humongous crowd altogether tomorrow.

**Sam_Heggy** · 19/11/2007, 2:37 PM

Originally Posted by Finlay Harp

I know the averages have been calculated, but just as a sideline Harps had around 3,000 against Dundalk in the play off semi final on Friday night.

some reckon it was over 3500, hard to guess really in FP.
Should be similar tomorrow night but pity we hadn't a full house as A said, if we won the division, the 50K plus a massive game with Derry would have left the bank manager a hell of alot happier.

**sligoman** · 19/11/2007, 4:02 PM

3,000 at the very most in Finn Park that night I'd say.

**gufct** · 19/11/2007, 4:04 PM

Sligoman good to see your keeoing an eye on your neighbours

Now if only you could get a crowd like that.

**Mr A** · 19/11/2007, 4:15 PM

Or at least pretend to

**sligoman** · 20/11/2007, 2:55 PM

Originally Posted by gufct

Sligoman good to see your keeoing an eye on your neighbours

Now if only you could get a crowd like that.

Do you know that's hilarious, fair play to you for coming up with that all by yourself!

Maybe next time stay out of it though, you weren't there.

**Dodge** · 20/11/2007, 2:58 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Or at least pretend to

I just spilled my afternoon drink on the keyboard

At this point I'd like to raise my usual objection to the use of this thread as stone cold fact. Guesses... fans bias... etc etc

**dcfcsteve** · 20/11/2007, 2:58 PM

Originally Posted by Finlay Harp

It is bitter sweet going a certain way to making up for loosing out on a crack at the Setanta cup.

As if yee'd have gotten there.......!

**John83** · 20/11/2007, 3:15 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I just spilled my afternoon drink on the keyboard

At this point I'd like to raise my usual objection to the use of this thread as stone cold fact. Guesses... fans bias... etc etc

Yeah, I have the same problem. I should probably point out that I'm not John Craddock.

**Sam_Heggy** · 21/11/2007, 9:23 AM

around 4000 in Finn Park last night.

**Paddyfield** · 21/11/2007, 6:32 PM

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

around 4000 in Finn Park last night.

That is brilliant. Harps are the sleeping giants of Irish football. I doubt that the current Premier Division champions ever got a crowd that big.

I know Harps represent the county of Donegal but I'm curious as to what the population of Ballybofey is?

Will FHFC turn full time pro next season? (asuming Waterford don't score 4 in the second leg!)

**Mr A** · 21/11/2007, 6:36 PM

Ballybofey has about 5000 people AFAIK. Harps draw a lot of support from Tyrone as well, especially from Strabane.

And there is no way we will be turning pro.

**pineapple stu** · 21/11/2007, 10:19 PM

Going to call it a day for 2007. Only missing crowds for Derry (seriously, someone must have figures?!) and the old reliables, Kilkenny and Monaghan. (2) is a game in the second series of matches. Figures in brackets are averages in previous seasons.

PREMIER DIVISION
Bohs - 1,924 (2006 - 1,463; 2005 - 1,976; 2004 - 2,340)
Bray - 1,200 (1,027; 1,550; 818 FD)
Cork - 2,897 (2,941; 3,644; 4,033)
Derry - 2,614 (3,229; 2,698; 1,672) (missing Bohs 2, Longford and Waterford)
Drogheda - 1,919 (1,751; 1,682; 1,554)
Galway - 2,199 (1,148 FD; 566 FD; 571 FD)
Longford - 885 (681; 1,004; 1,131)
Pat's - 1,910 (1,342; 1,599; 1,882)
Rovers - 1,715 (1,089 FD; 1,539; 1,349)
Sligo - 1,448 (1,806; 1,794 FD; 781 FD)
UCD - 663 (546; 653; 306 FD)
Waterford - 1,181 (915; 1,513; 1,753)

FIRST DIVISION
Athlone - 670 (421; 316; 291)
Cobh - 681 (368; 403; 240)
Dundalk - 1,406 (1,078; 474; 591)
Harps - 1,164 (428; 1,347 PD; 1,106)
Kildare - 243 (265; 186; 298)
Kilkenny - 191 (122; 185; 110) (missing Kildare 2 and Monaghan (both))
Limerick - 670 (364; 669; 188)
Monaghan - 292 (204; 183; 182) (missing Cobh 2, Kildare 2, Kilkenny 2, Shels 2 and Wexford 2)
Shels - 888 (1,690 PD; 1,949 PD; 2,158 PD)
Wexford - 810 (n/a)

Premier Division average - 1,687 (1,535; 1,759; 1,853)
First Division average - 722 (570; 520; 512)

Overall average - 1,235 (1,070; 1,195; 1,218)

FD is an average crowd in the First Division; PD is an average crowd in the Premier Division. I've only put that in where the attendances was when the club was in a different one to their current division.

**dcfcsteve** · 21/11/2007, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Ballybofey has about 5000 people AFAIK. Harps draw a lot of support from Tyrone as well, especially from Strabane.

The official figure is smaller than that - c, 3,500. It has the smallest population of any team in the league.

Originally Posted by Mr A

Harps draw a lot of support from Tyrone as well, especially from Strabane.

Strabane has been Derry City country since 1985 to be honest. Harps have made in-roads there of-late, but I don't believe there's more Harps support in the town than there is for City.

Strabane reminds me of the 'badlands' in Co Durham that copnstantly shift in support-terms between Newcastle and Sunderland, depending on how well each team is doing. Though oibviously in this case its more a case of how City are doing, as Harps are never doing better than us.....

**holidaysong** · 22/11/2007, 5:10 PM

Originally Posted by Paddyfield

Harps are the sleeping giants of Irish football.

When have Harps ever been a 'giant' of Irish football?

**dcfcsteve** · 22/11/2007, 5:58 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

When have Harps ever been a 'giant' of Irish football?

True.

They get the sort of crowds that you'd expect any half well supported team to get in the play-offs, and all of a sudden they're giving Fionn NcCool a run for his money....

**Paddyfield** · 22/11/2007, 6:53 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

When have Harps ever been a 'giant' of Irish football?

Never. But the potential to attract large crowds is evident.

**Ronnie** · 23/11/2007, 12:25 PM

Stu, well done on the work, although I find reading the figures to be so depressing, no club with 3000 average, league champions can't get to 2000 average, Sligo Rovers getting less than 2 seasons ago in the First Division. I could be wrong, but I can't see Galway staying at that average, feel good factor will begin to wear away, Cobh will struggle to keep what they have. Look at Finn Harps, 150% increase in support when doing well, how could you budget around that?