Text at top (next game etc)

Next Game: Darlington Away In The League On Saturday 23rd November At 3.00pm

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Should We Expect Bigger Gates?

One recurring theme this season has been the size of the gates, with many people dumbfounded at how small they remain.

But, in truth, this season we had the second best average attendance for over 20 years. Only the record-breaking goalscoring of 2003/4 saw larger crowds at Edgar Street, according to supporter Mike Sessarego.

His research shows the last season the average gate was over 4,000 was 30 years ago. In that 1977/8 season the club was relegated from what is now League One, and failed to win away from home for the only season in their history. The home form, however, was very similar to this seasons with only five home defeats compared to six this season.

The average attendance over the 30 years since then is only 2,652, with this season's attendances being nearly 30% over that average. 5,800 Bulls fans turned out yesterday - proving once again that the support is there for one-off games - but only half of those turned up for the ultimately more important Chester game one month before.

Did they come for the celebration, the match itself, or the cut-price admission? Whatever the reason, the battle is now there to persuade those to come week in, week out.