The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

A comment which was made a while back was about how great it was when the community teams came to the Dog & Duck and the number of young kids it brought through the gate with their parents. In comparison to Saturday, the crowd demographic seems to be moving more towards those in their mid thirties or greater.

What sorts of things could be done to bring in fans, in particular younger fans? By this I mean not just the young kids, but those around the age of 14 - 18? Playing good football and winning seem to be part of the ingredients to bring in more fans in general, but are there other things that could tempt/bring in more?

Looking around at some examples of initiative number of FL do a lot with family tickets and link up with schools to advertise, and try and tempt younger fans in:
http://origin-www.football-league.co.uk ... 40,00.html

Looking further a field this article (http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... young-fans) indicates they are seeing the reverse in Germany, where the average age of the match going fan is around 21.

It would be interesting if anyone who doesn't go regularly or knows someone who doesn't has any thoughts either good or bad, what might tempt them to come more often, putting aside things like work, which I know of one case which has stopped one of our regulars from coming much to his own frustration.

Hull United AFC yesterday had a crowd of 526 for Step 7. You may recall that they received a fair bit of publicity earlier in the season where they paid everyone £2 for attending one match and have given free admission to youngsters. Obviously that one match was a 'lost leader' but obviously fans have stuck by the club as evidenced by this exceptional crowd yesterday. Curtis Woodhouse was recently appointed manager and ex Hull City player Ian Ashbee has joined as assistant manager/player.

Do you know if Hull United charge for admission? Unusual for step 7 if so, it is parks football and few grounds are enclosed.

Sid wrote:Do you know if Hull United charge for admission? Unusual for step 7 if so, it is parks football and few grounds are enclosed.

They ground share at Hall Road Rangers ground who play at Step 6 level so it can handle their crowds. Apparently their Chairman is very pro active on the PR front meeting and greeting fans as they entered the ground yesterday even giving the odd free ticket out so it seems that they are charging for admission. They are about 4th in their league and are clearly ambitious with their recent managerial appointments.

Sid wrote:Do you know if Hull United charge for admission? Unusual for step 7 if so, it is parks football and few grounds are enclosed.

Not to go off-topic, but that isn't true for Step 7 in all parts of the country. In my patch Step 7 very much UCL 1 standard in terms of grounds for most part.

Very different round here, Wilby Rec, Irthlingborough Rec, Higham Rec all used for Combination games. I would say that is the same for the rest of the league.

A pitch and a changing room and you are away

More community days is certainly a good idea - the kids were great, cheered even more than the Peter De Banke mob!

Other than that, going out into schools and rolling out some coaching from the community team for them might help put the name out. Trying to get some local businesses to sponsor us or producing some of those 'Proud Supporters of...' stickers to go in windows might be worth trying as well. I'm sure we can come up with more though!

One game last season I purchased the blue afc hat, and it's so small it barely comes over my ears, so the hat now belongs to my 2 year old boy. Throughout the winter months outside the hat never comes off his head. I know it's probably the town I live in but funnily enough yesterday and today I have had people come up to me in the street and ask me what team it was. When I replied afc rushden and diamonds they both said "oh are they still going, thought they packed in"

It makes me wonder how they knew bits and pieces about the old team but know nothing about afc which baffles me as the coverage can be quite good in the evening telegraph... Maybe they don't read it, don't want to know, either way it seems that there are still a good few people who are unaware.

What about another couple of pay what you want on the turnstiles or bring a friend for free? I know it may be a gamble but surely getting the word out is a way to keep the attendances up...failing that a big A3 poster in the evening telegraph, make it bright and colourful so people take notice :lol:

My two suggestions:

1) Transport - Is there a supporters coach from Rushden/Irthlingborough to Wellingborough? Lots of young people can't drive.

2) Price - look at introducing lower ticket prices for younger ages.

Oundle Diamond #2 wrote: Price - look at introducing lower ticket prices for younger ages.

I think free to all Under 8's and free entry to Under 16 Members (£5 a year membership) which it currently is already fits the bill. ;)