Won [ Sat 10th Aug ] v Lye Town, KO 3pm NPLD1M HOME

[oliv272]

I think looking at other clubs that have been successful with this is a good start, Farnham FC is one example I can think of that get really good attendances and a lot of young people turn up.

Collaborating with more YouTubers/Influencers just like Ellis Away Days would have a huge impact on the mid teens to early 20s as well and being a bit more creative/bold with our social media output.

I had a bit of back and forth with one of their Directors on social media last week after he was critical about Step 4 crowds last weekend. Ours was well below what we'd hoped and expected, but did you see others? Real Bedford got about 250. Wellingborough under 200 despite getting 3/400+ regularly last season. St. Neots couldn't hit 200 (league below but they were flying).

It was the Community Shield and also, Sky were showing a lot of games on TV that day (maybe all of them?). I think it's too easy to blame holidays.

He recently listed a load of the things Farnham have done to generate engagement in the Club. I had a look through them and we do 90% of them. It is worth bearing in mind though that the chap at Farnham is the founder of a social media agency employing over 400 people. So he is literally an expert in the field but not only that, probably has the cash to invest in it himself for the club's benefit.

One of the first things I did when I came on to the board was establish a (small) marketing budget and since then, we are doing social media adverts before every game. We spend about £50 a week on targeted ads because that's all we can afford. Multiply that by 10 and it would REALLY impact on the number on the gate and also the general reach of the Club, but we can't. I happen to think these are working generally and attendance figures last season would back that up, but it's slow growth.

Generally the fanbase is of a certain age. We all know that. We sell more concession season tickets than adult season tickets.

The age group that Cameron sits in is a definite gap for sure and is the group we really need to tackle. The age group just above that which Rob and I sit in is quite prominent around the Club as we were all kids growing up during the glory years at Nene Park. The age group below it I'd like to think we are doing a good job at tackling as part of the much better relationship with have with the Community Section these days.

If anyone has any ideas about how we can be more creative and bold with socials then I'm all ears. Video content perhaps. But these things require volunteers and time, and I give up any more of mine between my 'real' job and this club, I think I literally wouldn't see my family!

I seem to remember our opening game attendances always being rubbish even at Nene Park (at least the 2 or 3 seasons I was following towards the end).

I'm happy to get involved on the video side, I did offer to help last year with creating video content to push the new fan ownership rebrand but was told someone else was on the case. Not a media expert by any means but I set up the Save RDFC facebook page when I was 15 and created the Save Rushden & Diamonds FC YouTube video. I also don't have all the time in the world like most people in the 25-35 age group life often gets in the way.