The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

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Rushden & Diamonds chairman Liam Beasant admits an average attendance of 1,300 is needed to break even. He has promised to reduce prices for season tickets and matchday admission next term.
Crowds at Nene Park in the current campaign have only gone above 1,500 for two Blue Square Bet Premier games – against Grimsby Town and K*ttering Town.Three of the last five games have seen the lowest attendance for Diamonds at home in the Conference.The record was broken again as only 759 people turned up for Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Forest Green Rovers who had just 17 supporters.That was the smallest figure since April 1994 in the Southern League Midland Division.Beasant said: “We need to increase the crowd by 300 or 400 to an average of 1,300 or 1,400.“At the moment the club definitely isn’t breaking even. We’ve got Luton Town coming here soon and we are inviting children from local schools to home games.“We are on a decent run and the play-offs are still there for the taking.“We will be bringing down the admission prices next season.
“We appreciate that this is something that has caused much debate among the fans, particularly the price for standing.“Their views are being taken into consideration but we have to adhere to the rules of the Football Conference.“Obviously reducing income also has an effect on the playing budget which I am sure is a concern to all of us so we need to get the balance right.“We are focusing everything on giving a better and more competitive budget to Justin Edinburgh.“He wants to stay and when he’s doing so well it’s inevitable that other clubs will try to take him.“But he has rejected a couple of approaches and he has signed a long-term contract here.”Edinburgh’s assistant Paul Driver added: “We’ve had three home games in eight days and five in a row which makes it difficult for people to pay £17 every Tuesday and Saturday.“A lot of attendances are going down and, of course, the Champions League game between Barcelona and Arsenal was on TV this week.“It’s indicative of so many clubs – not just ourselves.”

Rushdenjim wrote:"We’ve got Luton Town coming here soon and we are inviting children from local schools to home games”

Interesting then, that whilst I stand on the playground and look at the Club, we haven't received any communication from them whatsoever!

Diamondsforever wrote:

Rushdenjim wrote:"We’ve got Luton Town coming here soon and we are inviting children from local schools to home games”

Interesting then, that whilst I stand on the playground and look at the Club, we haven't received any communication from them whatsoever!

Your school is quite well hidden though. I know it's quite stupid, but maybe they don't know it's there?

Stuart

Diamondsforever wrote:

Rushdenjim wrote:"We’ve got Luton Town coming here soon and we are inviting children from local schools to home games”

Interesting then, that whilst I stand on the playground and look at the Club, we haven't received any communication from them whatsoever!

Email the club and let them know they've missed your school DF. The last thing we want is it to become a hunting ground for the Wobblers.

We may be well hidden Stuart but we are on the county's list of schools etc and a prominent member of back room personel at the Club is a member of our governing body! There's no excuse really.

MD - if you knew me better, you'd know that I've already raised the issue

Diamondsforever wrote:We may be well hidden Stuart but we are on the county's list of schools etc and a prominent member of back room personel at the Club is a member of our governing body! There's no excuse really.

Sorry mother. ;)

Stuart

So you should be ;)

Although, to be fair, the Club hasn't said that ALL local schools have been approached. They could we be approaching secondary schools first for instance.

Great news, well done Liam and Steve !!

Its not the only answer, cost isn't the sole reason people aren't turning up, but it's a big reason for many and I hope that this season's hike hasn't lost us some of those fans forever (?).

Once this starts next season it must be coupled with a big promotional push selling the club. I still say Bedford has massive potential and a stall in the Harpur Centre or something like that on a Saturday during the Summer would go down well, showing off the kind of facilities we have here etc - some free match tickets/vouchers for those people who haven't been before, that kind of thing.

We've got 4 home fixtures left this season, 3 of those should be played in front of healthy(ish) attendances that will bring up our average (Luton, Wrexham and Kiddy). Personally I'd target the Southport game this season, its not likely to be THAT well attended, and I'd try to do something along the lines of what Bath are doing, a Project 2000 or something like that. Drop the price across the board and ask all supporters to try and bring a friend or one extra person (if you haven't got any friends ;) ) and get 2000 fans through the door. Ask the local press, radio etc to really promote it, get posters out etc - really push it with our fans - it'd be great to exceed the 1300 average break-even figure.

We've pissed off a lot of fans this year by hiking the prices, it'd be a good opportunity to win a few back before the close season.

Good ideas, Jim. Please tell me you'll be coming tomorrow. These guys won't know Bedfordshire so they would benefit greatly for stuff that is specific like this.

for all their remaining home games Eastbourne are doing a"kids for quid". If the "kid" already has a season ticket they are given a voucher for £2.50 to spend in shop or on refreshments.

Their gates are currently better than ours!!

It costs me as a concession £10 to stand on terrace,when I attended match at Nene Park recently it was £12 for the DB.