The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

.......but IF we were to do the seemingly impossible and gain promotion to League 2, I wonder what effect it'll have on our attendances?

Our average so far this season has crept up to 1523 (source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/atte ... =4&cc=5739 ) thanks mainly to the Mansfield, Stevenage, scum and Oxford games. We only have 3 home games left now and the Luton Town m,atch being obviously likely to be the biggest, our average will probably end up as about 1600 if we're lucky.

Now, with a recession probably going to bite even deeper, and I presume prices would go up a £1 or £2 (?), what effect will this have if we were to go up? Looking at League 2, there are only a few clubs with (in comparison) massive support and it looks as though a few of these will be leaving the Division (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/atte ... =4&cc=5739), but are we likely to see an massive increase in attendances?

Sure we'll get a larger away following (regular 2-300's ?) but this will only push us up to a 17-1800 average presuming our existing fanbase doesn't drift away due to cost.

It will cost the club more in wages, obviously, and I presume there will be more games where a Police presence will be required (?), so there will be more money going out of the club. Sure there will be more coming in (TV rights etc), but it'll almost be like standing still financially, something no business can afford to do.

At the weekend Barnet had 1872, Macclesfield 1572, Morecambe 1734........so I guess we'll be in the same position as these kind of clubs, but could we do a Burton Albion and gain an average of over 3000??? I seriosuly doubt it.

What do you guys think? IF we made it to Wembley I reckon we'd struggle to take 3-3500 there this time !!

If we were promoted, an increase in attendences would probably depend on two things. First one is how well we settle into League 2. Do a Burton/Dagenham or even an Exeter rather than a Torquay, playing the right way and we would attract more fans.

The second, and perhaps more important, the fortunes of the Wobbs and the Franchise. If we're doing well, and they aren't and/or playing absolutely rubbish and we could see a number of the floating fans back. If it becomes affordable to reopen the AirWair in League 2 to home fans (probably unlikely, but could happen) then that might sway some of the former AirWair fans back that haven't been since.

At the moment our biggest problem is that the Wobbs are doing well at the moment, at the same time as us, so the floating fans probably stayed put. Had they still been in a relegation dogfight, then attendences may have gone up a bit more for us.

I agree up to a point, the trouble is we're doing really well at the moment and we're still struggling to get people through the turnstiles. I seriously think we'd struggle to get more than an 1800 average at best, even if things go well for us.

The team is doing all it can to attract people down, but they're not coming - this HAS to be a worry, not just for KC, but for all Diamonds fans.

A big effort is needed by us all to encourage people to come down and watch what is the best squad I've seen for some time !!

PigmanRDFC wrote: What do you guys think? IF we made it to Wembley I reckon we'd struggle to take 3-3500 there this time !!

I think we would get at least 6k. Personally, I know lots of people that have said they would go to Wembley if we got there, who have never watched one Diamonds match...