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Post by broadwaterred82 on Jan 19, 2024 15:27:16 GMT
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Post by Keithsson on Jan 19, 2024 17:05:57 GMT
Its encouraging to see many others making the same journey many of us have made already.
But in the week Nuneaton Borough have to resign from their league and Taunton are served with a winding up order its clear the non-league scene isn't thriving everywhere.
Every club needs more converts.
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Post by broadwaterred82 on Jan 19, 2024 21:52:19 GMT
Its encouraging to see many others making the same journey many of us have made already. But in the week Nuneaton Borough have to resign from their league and Taunton are served with a winding up order its clear the non-league scene isn't thriving everywhere. Every club needs more converts. I agree there is a long way to go yet.. However I do find there is quite revolution happening especially the way the PL has become now. It's not about football just greed as far as I'm concerned. The VAR fiasco has been the kiss of death for top flight football. I feel fans now are getting fed up quite rightly so and I know a few fans of PL teams who feel mugged off and now converting more to NL football because of it. |
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Post by Keithsson on Jan 20, 2024 7:43:44 GMT
...and the next big 'turn off' will be when, as will inevitably happen one day, they finally get their way and the European Super League happens.
I'd have thought the sheer 'b*ggeration factor' of supporting an EPL club, even many EFL clubs, would've been the driving factor for desertion... prohibitive costs, constant fixture changes for TV, ridiculous kick-off times, availability of tickets, astronomical merchandise costs etc.
Yet I'm noticing that fans aren't walking away so much as just shifting to a new demographic, one we haven't seen in large numbers over here before... the exclusively armchair fan.
We used to scoff at the sports fans of the USA, only an elite few of whom could actually get to 'the game'. The rest, the majority, would 'support' their chosen NFL/NHL/NBA team from a Sports Bar or get friends and family over to their lounge to watch it on TV.
This is definately becoming more of a thing over here now and its slow insidious creep could cause non-league football to go one of two ways.
On the one hand it's such a detached and soulless experience that the absence of being part of the event causes a longing to get involved again... ergo we could benefit.
On the other hand if it goes on long enough the connection between watching a game and actually going to a game could become completely detached and this 'viewing only' demographic then become lost to attending football matches altogether... ergo we don't benefit.
Obviously Albion is the club which directly effects us the most (although you do see people at Woodside in all manner of EPL/EFL garb 🤨) and we are starting to see a new trend in our gates around their games.
Previously the gates dipped if our home fixtures clashed. Fair enough I say, Albion ST holders can't be in two places at once and Albion is their first love.
Recently though we're beginning to see dips in our gates when Albion have a 3pm K/O anywhere in the country too. This can only be down to fans using a VPN to falsely declare their presence in a territory where EPL rights are permissable to view under 'the 3pm blackout rule'.
This is not a scientifically measured observation under strict experimental conditions, more the early days of a noticeable trend emerging.
Now, what has this got to do with non-league football I hear you ask?
There is a growing movement that wants to see the end of the '3pm blackout'... let market forces prevail. If that happens I suspect we'll see the drift towards US Style 'sports consumer' grow rapidly at the expense of the 'sports attendee'.
The future is not as certain as it seems at face value... the rapid disappearance of the EPL up its own VAR/ESL backside does not necessarily represent a guaranteed influx of a football match attendance craving demographic.
The future is still uncertain.
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Post by dutchboy74 on Jan 20, 2024 8:21:23 GMT
...and the next big 'turn off' will be when, as will inevitably happen one day, they finally get their way and the European Super League happens. I'd have thought the sheer 'b*ggeration factor' of supporting an EPL club, even many EFL clubs, would've been the driving factor for desertion... prohibitive costs, constant fixture changes for TV, ridiculous kick-off times, availability of tickets, astronomical merchandise costs etc. Yet I'm noticing that fans aren't walking away so much as just shifting to a new demographic, one we haven't seen in large numbers over here before... the exclusively armchair fan. We used to scoff at the sports fans of the USA, only an elite few of whom could actually get to 'the game'. The rest, the majority, would 'support' their chosen NFL/NHL/NBA team from a Sports Bar or get friends and family over to their lounge to watch it on TV. This is definately becoming more of a thing over here now and its slow insidious creep could cause non-league football to go one of two ways. On the one hand it's such a detached and soulless experience that the absence of being part of the event causes a longing to get involved again... ergo we could benefit. On the other hand if it goes on long enough the connection between watching a game and actually going to a game could become completely detached and this 'viewing only' demographic then become lost to attending football matches altogether... ergo we don't benefit. Obviously Albion is the club which directly effects us the most (although you do see people at Woodside in all manner of EPL/EFL garb 🤨) and we are starting to see a new trend in our gates around their games. Previously the gates dipped if our home fixtures clashed. Fair enough I say, Albion ST holders can't be in two places at once and Albion is their first love. Recently though we're beginning to see dips in our gates when Albion have a 3pm K/O anywhere in the country too. This can only be down to fans using a VPN to falsely declare their presence in a territory where EPL rights are permissable to view under 'the 3pm blackout rule'. This is not a scientifically measured observation under strict experimental conditions, more the early days of a noticeable trend emerging. Now, what has this got to do with non-league football I hear you ask? There is a growing movement that wants to see the end of the '3pm blackout'... let market forces prevail. If that happens I suspect we'll see the drift towards US Style 'sports consumer' grow rapidly at the expense of the 'sports attendee'. The future is not as certain as it seems at face value... the rapid disappearance of the EPL up its own VAR/ESL backside does not necessarily represent a guaranteed influx of a football match attendance craving demographic. The future is still uncertain. Dare I admit that I possibly have the opportunity to watch a 3pm kick off? However that will not stop me going to watch Worthing at 3pm or any other time. I have been supporting Chelsea as long as I have been in this country (1995). And the only reason I started following them was because Gullit played for them. My first game was Chelsea v Southampton with a certain mr Le Tissier. At the time I didn’t realise how that fact would come back in my life years later. Lucky enough to see a lot of Chelsea games. Prefer non league much more now for various reasons. And I really hope that people realise that in order for non league clubs to survive you will need to support them by going to matches and ideally spend some money at the club! |
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Post by Bally on Jan 20, 2024 9:50:15 GMT
The US connection is an interesting theory but with one element missing... While the 'big 4' sports do command TV audiences, college and high school games still fill their city/town stadia with numbers many EPL teams could only dream of. Nearly 100,000 to watch the Nebraska volleyball team at their home 'football' stadium. High school teams have attendance beyond some EFL teams because it's all about supporting local.
I think a hybrid model is more likely with more fans supporting local sports in person alongside TV for everything else.
A friend of mine (Brighton and Lewes fan) is coming to Tonbridge today because his kids want to experience the buzz at worthing at the moment. You just can't create that in living room and for that reason, I am hopeful for our future!
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Post by Keithsson on Jan 20, 2024 10:12:25 GMT
(...in response to Jacco's post)
Its only when it becomes routine to watch football solely on TV, that's when it'll become a problem for non-league football... indeed for all football below the elite clubs.
You've always had 'armchair fans' but they've generally been derided. The term itself over here has become a by-word for 'plastics'. When that tips over into cultural acceptability though, as it has for many decades in the States, the connection between sport and going to sport will be lost for very many.
It'll be a downward spiral too, because that'll give even more leverage to the broadcasters making the scheduling and cost of going to those games even more prohibitive.
I have myself used NLTV, and will continue to do so for Worthing games I can't/won't go to and you could argue that makes me to a tiny degree complicit. So be it, but my default setting though is to attend.
WFC are already losing money we'd otherwise get from attendees through this VPN mechanism and I fear it'll only get worse, especially if the blackout goes and the activity is legitimised.
Anyhoots, its a tangential offshoot around the health or otherwise of the non-league scene. It just pressed my buttons when the prospect of armies of disillusioned EPL/EFL fans descending on non-league was raised.
I can't help but feel its not that simple.
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Post by Keithsson on Jan 20, 2024 10:13:26 GMT
The US connection is an interesting theory but with one element missing... While the 'big 4' sports do command TV audiences, college and high school games still fill their city/town stadia with numbers many EPL teams could only dream of. Nearly 100,000 to watch the Nebraska volleyball team at their home 'football' stadium. High school teams have attendance beyond some EFL teams because it's all about supporting local. I think a hybrid model is more likely with more fans supporting local sports in person alongside TV for everything else. A friend of mine (Brighton and Lewes fan) is coming to Tonbridge today because his kids want to experience the buzz at worthing at the moment. You just can't create that in living room and for that reason, I am hopeful for our future! Good counter point, well made 👏 I do think we're in a better place than many to attract support. The 'buzz' as you say is very much apparent in Woodside crowds but you go to other places and it's decidedly 'unbuzzy'. How much of that is down to league performance and upward trajectory is open to debate. But its absolutely the right track from the club to be investing in the fan experience as much if not more than in the team. Covering the terraces, covering the fan zone, investing in reinstating the old club house, more toilets etc... that'll be money we'll spent if the new fans attracted by success/entertainment on the pitch are to be retained for the longer haul by a decent match day experience off it. |
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Post by broadwaterred82 on Jan 20, 2024 13:25:20 GMT
All very good points here gents 👍
I think we are healthy with gates and also playing higher level along with the brand of football is a pretty good way of getting through the gate. I will say it is costly at this level with top whack at £16 entry plus everything on top like food etc.
Also I think we should withdraw from the SSC . The attendances for the early rounds especially are dire tbf and surley the club don't get much out of it at all.
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Post by Bally on Jan 20, 2024 15:00:54 GMT
All very good points here gents 👍 I think we are healthy with gates and also playing higher level along with the brand of football is a pretty good way of getting through the gate. I will say it is costly at this level with top whack at £16 entry plus everything on top like food etc. Also I think we should withdraw from the SSC . The attendances for the early rounds especially are dire tbf and surley the club don't get much out of it at all. Controversial... Love that. However the SSC is the most local example of a clubs existence and to neglect that is to 're-plant' your roots. Lewes have gone global rather than local this year. Would the people of Lewes want that every year? |
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Post by broadwaterred82 on Jan 20, 2024 15:22:16 GMT
All very good points here gents 👍 I think we are healthy with gates and also playing higher level along with the brand of football is a pretty good way of getting through the gate. I will say it is costly at this level with top whack at £16 entry plus everything on top like food etc. Also I think we should withdraw from the SSC . The attendances for the early rounds especially are dire tbf and surley the club don't get much out of it at all. Controversial... Love that. However the SSC is the most local example of a clubs existence and to neglect that is to 're-plant' your roots. Lewes have gone global rather than local this year. Would the people of Lewes want that every year? Whilst I agree with what your saying about roots there are a few on this forum would gladly forsake the SSC for a couple seasons to concentrate on the league lol. We are now playing more games in the league whilst travelling more on the road. I just feel it's an extra distraction. If the SSC wants to reconnect with roots of local football get the final to be held one of the local non league grounds like Horsham or Eastbourne Boro instead of the Amex . Like I say it's a fine line when your in a higher league like NL you need to ballance the football and financial income. I don't know if the SSC provides unless you win the competition. For the record I like the SSC but I feel now we need to be aiming higher which will benfit the club on and off the pitch. |
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Post by Bally on Jan 20, 2024 15:58:19 GMT
Agree with the Amex comment beyond all else, but that is the SFA elite, not a town club. The likes of Worthing, united, town and the Sunday league teams are the roots not the SFA suits. It's ours to give away, not the SFAs.
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Post by Keithsson on Jan 20, 2024 16:08:34 GMT
From a purely selfish POV I love the early stages of the SSC, a chance to go round the grounds of Sussex less travelled.
In recent seasons we've only had home ties but evenings visiting little towns and villages are great. Hinsh can mix/match the squad accordingly, he generally gets it right.
Its only when it gets to the latter stages it interferes with our primary focus. Exiting where we did this season was about right.
Going forwards if we're to progress in the leagues then we only have to look how Albion and Crawley treat it... a reserve team competition... and there's no harm in that.
Full agreement on the Amex which won't surprise anyone. But as stated, its not about what's best for us, its about what's best for the blazers 🙄
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Post by newtoworthing on Jan 21, 2024 15:19:40 GMT
Interesting article which I can partly identify with. As a Shrewsbury fan for over 50 years now living 15 mins from Woodside Rd, I will only see a handful of Shrewsbury games a season now for obvious reasons, but have embraced the chance to call myself a Worthing fan as well. Shrewsbury will always be my first love, but I enjoy not having to sit to watch a game, can be home with cup of tea in hand by 5.20, and get a close up view of the game. I don’t go every home game but find myself checking the score every 15 mins, and enjoy reading about the games and club on here.
Almost every EFL player is now a mercenary, never playing for their local team, but just who’ll pay them most. I fear that that might be happening now even at NLS level, and is not a good development for the community element which people value in non-league football.
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