I know this has been discussed before at length but I'm gonna chuck it out there again. Having our first game on a Satdy this week, (our others have been Friday nights or before the full season kicked off) it was noticeable that the amount of supporters was down. The usuals were there, but obviously noone from all the other divisions that were playing at exactly the same time.
Is it time to look at playing MPL games on a Sunday in order to get the crowds up? What are the reasons against it? Nelson seem to be fine with it and it's always pretty good fan-wise up there.
Thoughts?
Yes an interesting question Vim. I suppose it may be different at different clubs but I think a lot of players down the divisions are just happy to just play but not always interested in watching the first team footy, i.e. plenty do participate in football but not necessary followers of football for many reasons, otherwise their would be thousands watching Canterbury United during the summer not just several hundred.
If games are played on Sunday it means more work for the committee to cover both days over the weekend so are those people able to commit the extra time?
Unsure numbers involved the Sunday League these days does this have an impact if games played in Sunday?
In the old National League Days when both ChCh United and New Brighton were playing they would draw several thousand paying fans, (one local derby I can remember the main stand at QE II was packed to over flowing) Sunday work and 7 day shopping was not around.
Would be interesting to try it see if crowds were noticeably bigger.
Here is to a bumper crowd for the top of the table clashes for both the Women's PL Friday night and then the late game on Saturday at English Park for the MPL.
Yes good points, and pretty much spot on. I suppose looking around my club, people are mainly there for their own playing, not to support on the Premier teams. Slightly different to Canty Utd as the Premier team is your own club, not a mix of others.
I don't think your comment on committee work is that relevant, I think it could easy be handled by clubs. I also don't think Sunday League will have any effect, they are probably even more focused on themselves rather than Premier League.
I remember seeing a photo of New Brighton AFC at QE2 and it was a record for a club match, something like 10,000 people. Wow, imagine that nowadays.
Hopefully bumper crowds on Friday and Satdy, both 1st vs 2nd and both are the same clubs. I'll certainly be there.