Interesting !

http://www.european-football-statistics ... ontent.htm

Obviously there wasn't a lot to do on a Saturday in 1952 in the Hartlepools if over 9,000 watched the Pools!

Gateshead's highest average is impressive too.

Gateshead is a much bigger place than Hartlepool in terms of population so I’ve always though they had the potential to be a Football League club again if they played in a proper football ground in a decent location like they used to, as it stands I think they have an uncertain future playing where they do, I see the current owners have had enough of pouring money into a black hole. What next for them as with the crowds they get from outside look pretty unsustainable at this level or higher.

It’s interesting that the vast majority of highest average attendances for proper clubs range from 1948-1958 or very recent in terms of some of the bigger clubs who have expanded in the Premier League age. I can see very few in 1970’s and 80’s when the game was dying on it’s arse with hooliganism and the like only a few with clubs who were in golden eras.

It highlights a change, but I don’t think the game has ever been more popular globally than it is now. In the 50’s it truly was the working mans game and cost next to nothing to watch. But the working man had little else to do than go to the pub, they had far less demands in terms of family life and time. The World was also a much bigger place you didn’t have a car outside of London public transport was time consuming and limited and you didn’t have a TV. So unless you went to watch your local team you never got to see professional football or the players you read about in the paper.

Now you do well to avoid football, I could probably watch ten live games a day on TV as well as blanket coverage on sports news outlets all over the World. Football has never been watched as much it’s just different with far more choice. It’s also got a much wider demographic, kids of both sexes, women of all ages people all of races. Not just gadgies in flat caps. Yet Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal soon to be Tottenham, West Ham to name a few average more than they ever have. Even in our region Newcastle, Boro, Sunderland and Pools are getting far better gates than they would have been in the positions they are in if it were 40-50 years ago. So I don’t buy that the game is dying on its arse it just like life and culture in itself, it has changed beyond recognition.

As I recall back in the early 50's, entry was about a shilling and programmes were 1p. I could afford to go using my pocket money but I doubt that that is the case for kids today. Football is too expensive these days.

That’s another conversation but attendances and popularity would suggest otherwise, as say the demographic has also completely changed.

Different time and almost a different sport plus I don’t think Football at Pools level is too expensive if you compare it to the cost of everything today. A young lad could pay into Pools with his pocket money, and far more families go to lower and non league games than they used to back in the 50’s. The top level maybe but why are they going to drop prices when grounds are full?

30 pence in the mid 70s.
Its only the so called cheap St's that has kept our decent support up over the last 8 years. Not sure if the hartlepool public will stay loyal after the worst season ever like. Be very surprised if we shift 2000 next season.

So 2000 season tickets at £250 would be poor?

We only really had two seasons when the tickets were actually ‘cheap’ a lot of clubs have followed suit in the lower leagues and out prices are no longer amongst the cheapest. Since the introduction of FFP it makes sense to have more season ticket holders paying up front before the season. With changes in the summer hopefully the outlook is positive and town stays behind the club but again that’s another story.

You said it was 30p in the mid sevenities, about £2.50 today’s money, we had a mid table season in the fourth division in 1975/76 and 14 our 23 crowds were sub 2000. That was without the Premier League, games on TV every day, and more less family, time commitments and far less choice in terms of everything. People always look back to their ‘era’ with fondness obviously that’s natural, but the game was less popular than it is now.

I'm pretty sure Hull City account for an insane number of our full houses. Without them in the league you could probably knock 500 off the average.

A table of lowest average attendances might help put those in perspective. I seem to remember seasons where we've had considerably less than 2000 since that high point.

20 Regal and 2 pints of Strongarm were less than a quid..i'd have said it was nearer 40p.

Figures can be corrupted though. In the 70s you could of had someone from every house in a street, go to Pools at least once a season, whereas now you may only have a quarter of the street go, but those who go might be the lucky ones with good jobs, who take their wife and 2 kids along as well. In the 70s it was generally blokes and a fair smattering of teenage kids. So although Pools may get more in total now, the spread isn't as wide in terms of how may attend, out of 3000 its the same 2500 every home game, whereas a lot more went just once or twice a season in the 70s.

started going in 1954. seemed a lot of older guys going then plus the dads and lads. going just to the match was a big thing and the world did not end if pools lost. the problem now is any team dare not loose and fans go in uproar when a defeat happens. this seems to have lead to the glory hunter brigade who change their club just to follow success. money seems no object either as they will travel miles to watch their new successful team.

started going in 1954. seemed a lot of older guys going then plus the dads and lads. going just to the match was a big thing and the world did not end if pools lost. the problem now is any team dare not loose and fans go in uproar when a defeat happens. this seems to have lead to the glory hunter brigade who change their club just to follow success. money seems no object either as they will travel miles to watch their new successful team.

Think in 82/83 it was something like 1300, seem to recall our opening game only attracted 1009.

One thing I think it does show, is how much the North and Midlands have declined economically , especially towns/clubs like WBA, Wolves, Bolton, Blackburn, Huddersfied etc

you a fan of InTheMadCrowd as well Horden?

http://inthemadcrowd.co.uk/UI/Match.aspx?oid=2953

Joe Neenan in goal for Scunny - is he the one who got 'flasked'?

Don't forget that prior to this century - there were numerous local football leagues in operation on a Saturday afternoon - Church league under 18 & over 18's plus at 2 leagues in the District league - counting players, managers and supporters - that's approaching a 1000 people who were football people who didn't go to Pools on a Saturday afternoon ( not until they opened the gates after half time)
Then there were the numerous rugby teams - some with 4 teams some with 2 - more sporting people who didn't go to Pools.
The point being - that despite all of these extra potential extra spectators and the loa season ticket price - gates at Pools have not increased.
Why ? - because the Premier league has become the be all and end all to some football "supporters"




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I actually remembered that off the top of my head, but yeah I often refer to inthemadcrowd if I'm in doubt, an excellent resource.

Ian Botham's mate!

And, I have just discovered through the power of ITMC, that he was born the same day as my wife!!