Sky TV is...

[Silent Blade]

In Division Four we once got a higher attendance than Liverpool got for a European Cup match, and we often got more than many top flight teams for their League games

1st division match against Birmingham

https://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/1268

 

[Stretch]

Sky TV: Destroyed competition in the Premier League.
Gentrified the game by popularising it as a middle class sport so they buy the Sky packages.
Ticket prices in the Premier League are beyond the tradition client base of many clubs, which has somewhat percolated down into the football league.
It's now destroying the lower leagues as a spectator sport through its advent of the "red button". Despite United having some of the cheaper tickets, our crowds have dropped between one and two thousand this season.
Away games are increasingly difficult to plan. Cheap train tickets and hotels are becoming difficult to obtain, meaning travelling to away games is more difficult and less affordable. Most of these things negatively effect working class fans more; many of these fans see none of the benefits of Sky TV. These fans, and their antecedents, were the cradle of the game throughout the majority of its history, and created the "product" that is being stolen from them. Long term this is very dangerous: as football becomes less of a spectator sport, clubs will increasing depend on TV revenue for their very existence. TV companies will effectively run clubs. It has already happened in the Premier League. We're next, but our product has none of the gravitas of the PL, so are unlikely to survive and attract the same clientele.

Perfectly summed up, sadly

 

[Hodgesleftpeg]

How much are they paying you pal?

It’s bothing to do with how much they are paying me,(not enough )you put something on here that simply isn’t true.

 

[sitwell]

My guess is that those who couldn't get a ticket on Saturday were quite happy to watch it on Sky ,I haven't watched it back yet ,were we as bad on TV ?
I went btw and joined in Sky Tv are shit ,but think they are pretty good really.

 

[Sean Thornton]

In Division Four we once got a higher attendance than Liverpool got for a European Cup match, and we often got more than many top flight teams for their League games

The gap was there but it could be closed or at least narrowed. And for a club like United with good support it was easier then than what it is now because the club turnover was largely based on their attendances and sponsorship deals only

What's so annoying is Reg Brierley is on film telling everybody how football is going to change ( and he was bang right )
But he did nothing about it and allowed our status as one of this countries genuine potentially big clubs to slide on by without so much as a whimper

Our D4 home league game attendances weren't that sparkling. Not until March v Wigan did we get over 20k and then only managed it three more times until the end of the season v Bradford Rochdale and Peterborough.

 

[Topplayersleave]

Our D4 home league game attendances weren't that sparkling. Not until March v Wigan did we get over 20k and then only managed it three more times until the end of the season v Bradford Rochdale and Peterborough.

Yes, the average was more than 14000
I think most United fans could be excused for not being overly eager when the season started

14000 doesn't sound that many now. But in 1981-2 football was dead and a lot of top flight teams were only getting similar, most 2nd division teams weren't even getting that many

 

[Topplayersleave]

1st division match against Birmingham

https://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/1268

I knew we outnumbered Liverpool at one game
I really thought it was a bit of a non descript European tie though

I never thought for one second that it was a League game

 

[Silent Blade]

I knew we outnumbered Liverpool at one game
I really thought it was a bit of a non descript European tie though

I never thought for one second that it was a League game

I was a part timer that season due to playing football on Saturdays but I did go to the Bradford game after having played in a re-arranged Friendlies League match that kicked off at 6pm (there were a lot of games postponed in the 1981-82 winter). I missed Trussons goal and got in the ground before half time.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I knew we outnumbered Liverpool at one game
I really thought it was a bit of a non descript European tie though

I never thought for one second that it was a League game

You were correct, they had a 20k attendance 81/82 in the EC.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Yes, the average was more than 14000
I think most United fans could be excused for not being overly eager when the season started

14000 doesn't sound that many now. But in 1981-2 football was dead and a lot of top flight teams were only getting similar, most 2nd division teams weren't even getting that many

Averaged more than four D1 clubs that season.

 

[Rodley]

It’s bothing to do with how much they are paying me,(not enough )you put something on here that simply isn’t true.

So you believe the ground noise they had at a push of a button and played over the minute silence is a one off? Alright Rupert.

 

[oldblade]

Our D4 home league game attendances weren't that sparkling. Not until March v Wigan did we get over 20k and then only managed it three more times until the end of the season v Bradford Rochdale and Peterborough.

I think you have to view our 4th division attendances in the context of that time.

Attendances in general were well below what they are now.

For the 1981-2 season the average 1st division (premier league) attendance was 22,553. The average 2nd division attendance was only 10,287.
http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn.htm

We were in the 4th division and yet did not have one attendance below 11,293. Our average was 14,892. Almost 50% higher than the average attendance two divisions above us. Even our lowest attendance during that season was 1,000 higher than the second division average.

If not sparkling, I would say that for that time our attendances were pretty impressive. There were not very many clubs outside of the top division getting as many through the turnstiles as us.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

If not sparkling, I would say that for that time our attendances were pretty impressive. There were not very many clubs outside of the top division getting as many through the turnstiles as us.

Winning football attracts more fans.

That was our first ever season in the fourth tier. If we'd not romped our way to the title then attendances would have been in the toilet.

 

[Hodgesleftpeg]

So you believe the ground noise they had at a push of a button and played over the minute silence is a one off? Alright Rupert.

My name isn’t Rupert...

Did I say it was a one off? They certainly don’t use it to add atmosphere (simply laughable), it’s used to override any constant abusive language

 

[Sean Thornton]

Rupert has handed control to one of his dopey offspring these days.


Sound of bugle

"what's this button do Daddy?"

 

[Hodgesleftpeg]

Rupert has handed control to one of his dopey offspring these days.


Sound of bugle

"what's this button do Daddy?"

Who is Rupert?

I did explain what happened

Maybe you’re one of the perfect ones who has never made a mistake eh?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Who is Rupert?

I did explain what happened

Maybe you’re one of the perfect ones who has never made a mistake eh?

Sorry your Lordship. I'll know my place in future.


( l did know what happened. So did everyone else, particularly after Sky explained. Don't think you've broken that story two weeks after the event. However you've provided no evidence to back your claim that it's never used for atmosphere. So it's just an opinion like it is for those who claim otherwise).

 

[oldblade]

Winning football attracts more fans.

That was our first ever season in the fourth tier. If we'd not romped our way to the title then attendances would have been in the toilet.

Not always! Two years later winning football didn't do much for our attendances.

1983-4 season. Promoted to division 2. Average attendance 12,881. In fairness, attendances in general had dropped again by then, but not by as much as our attendances fell. And we were playing at a higher level and getting promoted to an even higher level, so you would have thought that might compensate for the fall off in football attendances generally.

Also in 1989-90, when we got promoted back to the first division after our longest ever absence, we averaged just 16,989. Only 2,000 above what we got in the fourth division season. This was at a time when attendances had pretty much recovered to 1981-2 level.

I really don't think it is possible to argue that our fourth division attendances were anything less than impressive.

 

[DaveBassettsgoneonholiday]

Our D4 home league game attendances weren't that sparkling. Not until March v Wigan did we get over 20k and then only managed it three more times until the end of the season v Bradford Rochdale and Peterborough.

Not forgetting there was pay on the gate at pretty much every match then, and the Kop looked rather well populated many times from John Street......not that I'm suggesting for a minute that any attendance figure was massaged for ahem, whatever reason

 

[oldblade]

I knew we outnumbered Liverpool at one game
I really thought it was a bit of a non descript European tie though

I never thought for one second that it was a League game

Not only that, it was a league game in a season in which Liverpool reclaimed the league title.

 

[Hodgesleftpeg]

Sorry your Lordship. I'll know my place in future.


( l did know what happened. So did everyone else, particularly after Sky explained. Don't think you've broken that story two weeks after the event. However you've provided no evidence to back your claim that it's never used for atmosphere. So it's just an opinion like it is for those who claim otherwise).

You asked me yesterday why they have Pre-recorded sound so I explained it to you..

So if you knew it all two weeks ago, why ask yesterday.

Lord R will do BTW..

Or

Clever Twat

Anything else in between is also fine

 

[Sean Thornton]

You asked me yesterday why they have Pre-recorded sound so I explained it to you..

So if you knew it all two weeks ago, why ask yesterday.

Lord R will do BTW..

Or

Clever Twat

Anything else in between is also fine

I knew two weeks ago about the cock up. My question was about recorded crowd noise and it's purpose. A point which you answered but provided no evidence. Think clever twat could therefore, be pushing it a bit.....

 

[Hodgesleftpeg]

I knew two weeks ago about the cock up. My question was about recorded crowd noise and it's purpose. A point which you answered but provided no evidence. Think clever twat could therefore, be pushing it a bit.....

I knew two weeks ago about the cock up. My question was about recorded crowd noise and it's purpose. A point which you answered but provided no evidence. Think clever twat could therefore, be pushing it a bit.....

You might be right.. clever twat is pushing it

 

[The Fox]

I'm not sure we can blame sky for anything . The football authorities, PL and FL accept the money from a broadcaster then bend over backwards to accommodate thier every wish , daft kick off times fixture changes for example . It's not sky's fault that they basically offer a shit load of money , with conditions attached that the PL and FL just agree to .. he who pays the piper ! The problems are the people who agree to it , they're now in a situation where they can't reverse out of. As for sky they cover the game well and broadcast it , that's their job .. BTW I've never had a sky subscription in my life , perhaps that's the answer

 

[Sean Thornton]

Not only that, it was a league game in a season in which Liverpool reclaimed the league title.

And a week after the League Cup Final. Their average league gate was 35000.

 

[Topplayersleave]

Not always! Two years later winning football didn't do much for our attendances.

1983-4 season. Promoted to division 2. Average attendance 12,881. In fairness, attendances in general had dropped again by then, but not by as much as our attendances fell. And we were playing at a higher level and getting promoted to an even higher level, so you would have thought that might compensate for the fall off in football attendances generally.

Also in 1989-90, when we got promoted back to the first division after our longest ever absence, we averaged just 16,989. Only 2,000 above what we got in the fourth division season. This was at a time when attendances had pretty much recovered to 1981-2 level.

I really don't think it is possible to argue that our fourth division attendances were anything less than impressive.

I always wonder what happened to the fans when Bassett got us promoted to the top division, and even when in the top flight the fans just weren't coming.
Almost immediately after the Leicester game it was almost as though it was back to the boring grind again
The feel good factor is very important, fans will turn up if they feel things might be looking up with the club and everybody is pulling in the same direction, but even getting promoted back to the top flight wasn't enough to bring back the feel good factor after the damage that had gone on before.
The stay away fans could still see that the club was fractured beyond repair and Dave Bassett just happened to produce a miracle

 

[SUFC Guy]

There is no better coverage of Live football than Sky can offer. It just irks the fuck out of me that they constantly rip off customers with Sky high subscription costs. They could easily charge half the current fee and still make a healthy profit.

...and don't even get me started on the fkin extra charge for HD

WANKERS

 

[oldblade]

Yes, the average was more than 14000
I think most United fans could be excused for not being overly eager when the season started

14000 doesn't sound that many now. But in 1981-2 football was dead and a lot of top flight teams were only getting similar, most 2nd division teams weren't even getting that many

It was far nearer 15,000 than 14,000. And we never went below 11,200 in the entire season.

As many will remember Wolves also had a spectacular fall from grace a few seasons after us and ended up in the fourth division for two seasons: 1986-7 and 1987-8.

In the second of those seasons they topped the division and finished with 90 points. Their average attendance for that promotion season was just 9,854. I think that helps to show how impressive our fourth division attendances were.

 

[Topplayersleave]

It was far nearer 15,000 than 14,000. And we never went below 11,200 in the entire season.

As many will remember Wolves also had a spectacular fall from grace a few seasons after us and ended up in the fourth division for two seasons: 1986-7 and 1987-8.

In the second of those seasons they topped the division and finished with 90 points. Their average attendance for that promotion season was just 9,854. I think that helps to show how impressive our fourth division attendances were.

I've known Wolves get less than 4000 for League games, in a stadium with two sides condemned
I'm sure they had rough times back then, but no worse than us.

And at least their horrendous times followed on from some very good times
Our horrendous times followed on from some not horrendous but not good times either

 

[oldblade]

And a week after the League Cup Final. Their average league gate was 35000.

I know what their season's average was and wasn't trying to claim we were anywhere near them over a season. But on that particular night the respective attendances did seem quite amusing to me (and I'm sure many other Blades). After all, we were chasing promotion from the fourth division and they were chasing a league title.

After all, as league cup winners you might have thought their supporters would have wanted to show their appreciation. Clearly not!