Biggest frustration with us....

[S64 Blade]

Agree, our away allocation of 2,100 must be the smallest in this division.
When you think that Wednesday normally give away fans 4,600 tickets, it’s a big difference effecting the attendance.

How many sides have sold out the small allocation we give?

Wendy, Villa, Derby and Leeds are the only ones I can think of. Not 100% sure Villa and Derby technically sold out either.

 

[Selly]

The cup runs and playoff final?

I think that the biggest upturn was after the promotion and subsequent Premiership season. Before that we were averaging well below 20k. Look:

There is no question in my mind that the events from 02/03 to 06/07 gained us an entire generation of "floating" fans - specifically the 7-10 year olds. They are now the early twenties lot.

That "them lot" haven't had a similar period of "success" is good for us, as we appear to be cranking up another tilt. Gain another generation and we will be filling the LNe that little bit more in 10 years time.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Also you see loads on twitter and Facebook offering their seats to people they don’t know to help fellow Blades out if they aren’t going then you have muppets like this View attachment 50130

Bastard, sorry but if you can't do a fellow Blade a favour

 

[Northyorksblade]

It doesn't seem that long ago that McCabe was saying we needed 16,000 to break even

 

[coaxingstar71]

Not been many 40k gates in my time for me to get misty eyed over. Neither were the Hagan years at 18k average. Quite a bit higher. Just Two below 18k for the Woodward/Currie years. After that and up to 2004 yes.

Other than that....

http://european-football-statistics.co.uk/attnclub/league/sheu.htm

Makes interesting reading that. You can see the obvious post war boom, but I'm not that far off the mark generally. The period from around 1955-70 it's about 18-20,000 in an era when we were mostly in the 1st division.

 

[mattbianco1]

Funnily enough we are probably better supported now than we ever have been. There was a definite upturn in our core support from around 2003 onwards. Elder fans get all misty eyed about "40,000 regularly packing the Lane", but it's not true. We got big crowds for big games but outside of that our average attendances were around the 18,000 mark, even in the days of Sir Jimmy and Currie and Woodward.

That has been helped by the last 20yrs. Other than the L1 seasons, Blades have been top dog in the city, that's a full generation of fans there that have grown up knowing we're best.

If you're 20/21 now you will have been 12/13 when we got relegated to L1. By that time you're full blades or owls and the following season was the first time pigs will have finished above us

 

[DronnieBlade]

You mean you and your mates don't? Bet you prefer it when it's noisy, hostile and helping the team though don't you? Of course!

I take it all those silly noisy bastards in the away end yesterday would choose to sit in silence at home?

Not sure if you've noticed but I'm not wasting my time anymore. People and the club aren't worth it, and something will always make sure any efforts fail, because that's how it is over here.

Ahw diddums. Someone need a hug ?

UTB

 

[Houston_Blade]

I've not read through this thread but I'm guessing that around 50% of it is criticising those that do go for not singing loud enough.

The attendance level we are at now is the same as I'd expect for most clubs of our size and in our position. If we can get promoted the last few games it will sell out, we'll sell out the odd game in the PL and hover around 30k apart from that. That's just where we are from a fan base perspective.

 

[PaulHalfway]

History of failure, let down and disappointment
Not won a major trophy since 1935
6 years in division 1
Robson, Weir, Clough, Atkins
Always selling our best players
Sky live games
Red button mid week games
Inconvenience of moving ko times
Adult tickets on the day very expensive
Data base and customer numbers issues for buying tickets
Poor atmosphere at home games

On the positive the last 3 years the positivity and upwards trend has been phenomenal
If we did manage to get promoted would be an absolutely unbelievable change of fortune from where we were 3 years
Going to be a fascinating last 12 games, what a great position to be in

 

[cahill]

The cup runs and playoff final?

I think that the biggest upturn was after the promotion and subsequent Premiership season. Before that we were averaging well below 20k. Look:

Accepting that performances account for the increase in attendances since 2003, have their been other reasons such as increased number of females, families and ethnic minorities attending games ? I only have anecdotal evidence but this would seem to be the case, or is any increase negligable ? Personally i'm nostalgic for all standing grounds, chipmunk crisps, wagon wheels and bovril but I'm sure there are benefits from diversity.

 

[bertieblade]

We could easily sell tickets on the day at the turnstiles for the lane upper tier.
Although assume that this will not be allowed as no idea whether they will be purchased by home or away supporters. There is however less hooliganism now than previously when you did not need proof of who you support, people could however say that is the reason hooliganism has been reduced.

Well that went round in circles lol

 

[grafikhaus]

We should give half the upper tier to away fans, that'll be about 4000 ish.

Lots of clubs would sell more than we give them.

Won't happen as the ground is currently configured. We'd be moving our own fans from an area with one of the best views - BLUT - and asking them to moved...where? The wings of the kop (or behind the poles?) The odd spare seats - often near ground-level - in the John Street or SS wings? And pay around £35? Plus, don't forget that the average 'experience' of the away fan is to get pissed/drugged out of their skulls. Asking them to exit using the staircase near the screen would be a disaster waiting to happen,

Our current capacity is stated at 32,702 but you can (easily) knock 1k off that because of areas being 'netted off'.

Also, the idea of us getting 28-29k for the remaining home games won't happen. Rotherham? Should sell out the away allocation and we'll get 28-29k. Brentford on a Tuesday night? About 500 away fans, tops. Bristol City on a Saturday, good away following but not a sell-out. Around 27-28k. Millwall on a Saturday - nowt for them to play for - around 1k fans. Forest on Good Friday? No excuses not to attend but don't forget, 'Public Transport' on Bank Holidays (and midweek evenings) is 'patchy' to say the least. The final home game of the season? No away fans unless John Heath is arranging the transport from Ipswich.

Our crowds are as good as can be expected. Nobody wants to attend if they're extremely limited in their viewing options for top-dollar.

 

[8lade]

A rallying cry to get down the lane every game by somebody who doesn't get down the lane every game!
Somebody trying to sell tickets to a match for £150 a piece (nobody buy them make that fucker use them himself).
Arguing over whether trying to improve the atmosphere during a football match is worthwhile* (of course it was).

Without talking about pink unicorns and we'eres money gone this thread is as surreal as it will ever get.
* Booked a weekend in Sheffield to join the BLUT revolution only for the (Bristol City) match to get moved to the Friday.

 

[Topplayersleave]

Won't happen as the ground is currently configured. We'd be moving our own fans from an area with one of the best views - BLUT - and asking them to moved...where? The wings of the kop (or behind the poles?) The odd spare seats - often near ground-level - in the John Street or SS wings? And pay around £35? Plus, don't forget that the average 'experience' of the away fan is to get pissed/drugged out of their skulls. Asking them to exit using the staircase near the screen would be a disaster waiting to happen,

Our current capacity is stated at 32,702 but you can (easily) knock 1k off that because of areas being 'netted off'.

Also, the idea of us getting 28-29k for the remaining home games won't happen. Rotherham? Should sell out the away allocation and we'll get 28-29k. Brentford on a Tuesday night? About 500 away fans, tops. Bristol City on a Saturday, good away following but not a sell-out. Around 27-28k. Millwall on a Saturday - nowt for them to play for - around 1k fans. Forest on Good Friday? No excuses not to attend but don't forget, 'Public Transport' on Bank Holidays (and midweek evenings) is 'patchy' to say the least. The final home game of the season? No away fans unless John Heath is arranging the transport from Ipswich.

Our crowds are as good as can be expected. Nobody wants to attend if they're extremely limited in their viewing options for top-dollar.

The stadium is configured no differently to any other, it has four sides and an array of streets all around it.
The reason it won't happen because of the pathetic nature of the safety committee and SYP
There is nothing wrong with having 1500 or so away fans on the BL Upper tier, then a few rows gap then United fans having the rest of the BL Upper and the Corner
It would happen at any other stadium in the country except for those in South Yorkshire, it's pathetic

 

[Dkc]

Bastard, sorry but if you can't do a fellow Blade a favour

In the days leading up to the 3-1 at Hillsborough (early 90's I think) we'd gone down and bought tickets for their end. You could just roll up and buy seven each in those days so we had 28 tickets between four of us. We let them go to any Blades who wanted them at cost price, but we still had about ten spare. So we put a small ad in the Star with the phone number of the payphone in the Cremourne, got a few pints in and waited for it to ring. If a Blade wanted a ticket we sold them at cost, but if it was a pig who called we charged them 50 quid each. Didn't see anything wrong with fleecing the pork, but wouldn't fleece our own.

 

[Tom Bott]

I'm offering possible reasons why, not being sarky about it, many might have lost interest.

Many might have been on here and read that we only have a team of average players and that any who rise above mediocrity are classed as topplayers who then leave for peanuts.

 

[ghandi]

We are living in an increasingly connected, shrinking world with global communications becoming more sophisticated by the day. I reckon we should embrace the access we now get to follow the team rather than slam it. I get more angry about football eating itself with hyper-inflated egos, salaries and and elitism that means, for me, the Premiership is not the golden land it once was , more of a morally bankrupt wasteland. I am just loving this season playing against proper clubs with proper fans and I simply can’t get to all the games (400 mile round trip!). Believe me, I have served my time shivering on the terraces of Hartlepool and the Hockey Stadium at MK Dons. Whether it’s ifollow or Sky or whatever I’m dependent on it as a footballing lifeline to keep up with this fabulous team. I think the Blades’ support is and always has been amazing through some of the worst footballing times (I was there for the Don Givens penalty, the Boxing Day massacre, the last minute goal thatbsent us down against Chelsea etc). If it’s any consolation I am ‘off my arse’ most of the time dancing round the living room! Support comes in many guises, let’s just celebrate actually, virtually, televisually or whatever way we choose. We are still united as a fan base, It’s a great time to be a Blade - share the love!

TBF it wasn't cold that night in the Hockey Stadium

 

[Topplayersleave]

Many might have been on here and read that we only have a team of average players and that any who rise above mediocrity are classed as topplayers who then leave for peanuts.

Well I'm not called topplayersleaveforpeanuts
Just topplayersleave.........because they do

In years gone by I would have called myself eventhefuckingbangaverageplayersleave, because they did

 

[Sean Thornton]

Accepting that performances account for the increase in attendances since 2003, have their been other reasons such as increased number of females, families and ethnic minorities attending games ? I only have anecdotal evidence but this would seem to be the case, or is any increase negligable ? Personally i'm nostalgic for all standing grounds, chipmunk crisps, wagon wheels and bovril but I'm sure there are benefits from diversity.

Kids free ST’s, cheap kids pricing as well.

 

[Koh Samui Blade]

With iFollow's popularity the club really shouldn't be making it more difficult for fans to buy tickets.

They should set up matchday ticket offices on different sides of the ground. It's poor that there's only one area to buy tickets.




OK, please accept my apologies iFollow man, I'll never mention it again, no matter how relevant it is or how correct I am.

Not sure where you get the ifollow man from!
I've had a season tkt for over 45 years,been to more away games than i can remember,you should show a bit of respect to follow blades,not just me,who question your reasons for slagging off the support we give the team.

 

[Ricky]

Not sure where you get the ifollow man from!
I've had a season tkt for over 45 years,been to more away games than i can remember,you should show a bit of respect to follow blades,not just me,who question your reasons for slagging off the support we give the team.

If you have a season ticket and attend regularly despite living in Thailand then I have to take my hat off to you.

I have no agenda, I'm just honest, and want the best for our club and support. Can't be arsed with people who don't understand that.

 

[Ricky]

* Booked a weekend in Sheffield to join the BLUT revolution only for the (Bristol City) match to get moved to the Friday.

FFS. Sorry about that!

Honestly feel it could have been a very different story but for that rearrangement.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Our crowds stack up very well in a 2 club city. Looking down the list of the Championship games last weekend we ain’t doing bad at all by comparison. Consider the “giants” from S6, they couldn’t break 23k on Brucies home debut.

 

[Koh Samui Blade]

Sorry Ricky, i live in Sheffield.
Just because you failed, and i pointed it out, you have now spitted your Dummy out.
Initially it was a decent idea, but it didn't work, you don't need to keep bringing it up on every other thread.Like i said move on.

 

[Sheffsteel]

How many sides have sold out the small allocation we give?

Wendy, Villa, Derby and Leeds are the only ones I can think of. Not 100% sure Villa and Derby technically sold out either.

True but those clubs could have easily sold 4 to 5000 if the away end was bigger.
Don’t think the Derby allocation even made general sale, sold out almost immediately.
Villa didn’t make general sale sold, sold out almost immediately.

 

[Ricky]

Sorry Ricky, i live in Sheffield.
Just because you failed, and i pointed it out, you have now spitted your Dummy out.
Initially it was a decent idea, but it didn't work, you don't need to keep bringing it up on every other thread.Like i said move on.

No, I'm not saying anything different about our support to what I was previously.

People like you need to grow up, act your age and not be so sensitive about it.

I 'bring up' the topic of our support when it's suitable and relevant (without starting any threads), and it is a big topic, for us, and throughout football.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

The atmosphere at the lane has always been a “chicken and egg” senario. What comes first.... Team exciting the fans or fans inspiring the team? Also bigger teams with more away fans always helps.