Fourth highest attendance outside of the top flight.

[The_Green_Man]

Another reason why I love Sheffield United football club really, one of the main reasons if I am honest. I have an equal love for the fans as I do the club because despite all of the shite we have to put up with, we still turn up week after week and get behind the team.

I know attendances mean diddly squat but 20,199 Blades fans turned out at Bramall Lane the weekend gone to watch us beat Blackpool. To put this into context of how fantastic our support is in current times consider the following.

• Only 3 clubs had a higher attendance that us through the gates this weekend and these only pipped us by a couple of thousand. Brighton 22,659, Leeds 22,597 and Middlesborough 22,236.
• In league one the next best attendance to ours was over at our neighbours in Barnsley and that was only just over half of what we got through the gates on 10,342.

Best fans in the world in my eyes, year upon year we turn out in numbers and support the team no matter how great the height from which we get shit on!

To my fellow comrades, I salute you all!

UTB!

 

[Tyler Durden]

In my first season as a season ticket holder in 1999/2000 we were averaging 13,000 and that was in a higher division. I remember thinking 16k was a decent crowd. At least we've improved in one aspect.

 

[The_Green_Man]

In my first season as a season ticket holder in 1999/2000 we were averaging 13,000 and that was in a higher division. I remember thinking 16k was a decent crowd. At least we've improved in one aspect.

We get that in season ticket sales alone these days don't we?

 

[Tyler Durden]

We get that in season ticket sales alone these days don't we?

Yeah we did this season I think. Considering it's our 5th season in the 3rd division it's pretty incredible.

 

[The_Green_Man]

Yeah we did this season I think. Considering it's our 5th season in the 3rd division it's pretty incredible.

Nothing surprises me with blades fans to be honest. Loyal is an understatement.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Another reason why I love Sheffield United football club really, one of the main reasons if I am honest. I have an equal love for the fans as I do the club because despite all of the shite we have to put up with, we still turn up week after week and get behind the team.

I know attendances mean diddly squat but 20,199 Blades fans turned out at Bramall Lane the weekend gone to watch us beat Blackpool. To put this into context of how fantastic our support is in current times consider the following.

• Only 3 clubs had a higher attendance that us through the gates this weekend and these only pipped us by a couple of thousand. Brighton 22,659, Leeds 22,597 and Middlesborough 22,236.
• In league one the next best attendance to ours was over at our neighbours in Barnsley and that was only just over half of what we got through the gates on 10,342.

Best fans in the world in my eyes, year upon year we turn out in numbers and support the team no matter how great the height from which we get shit on!

To my fellow comrades, I salute you all!

UTB!

Never let it be said that the fans are the problem with this club.

 

[Blade82]

In my first season as a season ticket holder in 1999/2000 we were averaging 13,000 and that was in a higher division. I remember thinking 16k was a decent crowd. At least we've improved in one aspect.

Our attendances were very poor in the late 90's. I knock McCabe but I have to give him credit he brought the fans back, with a little help from warnock.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Keep it up Blades - weren't some predicting 15K?

UTB

 

[blade too long]

what gave us these crowds

could it have been the clubs policy on family tickets and reasonably priced early season tickets
which clever person thought of this

our crowds were poor
2010 25.120
2009 26.023
2008 25.631
2007 30.512
2006 23.650
2005 19.594
2004 21.646
2003 18.073
2002 18.034
2001 17.211
2000 13.700
1999 16.243
1998 17.942
1997 16.638
1996 12.901
1995 14.462
but improved greatly under McCabe
we havent fell below 18000 since 2001

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

Keep it up Blades - weren't some predicting 15K?

UTB

The South Barnsley lot were yes. In fact our gates were supposed to be down to 13000 the year after they got lucky and pipped us to promotion.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

The South Barnsley lot were yes. In fact our gates were supposed to be down to 13000 the year after they got lucky and pipped us to promotion.

Some on here were too........

UTB

 

[blade too long]

considering the pigs get the benifit of good away followings from their championship oipponents
ie around 1500 to the 280 blackpool brought

the average gate of 21751 art S6 is only slightly ahead of us at 21165
take off the away support and we are getting more home fans

 

[Rodders]

Never let it be said that the fans are the problem with this club.

We all turn up in numbers, but we're all cunts.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

considering the pigs get the benifit of good away followings from their championship oipponents
ie around 1500 to the 280 blackpool brought

the average gate of 21751 art S6 is only slightly ahead of us at 21165
take off the away support and we are getting more home fans

steady on tiger - the word "massive" might creep into the post soon.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

We all turn up in numbers, but we're all cunts.

Is that Computer Users, None Techicals ?

UTB

 

[blade too long]

according to the site 72 that records these stats
wednesday benifitted from 1700 ipswich fans and1184 bristol city fans

we got 280 blackpool fans and 986 chesterfield fansthrough our gates

our followings are given as

1832 at Gillingham
and 1578 at Posh

 

[Revolution]

When we won Division 4 our average home attendance was higher than the average attendances of everyone in Division 4 - and everyone in Division 3 too.

This had happened before occasionally, when a second division side had higher crowds than anyone in the top flight, but I'm not sure it's been done since.

United set another first that year - one of the early home games (Scunthorpe or Colchester I think) had a bigger crowd than one of the division 1 games the same day (somewhere like Luton or Coventry). That was the first time that had happened.

 

[blade too long]

top of the league Gillingham took187 fans to Bradford . the lowest away following of the week shows you fans have little effect on results

 

[Lane Ender]

After the Gillingham debacle a good few of the lads said that's it not going again!
Lo and behold a couple of results they're back planning the next away trip.
There is a good feeling down at the Lane right now long may it last

 

[Sheffsteel]

Another amazing stat from our stay in the 4th division.

We got 24,400 and odd at home to Bradford on a cold night in February 1982.

The same night European Cup holders and league leaders played Birmingham City in front of their lowest crowd of the season 24,200 and odd.

Imagine any 4th division team getting a bigger gate than the mighty Liverpool who were perennial trophy boys in their glory days of the 80's.

Our away support was legendary that season regularly outnumbering the home support.

 

[BeatleBlade]

I knows it's not a popular thing to say but McCabe has done a lot of good things for the club. He heavily increased attendances and built a good academy. Sure, he's had his fair share of fuck ups and I know we are in the third division but things are looking quite bright right now. Imagine what sort of attendances we could get in the Championship.

 

[Old Skool]

Our support - numbers-wise - IS outstanding and something to be proud of and certainly not to be taken for granted. That said.....am I the only one out there who thinks we used to generate an atmosphere far more hostile and noisy with far less bums on seats?

I have to admit...there is more than a little part of me that hankers after the old bear-pit atmosphere of years gone by - then again...I am old skool !

 

[The_Green_Man]

Our support - numbers-wise - IS outstanding and something to be proud of and certainly not to be taken for granted. That said.....am I the only one out there who thinks we used to generate an atmosphere far more hostile and noisy with far less bums on seats?

I have to admit...there is more than a little part of me that hankers after the old bear-pit atmosphere of years gone by - then again...I am old skool !

One of my most memorable atmospheres was the triple assault season. That season you could feel the buzz walking down the road to the ground, the minute you walked in through the turnstyle and on to the stand it was like a red hot cauldron. That season brought me some great memories and will take some beating for years to come.

 

[coaxingstar71]

what gave us these crowds

could it have been the clubs policy on family tickets and reasonably priced early season tickets
which clever person thought of this

our crowds were poor
2010 25.120
2009 26.023
2008 25.631
2007 30.512
2006 23.650
2005 19.594
2004 21.646
2003 18.073
2002 18.034
2001 17.211
2000 13.700
1999 16.243
1998 17.942
1997 16.638
1996 12.901
1995 14.462
but improved greatly under McCabe
we havent fell below 18000 since 2001

It is amazing that our attendances have increased so much, if you go back a little further to end of the Porterfield reign and the awful McEwen era, the home attendances fell alarmingly, I believe there were about 7,500 for one game, in effectively what is the championship, against Crystal Palace. I remember thinking it was a good crod if we got 15,000 at the Lane in those days.

What are the factors that have caused it?
Those fences being taken down?
All seater stadia?
Clever marketing?
The post 1990 World Cup boom?
The reduction in hooliganism or at least the negative press and propaganda?

One thing I do know is that we certainly aren't any better to watch!

 

[Blade82]

It is amazing that our attendances have increased so much, if you go back a little further to end of the Porterfield reign and the awful McEwen era, the home attendances fell alarmingly, I believe there were about 7,500 for one game, in effectively what is the championship, against Crystal Palace. I remember thinking it was a good crod if we got 15,000 at the Lane in those days.

What are the factors that have caused it?
Those fences being taken down?
All seater stadia?
Clever marketing?
The post 1990 World Cup boom?
The reduction in hooliganism or at least the negative press and propaganda?

One thing I do know is that we certainly aren't any better to watch!

Could just be a simple as a generation thing. In the 70s my dad went. Last Saturday he had me and his grandson there with him, which triples the number straight away and is probably the case for lots others too.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

I knows it's not a popular thing to say but McCabe has done a lot of good things for the club. He heavily increased attendances and built a good academy. Sure, he's had his fair share of fuck ups and I know we are in the third division but things are looking quite bright right now. Imagine what sort of attendances we could get in the Championship.

....or as somebody said to me about McCabe the other day, " his arse is in the right place"

Freudian slip?

 

[HighfieldBlade]

One of my most memorable atmospheres was the triple assault season. That season you could feel the buzz walking down the road to the ground, the minute you walked in through the turnstyle and on to the stand it was like a red hot cauldron. That season brought me some great memories and will take some beating for years to come.

That season absolutely sizzled.
Remember this cup game v Leeds? Think it was from the season in question. What a cracker.

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

I have a theory about SUFC fans - I believe that we, above any other team, seem to revel in adversity. Being in Division 4 or being stuck in League 1 for five seasons, it brings out the best in us, numbers wise. If we get promoted to the Championship, I don't think the attendances will actually be that much better because the adversity won't be there. In fact, given that we'd get beaten a little more, I think it might even prove that a promotion season average would be higher than a survival season average in the next division up.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I think our porky’ neighbours’ dominance in the 90s (them being a Prem team) is what made our crowds so low. Since they got relegated in 2000 and spent the following 12 years below us, our gates climbed as the on field dominance coupled with sensible pricing for kids meant we attracted a good chunk of that generation of up and coming fans. I think that’s why we now have such good gates compared to the 90s. Problem is, if we stay behind the pigs too much longer, it will start to swing back the other way. That’s why it’s imperative that we get back to the championship ASAP and get at least back on a level playing field with them.

I don’t particularly care about attendances from a bragging point of view. They mean nothing really and it’s what your team does on the pitch that counts. However, we don’t want to lose this fanbase as having that resource improves our ability to compete financially and to attract and retain investment.

Hopefully, this is the year the team rewards the loyalty of the fans to
a) keep the ones they have and
b) help lure the next generation to the lane as opposed to Swine Cottage.

 

[travellingblade]

After the Gillingham debacle a good few of the lads said that's it not going again!

I was one of the first, and I missed the next two games.

Been to both the following (last) two games and renewed our season tickets on Saturday.

Once a Blade ALWAYS a Blade.