TOPIC: Attendances and 'not coming'.

Worrying that only 4,000 saw us go seventh playing as well as we have in years.

People need to turn up and support the team for the teams sake or financially things cannot improve.

Personally don't hold with the theory that by coming and supporting the team your are supporting and propping up the regime.

Coming along and watching may make things better - by not coming you can't expect things to improve.

Maybe Mr Jenkins might find it easier to leave a well attended club in decent financial health?

Force of numbers could make a difference unless many supporters have stopped supporting?

What has to happen to get people off their arses?

I'm not going back until Abbott goes.

Moylesey wrote:
Alex Gilliead - let's spread the message that by not coming then you are missing out on seeing the most exciting young talent since Matt Jansen or Peter Beardsley. You are cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Don't suppose you know someone who could sort the paving in the back lane do you?

Moylesey wrote:
What has to happen? Good question. I'll attempt an answer:

Don't charge more for people who make a decision on the day to go
Don't lie about the roles of the directors
Don't turn down a successful local businessman who wants to inject cash into the club
Don't lose at home to Newport and Morecambe
Spend some of the Potts/Dempsey/Liverpool money on making the team and club better
At least explain where the money is being used
Have a vision for moving the club forward
Don't go live on the radio to call someone a kunt
If you do, have the courage to say sorry
Don't charge people 2 quid to read your pathetic attempt to justify abusive language
Don't lie about the local media when all they do is ask questions that deserve answers and give us superb coverage
Don't be evasive about the length of the manager's contract
Communicate honestly and openly with the supporters
Don't go on twitter to shan yourself up
Don't flog decent young players at the first opportunity
Have a ground with decent food, drink & facilities
Don't talk rubbish about investors
Don't talk rubbish about a new stadium
Don't have a board of miserable ignorant old men with no joy in their soulsl

Obviously there are more but will that do for a start?

Personally, the 250 mile round trip to Brunton Park, loss of a job, having a mortgage and 2 kids under 5, combined with the laughable price of division 4 football, and 3 seasons of abject stuff under 2 lunatic dullard managers (and a loathsome board) has stopped me being a regular attender. Others will have their reasons. 2 clean sheets all seasons and 2 home defeats from the last 3 games means a scabby 1-0 over Exeter is hardly likely to be attractive to the average punter, is it?!

If you want to be critical, don't start with the casual attenders. Try to be a bit more analytical.

Maybe people just dont want to go anymore or the years of Greg and Kavs shite have put them off for life. Or maybe they cant offord it

deeksme wrote:
Struggling to find the bit in my post where I am being critical. Good response otherwise...

Fair enough Moylesey. Sorry. Chalk it down to misdirected anger.

The ups and downs in attendances are, in my opinion, down to external factors and the performances on the pitch.
In spite of all the positives this season, the last two home games, before Exeter game, were quite poor performances which wouldn't have inspired the less dedicated attendee to rush back.
Home two Saturdays in a row.
There was rugby and football on TV too.
Even as a quite keen supporter there are times when it is tempting to sit the odd game out.
I think 4000 is a decent crowd for 4th division football.

Fk.egg chasing. I dont attend due to.nixon jenkins and pattison being a bunch of lying deluded c@@ts.

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I chose not to go on Saturday for a few reasons.

1 - I wanted to spend time with my family, I work hard during the week and haven't seen as much of them as I should so wanted to do that instead.

2- The cost of getting a match day ticket, as well as the extras such as a drink or two.

3- The last two home games have been frustratingly disappointing.

To be fair the ownership thing doesn't stop me from going - I want a change but I will still support the team as and when I feel I can justify it.

No one has to justify anything.

There are times recently when I've sat there thinking I'm not sure why I do this anymore, the game / atmosphere/ experience is poor, really poor in terms of spending hard earned cash.

Then once in a while a night like Liverpool comes along and gives you a glimpse of memories past and some pride in your team, your city and its people.

If you check attendances in the rest of league 2 we dont do that bad with around the 4,000 mark. and some of the grounds are as bad if not worse than ours.

It is understandable that the loyal supporters are concerned, when Carlisle United are playing entertaining football and sitting better in the League than they have for sometime, that those driven away by the drivle served up over the last few seasons are not returning now.
However, I think it is more complex in so much that the demands of those attending have changed and Carlisle United has not. There is no doubt that easy access to the best football, rugby, motor-sports etc has had a affect on crowed gates. So, this brings a challenge to the Club, one it should rise to, and greet. Currently the life blood is dwindling away, so what is the long-term plan to ensure this stops and is reversed.....

It will take more than a impassioned plea by the Manager, some serious investment is required.......

Deeksme's post further up is brilliant, of course it doesn't cover absolutely everything, but it is a start. I keep going in the hope stuff might change, and to be honest I was delighted to be there on Saturday for Gilliead's display. Boycotting means you miss that sort of thing. Some of those who aren't going are still managing to get to a decent number of away games and so are supporting the team (just not the owners).

Waltero, if we take that attitude we will never improve, it isn't good enough just to be not the worst, we have to be striving to be the best. We haven't done that over the past few years, which is why we are where we are.

thesilentone wrote:
Well said.

182blue wrote:
You've got this pretty much bang on for me. We might be in the playoffs, but there's hasn't been a great deal of momentum built from good performances at home. The two away wins at Orient and Stevenage got us an increase in the attendance but then that fell flat again with the defeat against Morecambe.

If we do end up stringing four or five wins together the crowds will start creeping up again, and we could end up back with 6 or 8 thousand.

For all the doom and gloom off the pitch with the owners, all we really care about is a winning team on the pitch. Once the momentum starts, the goals keep coming, Gilliead ripping defences to shreds, and people start telling their friends about how entertaining it is again, the excuses like wanting to spend more time with the family will disappear. That's not a dig at JFF, the majority of people will have been guilty at jumping at the chance to do something else on a Saturday for the last few years.

sirjimmyglass wrote:
Is it still a excuse or is it a fact?. Personally i dont get to as many matches as i used to but if i do go my wife and 4 yearold come with me so i prob spend more during the course of a season than i did when i was single. If they didnt want to go then its possible my circumstances would dictate id be going even less. That imo wouldnt be a excuse not to go.

I'm with the Fox on this as long as those lying toads are on the board count me out. Billionaire my arse do they honestly think us Plebs are that thick. Watching them grinning and laughing in there Directors box, Thinking of there G & T's and Cucumber sarnie's, Makes yer want to vomit....

I want to spend less time with my family to be fair. Nobody nags me at a football match. Nobody asks me for a lift 400 yards down the road, then sulks for a week when I say no. I don't have to decorate at Brunton Park (then change it a few weeks later when somebody realises they've got the wrong colour), or go wandering aimlessly round shops.

Excuses, reasons, call them whatever you like.

A lot of those things will come second best if we continue to play good football and have a winning team.

Moylesey wrote:

Good point, if only we had a long term supporter who would do it out of the goodness of his heart and do it simply for the cost of the materials, 47 pints in the St Nic and an Erasure CD.

Rather go away games and give my money to some other club than feather the nest of the custodians. It's not really about entertainment factor (if they win/play well it's a bonus), just not happy with having the piss taken out of me and lied to by those in charge of running our club. Seen enough crap football down the years, so even more crap wouldn't stop me going, ever.

I said way back in the Summer that if Nixon did anything to screw up the Lapping deal then that would be the last straw for me.
Then he did screw the deal up, and unfortunately, I wasn't the slightest bit surprised.
I am simply not prepared to give him another penny.
After 31 years of going to every home game and more than my fair share of away games, I haven't been to a home game this season.
Went to Hartlepool and Anfield and my next away game will be Accrington.
When I decided to take this stance I thought it would be difficult to keep away, and that maybe I would cave in and soon go back.
I've been surprised how easy it has been.
I do other things now and I honestly have not missed it. It has also been made easier that the 4 lads I stood with for years have all stopped going as well.
I can't see me going back.At least until the people at the top change.
Also, I haven't missed the anger and frustration of shelling out money to these leeches.
And looking up from the paddock to see Nixon, Jenkins and Pattison looking down smirking and laughing at us.
Then Jenkins rant on the radio - and his lack of apology and accountability for it, just confirmed everything I thought.
It makes me wonder what sort of attendances we would now be getting if Lapping had taken over.
Playing good football, getting good results, feel good factor etc.We would have been on the crest of a wave with everyone buzzing and backing the club.
A bit like the early Knighton years.
But, instead we've got more of the 'reluctant custodians' getting through day by day with no long term plan or ambition, while still managing to p*ss people off.

I am glad we have an exciting youngster on the books, and hope he does well.
But even a young Messi in our team wont entice me back with those 3 parasites still lording it over everyone.

sirjimmyglass wrote:
"Excuses, reasons call them whatever you like"

"all we care about is a winning team"

Congratulations sirjimmy, you talk as much clart as Jenkins et al

deeksme wrote:
The people I know who are not going back (and there are quite a number) this season aren't doing it for family reasons, or any other reason than those at the top. They aren't excuses, or reasons that will be dropped if we continue to win. These are genuine fans of the club, some of whom have been going to games longer than I have. The disillusionment felt by them is such that they don't feel able to continue to, as they see it, line the pockets of three foolish old men who just won't let go. The very fact that these fans have continued to attend through some very difficult times (Knighton's worst years, conference relegation etc) must say something. They were people, generally who gave up a fair bit to watch the team. Getting to games from West Cumbria isn't always easy, the trains are cack, if you drive it takes over an hour, and the cost is excessive. So instead of being a couple of hours and £20, it is at least half as much again, cost wise, plus food and a good four or five hours. So plainly, for years, decades in most cases, there was a genuine commitment there. Talking to some of these people they have just had enough, it has been getting progressively worse for them over a number of years, and yes the football over the past four seasons had been a part of it, but for most the last straw has been the billionaire.

We happen to be that little bit further removed from it all over here in the west, and of course there are fewer people here with connections to the owners as well, so the opinions are not at all polarised the way they are in Carlisle perhaps. Over here the owners are almost universally despised.

If we stay in the play-off places the crowds will rise to an average of around 5000.
In some games this will be lower, due to eg weather, Man United being on TV, others wil be higher on bank holidays and so on
We're never going to get a huge surge in attendances because of winning a couple of games, but if the trend continues the numbers will rise.
I agree that it is hard to see a bright future unless there is a change of ownership, but at least we've had more to cheer about on the pitch so far this season.

moorlad.. I didnt mean to sound complacement just pointing out a fact. The club really should do much more to encourage the fans back, instead of spouting drivel thats fooling no-one. I must admit I'm enjoying this board more each day

I know you didn't mate, but it is that very sort of thing the parasites want. Complacency suits them down to the ground, it is all about the status quo. What they're looking for is apathy (loyalty, they call it), and people not to criticise their handling of any situation. They want us all to sit or stand around applauding them and telling them what jolly nice chaps they are while the stadium drops around our ears.

I very much agree it is fantastic to have the team looking decent, and having a manager who genuinely appears to care about his players and the way they play and conduct themselves in front of the supporters. The owners could do well to take a look at how Curle conducts himself and what he expects from his staff and his players. They always acknowledge the fans, he's made a big thing of that, and he does it himself as well.

The contrast is massive, to the custodians the fans are obviously an inconvenience, something to be treated with disdain, and in some cases even worse. To be bullied and intimidated with calls to their work, to be told not to come back, to be sworn at. Well enough is enough, and them lads who did the billionaire thing were brilliant, I hope the dinosaurs were ashamed.

deeksme wrote: That is post of the week for me.... brilliantly put Deeks.

There are many reasons why loyal supporters aren't currently attending... to some all they need is us to be winning... but to many we need to know that the club is in the right hands, that the owners aren't taking the p1ss out of the fans, and the long term future of the club is safe. Form is a short term thing and if all you are worried about is if we have won the last few matches then I envy your simplistic view of the world... but you need to realise that others are rightly concerned for the long term future of the club in the hands of the current owners and they are disgusted with the current contempt being shown to the fanbase by those owners. Those are very valid reasons not to attend. I am attending games because I am a weak fool and I need my football fix, but I applaud those with the strength to stand by their convictions.

I've quite enjoyed this season for a change and on the whole like going to games.

If other people don't want to go it makes no odds to me (whatever their reason is).

The only response we had from them was to send in the "response team" bunch of jumped up lapdogs doing their owners bidding. I'm surprised it hasnt made the national press unless I've missed that. I keep going to the games because I love my team I'm in my seventies now and I wont let them cretins drive me away. I dont do as many away games now (keep the peace at home) but I have the radio on. I agree Curle shows the fans respect and the fans reciprocate. Thats how it should be. the three stooges dont understand the word respect. to receive it it you have to earn it

Moorlad wrote:
When you have finished living with my family, can I have them back, please?
On second thoughts................................................

Good job we are playing well otherwise crowds would be down to 3500. Changes at the top and we will pull 5k no problem

As I have mentioned before. If I didn't commit to taking someone I wouldn't bother going back regardless of the football.

Firstly and I know its a American term but the match day experience I have had recently have been a disgrace. From being sold the wrong tickets, being asked to take a blind person to the top row as got the wrong tickets and having to queue half an hour to get a drink.

Being bullied by directors twice by them contacting my work. firstly last season when I sent Nixon some questions and again last week to remove a post from here that mentioned that Nixon threatened my boss with lack of work if he didn't get me to shut up. I have also heard of others last week getting this treatment, this is definetly not on and I for one won't be silenced by them.

Lies, lots of small little lies by the owners and contradictions.

I don't feel i'm wanted and regardless of the football being played makes no difference.

Official home attendances for the last 3 home games:

Newport - 4,269
Morecambe - 4,937
Exeter - 3,891

The home gate for the Morecambe game shows that if there is momentum building, people will come. The gate for the Exeter game shows that if the momentum dies, they won't.

We win the next two away games and you could quite easily break the 5,000 home fans for the Yeovil game.

If the club is running at a loss, does going feather anyone's nest (serious Q)?

Deeksme hit the nail in the head. We did have a great crowd for the last match of last season against Pools and almost totally because we all thought it was the beginning of a new era with AL and his investors taking over with a good business plan and being open and communicative with the fans.
KC is doing a great job with his hands partly tied behind
his back but the home performances haven't been great this season, if they had we would be sitting on top of this league. As long as the present owners are here we will not get back the disillusioned fans only change at the top will achieve that.

ExiledJock wrote:
The club has certainly made losses for a few years and the auditors have certainly put a paragraph in the audited accounts about the validity of accounting as a going concern. I expect that the accounts for the year to June 2015 will also be a loss, but the current year's accounts could well show a decent profit. The current level of attendance is not the reason, that is down to the sales of Potts and Dempsey, the money from Man Utd for that young keeper, and the profit from the Liverpool cup tie. This adds to a substantial amount, and as we had previously been losing in the region of £300,000 to £500,000 the whole lot is very welcome. But seems not to be going to be used for anything to do with the team or the stadium.

Moorlad said "over here(West Cumbria), the owners are almost universally despised.
Disagree with you there. Not every fan travels on the West Coast bus you know.
I know plenty of people out here who appreciate how hard it is to run a footballing outpost like Carlisle.

Must be just the Moor then, we've always been ahead of our time here.

Goldschmit...well where are they then .??? . havent heard anyone with a good thing to say about the stooges round here.. even non cufc fans speak to me and tell me our owners seem to be stifling the club and letting it rot.

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Must say, I'm very much the same as you Mark. In all honesty I talk to quite a lot of people, a lot football fans, while at work and socially. There are a fair number of Carlisle fans around here, and a good lot who always want us to do well and follow the club but would rather support premier league teams. Everyone I have spoken to seems to have the same (to some degree) view of the owners, it ranges from mild contempt to outright hatred. There are also people around here who hate Carlisle, mainly in a sort of half joking way, and they find it extremely amusing seeing all this going on. They might be the people Goldschmit means.

The spoof billionaire thing has certainly brought things to light though for plenty who do not know what has been going on..and the reasoning behind it...the horsemen still have nowt to say on it. I think continue the mocking...it will certainly get more attraction...look what blackpool fans do to make folk aware their club is being run by dictators....

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There's not many I know have a good word to say for any of them. Think Jenkins prob gets away a bit more but I'd say Nixon is universally despised by most.

Moorlad wrote:
Agree with what you say Moorlad. In Penrith I know quite a few football fans, a couple who used to be CUFC regulars who don't go anymore because of the custodians, lots more who follow other clubs but still take an interest in Carlisle, and I have heard the custodians described in lots of ways. Some with contempt, some with ridicule, some who just want something to laugh at. Imagine being laughed at by a Newcastle fan. It's that bad. The only thing every single one of them agree on is that the club has no future with the current owners in charge. "Dinosaurs, stuck in their ways, stupid, senile, incompetent", are some of the kinder things I have heard.

Moorlad wrote: No Moorlad, I don't mean the people who hate Carlisle.
I also talk to people who are Premier League fans, Carlisle fans,Reds fans and folk who just have a passing interest in football.
AJ has put millions into CUFC, people understand and respect this. Most people realise Cumbria is isolated, and it's very difficult to maintain league football in this area.
We all know the gang of 3 have made some shocking decisions, but that doesn't mean to say everything and everyone is detrimental to them.
To say I only listen to CUFC hating people is an insult to my intelligence. It's the equivalent of me saying the likes of you and markredfox are influenced by the ramblings of the 30 or so regular posters on here, who only post negativity.

Goldschmidt wrote:
To be fair mate i dont talk to people like that. They either take the piss dont have a clue whats going on or think the board are taking the piss. The odd one may thank Jenkins for his loans and the writing off of other loans in the past but i dont think ive spoken to anyone who would actually back them.

thetashkentterror wrote:
The Warwick Road residents are responsible nowt to do with CUFC

How many years now have attendances been poor - 10 at least.....................so why do they persist with the new Pie in the Sky Stadium.

Just watch the Football League Show all the lower leagues grounds are half empty.

Reality check needed