How to turn irregular into regular supporters

[ShotOnTarget]

Question to ChatGPT: When a football club wins the FA trophy, do attendances increase the following season

Winning the FA Trophy can have a positive effect on attendances for a non-league football club in the following season, but the impact is generally modest and depends on several key factors:
Potential Attendance Boost Factors
1. Increased Visibility and Prestige
Winning a national competition raises a club’s profile, especially if the final is at Wembley. This can attract occasional or lapsed fans back to the club.
2. Momentum and Optimism
Success breeds optimism. Fans often feel more connected and excited about the future, leading to better season ticket sales and average attendances.
3. Media Coverage and Local Buzz
Winning the FA Trophy brings local media attention and word-of-mouth promotion, which can spark curiosity or renewed interest in the club.
4. Improved Team Performance
A successful team often retains or attracts stronger players, which can help the club perform well in the league the following season — another reason for increased attendances.

Limitations and Contextual Factors
• Temporary Impact
The boost is usually short-lived unless it's followed by sustained success or promotion.
• Size and Location of Club
A small-town club may see a larger percentage increase than a club in a football-saturated city.
• Division and Promotion/Relegation
If the club gets promoted the same season, attendances are likely to rise regardless of the trophy win.
• Fan Base Size
Clubs with already strong support may see little noticeable change from a cup win alone.

Examples (Anecdotal)
• Harrogate Town (2020 FA Trophy winners): Their trophy win came alongside promotion to the Football League. Their attendances rose, but the league status change was likely the bigger factor.
• FC Halifax Town (2016 & 2023 winners): Some boost in interest occurred post-victory, but attendances mainly tracked with league performance and local interest.
ChatGPT: If you're interested, I can look up recent FA Trophy winners and compare their attendances season-to-season. Would you like that?

Yes

Winning the FA Trophy can have a positive impact on a non-league football club's attendance in the following season, but the effect varies depending on several factors.
Attendance Trends Post-FA Trophy Wins
While comprehensive data on attendance changes for each FA Trophy winner is limited, some notable examples illustrate the potential impact:
• 2022: Bromley
Bromley defeated Wrexham 1-0 in the final, drawing an attendance of 46,111 at Wembley. Following their victory, Bromley experienced a significant increase in average home attendances, reflecting heightened local interest and optimism. Wikipedia+1www.thefa.com+1
• 2016: FC Halifax Town
Halifax Town's 1-0 win over Gateshead in the final attracted 46,781 spectators. Their success contributed to a rise in matchday attendances in the subsequent season, as the club's profile was elevated. www.thefa.com
• 2007: Stevenage Borough
Stevenage's 3-2 victory over Kidderminster in the inaugural match at the new Wembley Stadium drew 53,262 fans, setting a record for FA Trophy final attendance. The club's performance in the final helped boost their visibility and contributed to increased fan engagement in the following season. Wikipedia
Factors Influencing Attendance Changes
The extent of attendance increases post-FA Trophy wins can be influenced by:
• Promotion to a Higher League: Advancement to a higher division often leads to increased attendances due to better competition and facilities.
• Sustained Team Success: Continued strong performances in the league can maintain fan interest and attendance levels.
• Effective Marketing and Community Engagement: Clubs that actively engage with their local communities and promote their successes can see more significant increases in attendance.
• Economic Factors: Local economic conditions can impact discretionary spending, affecting matchday attendance.
Conclusion
Winning the FA Trophy can serve as a catalyst for increased attendances in the following season, particularly when accompanied by promotion, sustained team success, and effective community engagement. However, the impact varies, and clubs must leverage their success to maintain and build upon the interest generated.

[Fuggletim]

Not speaking for myself because I'll go anyway, and my kids probably won't, but I think the gap and the opportunity is families, especially with younger kids. There were loads at the parade. How to get them through the door at the weekend?

I think this then becomes about the facilities - old white blokes are used to **** toilets and bad food, but if you want a family to come along with younger kids you probably need to raise the game a bit.

I think success is kind of the answer in the sense of creating a buzz, but for most of us I'm sure the result isn't the be all and end all, and part of it is just about seeing the games and the season unfold, positive or negative. Realistically if they're only here for success they'll stop as soon as that does, which it surely will. I'm no less likely to go if the team's winning or losing and I suspect a good proportion of fans are the same.

So back to families, I think you build on the characters you have, build on the stories and maybe reach out to local schools more. Clearly everyone loves Josh Barrett, how do you leverage that? Marcus Dewhurst has an infectious energy that I think would appeal to kids, can that be used? My son was briefly very interested in Jonny Stuttle because he was borrowed from the Premier League. I don't know where I'm going with this, but there are some good personalities in the team and that might count for something somehow.

There is comment on another thread about facilities and how they might affect attendance and whilst I can accept there are some who feel this is the key, I still feel that a successful team (which remains successful) and exciting football is more likely to be what a majority of people want to see. I have yet to talk to any football supporting acquaintance who tells me they only come here for the architecture and the gourmet burger!

I think attracting a younger element (and I mean there IS a younger element who attend) is a challenge insofar as that watching Aldershot v Tamworth doesn’t have quite the appeal of say Liverpool v Arsenal or AC Milan v Barcelona. I love “Live” football, but to a lot of the younger fans, it is more exciting and convenient in the digital media age to watch a big name on TV rather in the comfort of their own home than go and watch some lower level of football. Too many adults probably feel this way as well, and as such the incentive to watch football elsewhere is just not encouraged.

I hear comment that “Oh, you don’t get the skill etc” at a lower level. However, I really think that many who make this sort of comment probably haven’t really gone to many games at a lower level, if at all. Football at ANY level is potentially exciting and it doesn’t need to be PL, Champions League etc.

The challenge, I feel, is to realise the prospect and reality of lower league football exciting to start off with, and then maintain that excitement.

yeah I've been trying to impress this on people: the best player at your school wouldn't be nearly good enough for National League.

Definite issue around younger folks. It's a different world now and they're apparently more interested in the highlights, the stars, etc. I always find it weird when I see kids in Real Madrid or Inter Miami shirts but that's just how it is now.

It is odd to see kids wearing foreign club shirts, but I remember (topically as it’s this weekend) a few years ago some on here saying they were looking forward to watch Spanish and Italian football more than the FA Cup final that day.

It was also interesting when I was at school the football support fanbase. We had Portsmouth, Aldershot, Tottenham, Arsenal, Derby County and 1 x Liverpool supporter (because that is where his Mum came from) but not even 1 x Man Utd or Man City supporter, let alone Barcelona, Juventus etc.

Time moves on and although there are younger supporters who follow lower league clubs, a name such as Aldershot is not going to have the glitz.

This is why we need to address the challenge of just making the prospect of football at ANY level as exciting, and the name of the teams involved is not the primary thing about it.

[ShotOnTarget]

There is comment on another thread about facilities and how they might affect attendance and whilst I can accept there are some who feel this is the key, I still feel that a successful team (which remains successful) and exciting football is more likely to be what a majority of people want to see. I have yet to talk to any football supporting acquaintance who tells me they only come here for the architecture and the gourmet burger!

I think attracting a younger element (and I mean there IS a younger element who attend) is a challenge insofar as that watching Aldershot v Tamworth doesn’t have quite the appeal of say Liverpool v Arsenal or AC Milan v Barcelona. I love “Live” football, but to a lot of the younger fans, it is more exciting and convenient in the digital media age to watch a big name on TV rather in the comfort of their own home than go and watch some lower level of football. Too many adults probably feel this way as well, and as such the incentive to watch football elsewhere is just not encouraged.

I hear comment that “Oh, you don’t get the skill etc” at a lower level. However, I really think that many who make this sort of comment probably haven’t really gone to many games at a lower level, if at all. Football at ANY level is potentially exciting and it doesn’t need to be PL, Champions League etc.

The challenge, I feel, is to realise the prospect and reality of lower league football exciting to start off with, and then maintain that excitement.

yeah I've been trying to impress this on people: the best player at your school wouldn't be nearly good enough for National League.

Definite issue around younger folks. It's a different world now and they're apparently more interested in the highlights, the stars, etc. I always find it weird when I see kids in Real Madrid or Inter Miami shirts but that's just how it is now.

It is odd to see kids wearing foreign club shirts, but I remember (topically as it’s this weekend) a few years ago some on here saying they were looking forward to watch Spanish and Italian football more than the FA Cup final that day.

It was also interesting when I was at school the football support fanbase. We had Portsmouth, Aldershot, Tottenham, Arsenal, Derby County and 1 x Liverpool supporter (because that is where his Mum came from) but not even 1 x Man Utd or Man City supporter, let alone Barcelona, Juventus etc.

Time moves on and although there are younger supporters who follow lower league clubs, a name such as Aldershot is not going to have the glitz.

This is why we need to address the challenge of just making the prospect of football at ANY level as exciting, and the name of the teams involved is not the primary thing about it.

One club researched this. I can't recall which one, but the research concluded that if you got a kid hooked by 7, you had them for life.

[hepcat]

A lot of NL clubs have incentives for young supporters (Next generation) with reduced entrance charges. I haven't made a detailed list-just glance at whats on offer,but many go up to age 17 some to 21 and you see a good number of them in attendence . They can't afford PL prices (would say definitely can't with concessions removed and tickets at anything up to £66) and look elsewhere. I guess the big question we (I for certain) dont know the answer to is what % stick with the local Non League/NL side after 17/21? With a bit more cash in their pockets do they go the the nearest PL/Championship outfiit as it comes more within reach? I go with an old mate to the odd FL game-for me it comes in at double the cost of watching a local NL game (and I prefer the NL game) Younger days, I'd probably go for the bigger buzz of league football tbh,but I grew up in an era when league football was affordable/turn up anywhere on the day and non league was non league with no meritocracy-clubs were 99% guaranteed to stay non league.

[Weybourne Shot]

Have a walk around the Rec, it's obvious that's its seen better days and I really don't how much longer it's going to be suitable to stage football at our level. With regulations changing constantly, in the worst case scenario I can see sections of the ground being closed off soon, unless some serious money is spent. Money the club doesn't have at this present time it would seem. Don't know the answer, but if we do expect families to come to football matches in all weathers then the facilities simply have to be much better. I know we all joke about the leaking guttering but I don't think that's very pleasant if you've just forked out 25 quid just to get drenched.

[Steve Melledew]

Success I agree will bring in the most fans when we got promoted and the couple of seasons in League 2 we were around the 3,000 mark from memory.

But I think going on what Dean Wood said in his programme notes a couple of weeks ago, our budget looks like we won’t increase much if at all from last season.
So another hard slog and if we struggle then there’s no way attendances will increase.

We need to boost the budget somehow I know Mark Butler does in with a shot but not enough people do it. We used to have a group who put money in not sure if that still happens but it is a way of increasing the budget if we want the better players then somehow we need to generate more income, because obviously the directors on there own cannot match the likes of Southend, Forest Green, York or even Woking with there new owners.

So why not create a fund the budget appeal some will be sceptical but if you want success then it comes at a cost and some people may have some spare cash and enjoy putting a few pounds in who knows what 50k to 100k extra could do on top of our bottom 8 budget.

[ShotOnTarget]

Have a walk around the Rec, it's obvious that's its seen better days and I really don't how much longer it's going to be suitable to stage football at our level. With regulations changing constantly, in the worst case scenario I can see sections of the ground being closed off soon, unless some serious money is spent. Money the club doesn't have at this present time it would seem. Don't know the answer, but if we do expect families to come to football matches in all weathers then the facilities simply have to be much better. I know we all joke about the leaking guttering but I don't think that's very pleasant if you've just forked out 25 quid just to get drenched.

There have been far too many missed opportunities to 'get the ball rolling' to believe that a redevelopment will ever happen. The best chance would have been a Community Share Scheme funded project, involving the Club, the Trust, RBC, HCC and various other local bodies that could all have contributed as well as benefited.

[FATBOY]

Sport these days is so much about personalities, often more so than the team.

Do young people want a Real Madrid shirt, or do they want an Mbappe or Bellingham one? It’s nearly always the latter.

Younger people aren’t picking up darts just because of the sport, it’s because of the Littler factor.

We need to harness our personalities. It’s clear from social media recently and our parade celebrations that our real big personalities on the team are Josh Barrett, Theo Widdrington, Marcus Dewhurst, Aaron Jones and Maxi Mullins. Take a look at the post-parade celebrations and they were the guys the kids all wanted photos with.

Get their faces on the posters at the front of the Rec. Get pre-printed BARRETT 10 shirts in the club shop so a kid can represent his favourite player straight off the hanger. Signed pictures or a table in the McGinty lounge with 3 players signing autographs (Guildford Flames do this EVERY week and it’s always a hit with the kids). Get the Phoenix Club back and have players attend their Christmas party every year or a summer BBQ on the pitch. Have a stall at the Thursday market or Sunday carboot in town and advertise it like hell to get kids down to say hello, join the Phoenix Club, and buy their £50 season ticket.

We simply must capitalise on this success and this summer is vital.

[scorp]

Sport these days is so much about personalities, often more so than the team.

Do young people want a Real Madrid shirt, or do they want an Mbappe or Bellingham one? It’s nearly always the latter.

Younger people aren’t picking up darts just because of the sport, it’s because of the Littler factor.

We need to harness our personalities. It’s clear from social media recently and our parade celebrations that our real big personalities on the team are Josh Barrett, Theo Widdrington, Marcus Dewhurst, Aaron Jones and Maxi Mullins. Take a look at the post-parade celebrations and they were the guys the kids all wanted photos with.

Get their faces on the posters at the front of the Rec. Get pre-printed BARRETT 10 shirts in the club shop so a kid can represent his favourite player straight off the hanger. Signed pictures or a table in the McGinty lounge with 3 players signing autographs (Guildford Flames do this EVERY week and it’s always a hit with the kids). Get the Phoenix Club back and have players attend their Christmas party every year or a summer BBQ on the pitch. Have a stall at the Thursday market or Sunday carboot in town and advertise it like hell to get kids down to say hello, join the Phoenix Club, and buy their £50 season ticket.

We simply must capitalise on this success and this summer is vital.

That - excellent ideas for "personalisation" - and improve the bog facilities.and range of food on offer; and have a bar and food, with music, at the front ( as per the Woking FA Trophy game) for warm weather months.

[NTR_12]

Have a walk around the Rec, it's obvious that's its seen better days and I really don't how much longer it's going to be suitable to stage football at our level. With regulations changing constantly, in the worst case scenario I can see sections of the ground being closed off soon, unless some serious money is spent. Money the club doesn't have at this present time it would seem. Don't know the answer, but if we do expect families to come to football matches in all weathers then the facilities simply have to be much better. I know we all joke about the leaking guttering but I don't think that's very pleasant if you've just forked out 25 quid just to get drenched.

You're absolutely right. Being able to get something to eat and drink and use the loo are just basic things that people expect. If you want to do that at The Rec you generally have to decide if you're happy to miss the end of the first half or the beginning of the second. If it's a bigger gate you can forget it altogether, which is just not good enough these days.

I know that nothing will be resolved any time soon, but the lack of facilities with the ground its current state will turn a lot of people off going regularly.

[Silasgoldeen]

Sport these days is so much about personalities, often more so than the team.

Do young people want a Real Madrid shirt, or do they want an Mbappe or Bellingham one? It’s nearly always the latter.

Younger people aren’t picking up darts just because of the sport, it’s because of the Littler factor.

We need to harness our personalities. It’s clear from social media recently and our parade celebrations that our real big personalities on the team are Josh Barrett, Theo Widdrington, Marcus Dewhurst, Aaron Jones and Maxi Mullins. Take a look at the post-parade celebrations and they were the guys the kids all wanted photos with.

Get their faces on the posters at the front of the Rec. Get pre-printed BARRETT 10 shirts in the club shop so a kid can represent his favourite player straight off the hanger. Signed pictures or a table in the McGinty lounge with 3 players signing autographs (Guildford Flames do this EVERY week and it’s always a hit with the kids). Get the Phoenix Club back and have players attend their Christmas party every year or a summer BBQ on the pitch. Have a stall at the Thursday market or Sunday carboot in town and advertise it like hell to get kids down to say hello, join the Phoenix Club, and buy their £50 season ticket.

We simply must capitalise on this success and this summer is vital.

noticed exactly the same. the kids love Josh Barrett and to be fair he seems really good with them too, always posing for a photo if he can. Dewhurst I think won the junior shots poty and is fun to watch, and yeah, Theo and AJ have been gold post Wembley. Big personalities. I'm with you, get them out into the schools with the cup, get them on TV, get them on big football youtube channels (let's face it, that's how you get eyeballs these days).

And let's not forget Tommy in this. Part of the news loop had him on the verge of tears on the bus tour. He has a great authenticity that people like.

This is a really marketable group. Tariq Uwakwe said on his instagram that they've helped him enjoy the game again. That matters.

[redblueuptoyou]

A guy I work with said he loved how our manager was in a suit and really thankful to the fans on Sunday. Shows he’ll appeal to the ‘more traditional’ football fans.

Also, where has Phoebe the Phoenix gone? Bring her back!

[James E]

...
Get pre-printed BARRETT 10 shirts in the club shop

Your favourite player?

[FATBOY]

...
Get pre-printed BARRETT 10 shirts in the club shop

Your favourite player?

You’re only saying that because we both probably wear the same size!