NL1 Attendances reach 500,000

Top marks Frank,

I'm trying to imagine what 8201 at Polson bridge looks like, perhaps Will could let us know, I'm sure he must have been there supporting his second team.

Semper Sersum.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:04:08:11:00:14 by noibla.

Acouple of things. Firstly the 8201 at Poulson Bridge was actually at the Franklins Gardens

Secondly you need to go as high as Bedford to get to those teams with a higher average at home than away. The discrepancies are marked. It shows some of these teams do not currently have big enough support to run an ND1 team. That is an issue we all need to get sorted going forward.



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

I was going to say something not dis-similar.

If the away team takes a percentage share of the gate to help defray the cost of travel, and if that share is always the same, then, in most cases, we must be paying out to our visitors lots more that we get in, which may seem a tad unjust.

And it is hard to see how low gates can sustain a professional team. They must get substantial funds from elsewhere.

It is unsustainable, hence the problems many clubs are having to face up to - reducing salaries, becoming part-time professionals, reducing the size of the academy pool (PL clubs) etc. Only those clubs in ND1 that have revenue flowing in from off-field activities e.g. Exeter to support on-field activities are likely to challenge for promotion.

We may think that Sandy Park isn't a very welcoming venue but the Chiefs' management strategy does seem to be bearing fruit and their ambitious plans may well be realised next season. Still we can console ourselves with the friendly family atmosphere of the Brickfields that is cherished by home and away supporters all,while languishing in the mid-region of the league.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:04:08:19:01:50 by M.T.HEAD.

Hi Saint Tim,

I was aware of the reverse fixture between you and the C.A.B's. Don't know if you went to Polson Bridge on the occasion of the abandoned game but I was somewhat amused at seeing, in my minds eye, some 8201 souls packed into their ground and Will being a local to Lanson can put ne right on that one I guess. Something of a mute point I know.

Ianbol, think you'll find there are no payments to the away team in the league games only in the cup when the away team get's 40% of the gate money.

Agree M.T.HEAD that extra money other than the gate money is needed but I'm not so sure that the Sandy Park off field income is any better than ours, I know there is talk of great things up there but I think you'll find that the Albion are doing a great job on that score, but I don't think we are going to find out.

Semper Sersum.

Noibla I think you'll find that the Chiefs are far less reliant on income from a single benefactor than we are. As for next season, you'll see a major push for promotion from Exeter; the playing budget will eclipse most/all others in ND1. Wait for the announcements of new signings. Whether they succeed in attaining Nirvana is another matter!

I sit corrected noibla.

Having trawled their site, Leeds have other ideas.

So how do this season's average gate for Albion compare to last season's? Many commentators have suggested our gates our down. Is this the case? I suspect not.

Wouldn't like to say for certain Y.A. but I think that within - 100/150 they are the same, perhaps Frank will let us know.

Semper Sersum.

Will look at last season's attendances and get back to you

Always forwards never backwards!

Albi Albi Albi

Home Matches for NL1 2006/7

Tot 47069
Avg 3138
min 1871 (Waterloo)
Max 5981 (Pirates)


only data for 12 of 15 matches

Tot 22761
Avg 1897
min 308 (Bees)
Max 5743 (Chiefs)



Home gates increased this season by 6%
Away gates increased this season by 27% **

** deceptive as 3 matches have no attendances for last season

Always forwards never backwards!

Albi Albi Albi

"but I'm not so sure that the Sandy Park off field income is any better than ours"

I would bet your months wages that Exeters' non-rugby income is higher than any other teams in this division (Northampton excluded) and, furthermore that income is rising. Try booking space at Sandy Park for a mid week daytime event and see how many months you will have to wait.

It may be hard for some of you to swallow, but we have it right off the pitch and are getting close on it.

Good luck to you guys for the rest of the season by the way.

Hi G.J. I wondered if we might attract some sort a reply from S.P. I'm certainley not saying that the Exeter set isn't good, merely asking as too which is currenty doing the better job, all things considered, I hear quite a bit about how you have taken the lead in all things wonderfull etc and good luck to you on the steps youv'e taken recentley but as we have no figures to compare and with the practice from brickfields of not shouting from the roof tops about achievements (very quite this year) of course it's not a given in my opionion, so I'm still not so sure Jim.

Every organization has better times so now it's your turn but that doesn't stick in my throat Jim we are well placed as you know.

It's all very well Jim sounding off about betting my months wages from where you are, but if you were too put up your monthly wages against my state pension I might take you on.

And for the sake of Devon good luck at Twickers on Saturday, don't forget thats an area where you need to come good, they say pratice makes perfect, so I wish you all the best we can't have Cornwall winning the thing more than Devon can we.

Semper Sersum.

Sorry Noibla but this sounds like sour-grapes to me.

Although it pains me to agree with him, I'm with GJ on this one. While it is true that Albion doesn't shout about their successes and yes there have been some, what is coming out albeit as rumours is of players being offerred cuts in salary and a mass exodus to other clubs. This suggests to me that the financial situation is not too healthy. In contrast the rumours coming from Exeter are of increased budget for players and quality signings being lined up. The facilities at Sandy Park have been developed to attract the corporate buck and it would seem that it is paying dividends both off and on the field. This doesn't seem to be the case at Brickfields comprising as it does of a number of 'tents'. I question the development strategy/financial plan of the club to attract off-field activities. For example, does Plymouth have a large conference centre? Apart from the university which is already heavily used I don't think so. So why didn't Albion develop a multipurpose venue to fill a niche. You just have to visit the Exeter Chiefs' website to see what they have to offer and how far ahead they are in their planning (and thinking).

To be fair M.T.HEAD Exe were in the happy position of realising a large chunk of money from the sale of the County Ground and I don't think Albion have had this big advantage.

It is, though, true that the custodians of Exeter RFC have been very wise in how they have spent the legacy of the County Ground. It is this shrewd thinking that has Exe probably the best placed from a financial viewpoint to challenge the '13th' Prem. team.

BTW I can only back up what GJ has said about the Conferencing facility at Sandy Park, it is amazingly busy every day !

CC we did sell Beacon Park to a property developer but I don't know how much of the money realised from the sale of the gound went to the club and how much to the club's benefactor. It would be interesting to know though. I guess when you're indebetd to an individual there is always going to a time when money borrowed will have to be paid back; just look what has happened to Orrell!

Ah sorry noibla - I hadn't seen that tongue of yours firmly in cheek.

yes I was in a rather damp Poulson Bridge and agree getting 8,000+ in would have been an interesting sight. Not sure we would have seen much though.

We need to get the following for ND1 if it is to take off:

1. Proper Sponsorship
2. Regular TV coverage
3. More matches against the big boys (revised cup)

from that should flow more press coverage, more local interest in sponsorship and more punters through the door.

When I started going to Franklins Gardens some 13/14 years ago the average crowd was around 5/6,000. We have come a long way since then - so can you.



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

Part of the reason for the Chief's commercial success during the week is it's unfriendliness to the average drinking rugby fan. The catchment area is huge and it's ideally placed for a cruise down the M5 in the Beemer/Merc. As for proximity to pubs, eateries, public transport etc. not so good.

Can't knock your business prowess, GJ, but I don't spend my Saturdays attending sales conferences....

As for the proceeds from Beacon Park, maybe the Chiefs were a tad more fortunate as regards the housing market. I pity anyone who is looking to develop a new stadium now.

remember when we went to Donny they had sky tv the match - now that we've got our lights could that be an option for a couple of games say exeter and pirates ?? or even donny and return the favour

Don't let anything get in the way of a good game of Rugby

Hi Saint Tim, I guess that's one of the disadvantages of just seeing the written word I'm afraid, lets hope we can emulate something of your success one day.

M.T. Head please don't think it's sour grapes on my part, it certainley isn't, and I don't begrudge anyone for improving their lot as long as it's legal, I agree that S.P. has brilliant facilities they have a purpose built building, given that's it's new and shiny and apart from a few postings on the unofficial web site I don't know how well it's doing and I think that given that there may not be a call for a thousand seater conference in this part of the world as yet, we may not be that much short of Exeter if at all, for example we serve over 700 meals on certain match days and can seat more when it's needed, I'm only asking the question is it any different to what is at S.P. in terms of the earnings ? although C.C. says it is very busy, could it be that we have more hotels in Plymouth that cater for this sort of thing ?

I have often queried the manner of the developement at brickfields in the past but I can say that the club are certainley forward thinking and planning for the future and on the right track in my opionion, and I don't think we had the amount of money from the sale of Beacon Park to be able to build a comparable stand to that at S.P. in fact I'm sure we didn't hence the "tents", but we do have more drink and food outlets and more toilets at the moment and more seats but some are uncovered, it takes time for all clubs, the pitch isn't as good but the amenities are.

One point about the rumoured (I haven't asked any of the players) wage cuts M.T. it's my believe that the players wages are paid out of a compleatley different fund to that used for the ground infrastructure / developement, and although there was a mention of a shortfall on the ground developement expenditure at a meeting at the club recently that won't effect the players, they may be going for different reasons, who knows.

For me the "tents" are have a far greater appeal and atmosphere for a great social day out at the local rugby club and long may they last but we may have to lose them in time I guess, mores the pity.

Semper Sersum.

hi Noibla we were very lucky at Northampton, we had Uncle Keith ho as prepared to invest a lot of money and not expect anything back, he lost a lot of money putting us where we are financially, and fans that bought 1.5million pounds worth of shares not expecting any return.

We have learnt alot from being in ND1 and i would like to thnk all the fan we have met over the last season and ish you al the best n the seasons to come and hope you all get the recognition that you deserve. As Tim said and Carlos Spencer at the begining of the season you all need to be playing the bigger clubs if you ant to progress ideal opportunity at pre season friendlies.

Agree totaly biggles256 your growth, or otherwise, is determined in part by your environment.

The amount of shares bought by the fans is impressive as well they deserve some success.

Semper Sersum.