It's sad to say (1 Viewer)

[GaryMabbuttsLeftKnee]

We are terribly supported for a club that our fans seem to deem 'Should be back in the Premier League where we belong'. It was £11 (equivalent) for a ticket last night, we're fighting for our lives in the third tier and we muster 8,000. This will be greeted by cries of 'What do you expect with SISU in charge', 'We've had nothing to cheer about for so long', does it really matter? They're your football club and like you would support your family through the highs and the lows, as is real support, the same should be said for your football club. Yes the standard isn't good and yes its a really depressing time to be a Coventry fan but it doesn't mean you desert them until we get Man United at home in the FA Cup. I understand not everyone can afford £22 every week but £11?! Absolutely shocking turn out, especially as Bradford brought more fans than your average League One side.

Portsmouth had 16,355 at their last home game against Oxford - they're in League 2 with nothing to play for and a population of over 100,000 less than Coventry
Recently non-league Luton managed 8,600 in their home loss to Morecambe.

Teams of an apparent similar size:
Sheff United - 18,688 - they're in the playoffs you say? When they lost 1-2 at home to Gillingham in November last season to be placed 23rd in League 1 - attendance 16,560.
Southampton in league 1 lose to Brighton - attendance - 21,932

Yes we got 27k v gillingham but we all know 50% of those people were there for the bandwagon / they were mates of Coventry City fans and tickets were a tenner so they thought why not?

I'd be surprised to see us in the Championship in the next 5 years and i think we can forget the Premier League for decades. YES SISU are horrific owners and I, like everyone else, cannot wait to see the back of them but the whole point of being a 'supporter' is through thick and thin and at the moment we are where our non-loyal fanbase deserve to be.

Credit to all the Season Ticker holders and regular attenders, this isn't in anyway shape or form a moan at you, just a statement about the sad realisation of where we truly are.

 

---

[fernandopartridge]

It's alright. Self apologists like bigfatronssba will sight some meaningless stats about league placings. Missing the point completely about what loyalty means.

 

[Samo]

It's sad to say that our fans have had nothing to get even vaguely excited about since 1987. Nearly 30 years of grinding shitness with mediocrity at best to aspire to. How many club's fans have had that to put up with?

 

[eastwoodsdustman]

The city gets the club its support deserves.

 

[Robccfc87]

Eh? We had a game last night??!!

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

We don't belong in the premier league, we barely belong in the championship now.

 

[ccfctommy]

A lot of those years we were in the prem and staying there. Not getting relegated and promoted the next season like Palace and Leicester.

Agree with OP.

 

[LB87ccfc]

We are terribly supported for a club that our fans seem to deem 'Should be back in the Premier League where we belong'. It was £11 (equivalent) for a ticket last night, we're fighting for our lives in the third tier and we muster 8,000. This will be greeted by cries of 'What do you expect with SISU in charge', 'We've had nothing to cheer about for so long', does it really matter? They're your football club and like you would support your family through the highs and the lows, as is real support, the same should be said for your football club. Yes the standard isn't good and yes its a really depressing time to be a Coventry fan but it doesn't mean you desert them until we get Man United at home in the FA Cup. I understand not everyone can afford £22 every week but £11?! Absolutely shocking turn out, especially as Bradford brought more fans than your average League One side.

Portsmouth had 16,355 at their last home game against Oxford - they're in League 2 with nothing to play for and a population of over 100,000 less than Coventry
Recently non-league Luton managed 8,600 in their home loss to Morecambe.

Teams of an apparent similar size:
Sheff United - 18,688 - they're in the playoffs you say? When they lost 1-2 at home to Gillingham in November last season to be placed 23rd in League 1 - attendance 16,560.
Southampton in league 1 lose to Brighton - attendance - 21,932

Yes we got 27k v gillingham but we all know 50% of those people were there for the bandwagon / they were mates of Coventry City fans and tickets were a tenner so they thought why not?

I'd be surprised to see us in the Championship in the next 5 years and i think we can forget the Premier League for decades. YES SISU are horrific owners and I, like everyone else, cannot wait to see the back of them but the whole point of being a 'supporter' is through thick and thin and at the moment we are where our non-loyal fanbase deserve to be.

Credit to all the Season Ticker holders and regular attenders, this isn't in anyway shape or form a moan at you, just a statement about the sad realisation of where we truly are.

I think you will find good sir, that the majority of league one clubs would love 7K-8K attending their matches, if you follow the City away, it is plain to see that 85% of league one clubs get a lower average attendance than we do, even though we have had shit for nearly 30 years now, relegations, moved out the city, sold anything moving, no hint of success whatsoever, when we did, it was a scramble for tickets in the JPT and we could of sold alot more tickets for it and had already been allocated 40K for the final in the event we made it.

The fanbase has been damaged beyond repair by our wonderful owners who have picked and picked away at the paying customer that many have found new hobbies and past times, not to mention last nights figure of 8.5K ,may I add that down the years our night attendances have always been lower as alot of fans work nights for example.

You mention Portsmouth -= Not that long ago playing in Europe and the Premier League, are now fan owned and therefore will get big attendances still.

You mention Sheffield United - Backed by wealthy investors who are genuinely serious about a promotion challenge and thrown money on the product that the fanbase pay for = The Team.

Two unfair comparisons in my view.

 

[covcity4life]

i took my mate to first game in years, he found it boring and said he wouldnt be back again for a few years

attendeces will not improve until we play better football imo. even if we had won yesterday it would have been a boring evening.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

If you could somehow quantify it I think the ratio of attendances to club size (or at least how big some think we are) we would have one of the lowest in the football league.

 

[Speedies_Chips]

Luton are not non-league.

 

[Houchens Head]

Good post GMLK. Just about sums my thoughts up. I haven't attended for some years for two main reasons - when I lived in Cov I was on permanent 24-hour emergency call out 7 days a week for Rolls Royce. When I retired, I moved down here to the Isle of Wight. But having said that, I would still follow the club (at least home matches) whenever I could.

 

[KG7]

I made a point after the Sheffield United game that the fans had a positive influence on the game by supporting their side and making it tough for the referee to give decisions against them.

I think our fans are easily disheartened and are too quick to berate individuals or the tactics rather than trying to influence the game in a positive way. I understand it, we haven't had anything to cheer in my entire lifetime supporting the City, but it clearly doesn't help the team.

 

[torchomatic]

Very selective. They've always got decent crowds, not just since they've been backed by wealthy investors. Norwich, Southampton, Leeds...all that have dropped as low as we have but the crowds never did. I think you can only blame the owners and shit football for so long.

You mention Sheffield United - Backed by wealthy investors who are genuinely serious about a promotion challenge and thrown money on the product that the fanbase pay for = The Team.

 

[LB87ccfc]

Very selective. They've always got decent crowds, not just since they've been backed by wealthy investors. Norwich, Southampton, Leeds...all that have dropped as low as we have but the crowds never did. I think you can only blame the owners and shit football for so long.

Because they was all setting the stall out for an instant promotion challenge back to the championship and succeeded, invested in their squad and gained their objective? again poor selection of comparisons on here.

If we had backers who invested in the product, after all football is an entertainment business at the end of the day, then the customer would be more willing to pay to watch, not pay to watch a team consisting of 6 loan players who are not attached to Coventry City Football Club and a handful of players going through the motions knowing full well they will not be at the club in the summer.

 

[LB87ccfc]

If you could somehow quantify it I think the ratio of attendances to club size (or at least how big some think we are) we would have one of the lowest in the football league.

Bunch of laughs you are aren't you.

 

[Sky Blue Kid]

I look at the situation like this......your son/daughter/SISU. is a heroin addict. Do you....a) Refuse to buy their heroin and get them into rehab asap and get them to go "Cold Turkey"...or b) give into them and pay for the heroin and sit back and watch them kill themselves?

 

[Neutral Fan]

Luton are League 2. They might be playing you next season. Or even be a league above.

 

[rupert_bear]

[QUOTE
6 loan players who are not attached to Coventry City Football Club and a handful of players going through the motions knowing full well they will not be at the club in the summer

.[/QUOTE

And that is why we will be relegated !

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

I look at the situation like this......your son/daughter/SISU. is a heroin addict. Do you....a) Refuse to buy their heroin and get them into rehab asap and get them to go "Cold Turkey"...or b) give into them and pay for the heroin and sit back and watch them kill themselves?

Attendances of 8k will kill us much quicker than if we were getting 18k.

 

[jimmyhillsfanclub]

Sorry, but the OP lost me when he compared supporting a football team to supporting family......what a load of bollocks.

If you honestly rank a trip to watch a load of well-paid mercenaries kick a ball around on an equal footing with supporting members of your family through thick & thin, then I'd suggest you need to get a fucking grip, take a long hard look at yourself & attempt to develop some perspective.

 

[SIR ERNIE]

<<They're your football club and like you would support your family through the highs and the lows, as is real support, the same should be said for your football club.>>

<<the whole point of being a 'supporter' is through thick and thin and at the moment we are where our non-loyal fanbase deserve to be.>>


Quite possibly two of the most ridiculous statements I've seen on here this year.

 

[Otis]

We are terribly supported for a club that our fans seem to deem 'Should be back in the Premier League where we belong'. It was £11 (equivalent) for a ticket last night, we're fighting for our lives in the third tier and we muster 8,000. This will be greeted by cries of 'What do you expect with SISU in charge', 'We've had nothing to cheer about for so long', does it really matter? They're your football club and like you would support your family through the highs and the lows, as is real support, the same should be said for your football club. Yes the standard isn't good and yes its a really depressing time to be a Coventry fan but it doesn't mean you desert them until we get Man United at home in the FA Cup. I understand not everyone can afford £22 every week but £11?! Absolutely shocking turn out, especially as Bradford brought more fans than your average League One side.

Portsmouth had 16,355 at their last home game against Oxford - they're in League 2 with nothing to play for and a population of over 100,000 less than Coventry
Recently non-league Luton managed 8,600 in their home loss to Morecambe.

Teams of an apparent similar size:
Sheff United - 18,688 - they're in the playoffs you say? When they lost 1-2 at home to Gillingham in November last season to be placed 23rd in League 1 - attendance 16,560.
Southampton in league 1 lose to Brighton - attendance - 21,932

Yes we got 27k v gillingham but we all know 50% of those people were there for the bandwagon / they were mates of Coventry City fans and tickets were a tenner so they thought why not?

I'd be surprised to see us in the Championship in the next 5 years and i think we can forget the Premier League for decades. YES SISU are horrific owners and I, like everyone else, cannot wait to see the back of them but the whole point of being a 'supporter' is through thick and thin and at the moment we are where our non-loyal fanbase deserve to be.

Credit to all the Season Ticker holders and regular attenders, this isn't in anyway shape or form a moan at you, just a statement about the sad realisation of where we truly are.

Let any of these teams and any other team have the dismal record of ours of the past 15 years and see where they would be with their attendances.

No success at all for 30 years, no promotions, no top 6 finishes and the last 10 seasons are finishing positions have been, 8th, 17th, 21st, 17th, 19th, 18th, 23rd (relegated), 15th, 18th, 17th.

I do think we should have bigger attendances than we are getting now, but add the diabolical record above to the fact that we have owners no-one wants here, and you can see why some fans are no longer going.

You will always get those who will go come hell or high water, but everyone has the own personal circumstances and I can see how 20 years of shite and dreariness and depression has worn people down.

Put these other teams into our scenario, with all those years of barren emptiness and then tell us all what their attendances are.

 

[torchomatic]

I know it's been a lot of years since I first started going but I can't ever remember signing a contract guaranteeing success; cup runs, promotions, etc.

Anyway, it's simple really, isn't it? You go or you don't go.

Let any of these teams and any other team have the dismal record of ours of the past 15 years and see where they would be with their attendances.

No success at all for 30 years, no promotions, no top 6 finishes and the last 10 seasons are finishing positions have been, 8th, 17th, 21st, 17th, 19th, 18th, 23rd (relegated), 15th, 18th, 17th.

I do think we should have bigger attendances than we are getting now, but add the diabolical record above to the fact that we have owners no-one wants here, and you can see why some fans are no longer going.

You will always get those who will go come hell or high water, but everyone has the own personal circumstances and I can see how 20 years of shite and dreariness and depression has worn people down.

Put these other teams into our scenario, with all those years of barren emptiness and then tell us all what their attendances are.

 

[CCFC88]

I think I am right in saying that as a club we are the longest serving without a top 6 finish, granted that includes many a year in the PL but year after year of of not being able to finish within even touching distance of the playoffs is really beginning to take its toll. Going to matches is becoming a chore even for the ever optimistic hardened of season ticket holders such as myself.

Looking at examples such as 2-3 defeat at home to Leeds infront of 28k at the Ricoh, when we were in the playoffs after 15 games and coming off the back of 3 wins in 4 matches the optomism atround that game was clear to be seen and it put bums on seats.

The same can be said for the infamous games against Crewe, Chelsea , Arsenal etc....

The apettite for success amougst the fans is clearly there but as for success/memories over the last 20 years goes, on a footballing side, we are clearly one of the most starved fan bases in English football.

Agree with a lot of the OP comments however you cant help but feel that the complete lack of success on the field, it is so disheartening for fans to get so many glimpses of glory such as the platform we built for ourselves in the first half of last season and banging in the goals to have it taken/sold from under our noses, without digging up the business sides of those decisions again you can completely understand why season tickets arent being renewed.

With the population of the city yes we should have much higher average gates, I think if we had had the recent success of teams such as Sheff U and Bradford, trips to Wembley, cup runs, promotions etc we would be matching their crowds.

The Ricoh is a hollow and depressing place to watch football at the moment because it doesnt have the memories of cup runs/giantkillings/3-2 wins over the best in the country under the lights on a winters night.

Success on the pitch will breed success in the stands, as much as SISU may argue otherwise

 

[Otis]

I know it's been a lot of years since I first started going but I can't ever remember signing a contract guaranteeing success; cup runs, promotions, etc.

Anyway, it's simple really, isn't it? You go or you don't go.

Of course not, but poor seasons and endless struggles wear people down. Maybe not me and you, Torch, but it does wear people down.

I bet you anything, that if any of the teams people are holding as examples had 20 odd years of absolute nothingness, their crowds would be just as low.

I don't think our fans are any worse than any other clubs, just we've had it worse for some time and that, that takes it toll.

 

[Warwickhunt]

We are terribly supported for a club that our fans seem to deem 'Should be back in the Premier League where we belong'. It was £11 (equivalent) for a ticket last night, we're fighting for our lives in the third tier and we muster 8,000. This will be greeted by cries of 'What do you expect with SISU in charge', 'We've had nothing to cheer about for so long', does it really matter? They're your football club and like you would support your family through the highs and the lows, as is real support, the same should be said for your football club. Yes the standard isn't good and yes its a really depressing time to be a Coventry fan but it doesn't mean you desert them until we get Man United at home in the FA Cup. I understand not everyone can afford £22 every week but £11?! Absolutely shocking turn out, especially as Bradford brought more fans than your average League One side.

Portsmouth had 16,355 at their last home game against Oxford - they're in League 2 with nothing to play for and a population of over 100,000 less than Coventry
Recently non-league Luton managed 8,600 in their home loss to Morecambe.

Teams of an apparent similar size:
Sheff United - 18,688 - they're in the playoffs you say? When they lost 1-2 at home to Gillingham in November last season to be placed 23rd in League 1 - attendance 16,560.
Southampton in league 1 lose to Brighton - attendance - 21,932

Yes we got 27k v gillingham but we all know 50% of those people were there for the bandwagon / they were mates of Coventry City fans and tickets were a tenner so they thought why not?

I'd be surprised to see us in the Championship in the next 5 years and i think we can forget the Premier League for decades. YES SISU are horrific owners and I, like everyone else, cannot wait to see the back of them but the whole point of being a 'supporter' is through thick and thin and at the moment we are where our non-loyal fanbase deserve to be.

Credit to all the Season Ticker holders and regular attenders, this isn't in anyway shape or form a moan at you, just a statement about the sad realisation of where we truly are.

I'm a season ticket holder and if city played anywhere near that Portsmouth play then I would gladly accept the football on offer. For Gods sake football is a simple game and we can't muster anything like a cohesive footballing unit. Yes the fans have a right to moan but footballers and the like have a duty to play with each other which is not happening at City games

 

[Sky Blue Kid]

@ CCFC.....If you go to a restaurant and paid £22 for a juicy sorloin or fillet steak, you would enjoy it?....yes? Now, would you go to the same restaurant and pay £22 for a bit of sh**ty Stewing steak, and not moan and never go there again? If your answer is "You would go again" you're a f**king liar.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

@ CCFC.....If you go to a restaurant and paid £22 for a juicy sorloin or fillet steak, you would enjoy it?....yes? Now, would you go to the same restaurant and pay £22 for a bit of sh**ty Stewing steak, and not moan and never go there again? If your answer is "You would go again" you're a f**king liar.

Yea but we're not talking about steaks, we're talking about football.

 

[The Gentleman]

Yea but we're not talking about steaks, we're talking about football.

Show me the difference between a slab of meat and half of our squad?

 

[torchomatic]

Fair play, when making a ridiculous comparison, you chose a different one to the norm.

@ CCFC.....If you go to a restaurant and paid £22 for a juicy sorloin or fillet steak, you would enjoy it?....yes? Now, would you go to the same restaurant and pay £22 for a bit of sh**ty Stewing steak, and not moan and never go there again? If your answer is "You would go again" you're a f**king liar.

 

[Ashdown]

We are terribly supported for a club that our fans seem to deem 'Should be back in the Premier League where we belong'. It was £11 (equivalent) for a ticket last night, we're fighting for our lives in the third tier and we muster 8,000. This will be greeted by cries of 'What do you expect with SISU in charge', 'We've had nothing to cheer about for so long', does it really matter? They're your football club and like you would support your family through the highs and the lows, as is real support, the same should be said for your football club. Yes the standard isn't good and yes its a really depressing time to be a Coventry fan but it doesn't mean you desert them until we get Man United at home in the FA Cup. I understand not everyone can afford £22 every week but £11?! Absolutely shocking turn out, especially as Bradford brought more fans than your average League One side.

Portsmouth had 16,355 at their last home game against Oxford - they're in League 2 with nothing to play for and a population of over 100,000 less than Coventry
Recently non-league Luton managed 8,600 in their home loss to Morecambe.

Teams of an apparent similar size:
Sheff United - 18,688 - they're in the playoffs you say? When they lost 1-2 at home to Gillingham in November last season to be placed 23rd in League 1 - attendance 16,560.
Southampton in league 1 lose to Brighton - attendance - 21,932

Yes we got 27k v gillingham but we all know 50% of those people were there for the bandwagon / they were mates of Coventry City fans and tickets were a tenner so they thought why not?

I'd be surprised to see us in the Championship in the next 5 years and i think we can forget the Premier League for decades. YES SISU are horrific owners and I, like everyone else, cannot wait to see the back of them but the whole point of being a 'supporter' is through thick and thin and at the moment we are where our non-loyal fanbase deserve to be.

Credit to all the Season Ticker holders and regular attenders, this isn't in anyway shape or form a moan at you, just a statement about the sad realisation of where we truly are.

You can't quote population figures without acknowledging that Coventry has a huge student population and is a favourite dumping ground for thousands of recent immigrants both of which have no interest or affinity to our 3rd division football side.

 

[Sky Blue Kid]

@ Torchy...What's ridiculous about it?.....How about WTF should I pay for a product that is s**t quality. You along with others are like the Emporer with no clothes. You know there is nothing there, but go along with it anyway.

 

[torchomatic]

You don't pay anything as you don't go.

I go along because I support my team. Not going to get an apology from me about that. Lay that guilt trip on someone else.

@ Torchy...What's ridiculous about it?.....How about WTF should I pay for a product that is s**t quality. You along with others are like the Emporer with no clothes. You know there is nothing there, but go along with it anyway.

 

[italiahorse]

@ CCFC.....If you go to a restaurant and paid £22 for a juicy sorloin or fillet steak, you would enjoy it?....yes? Now, would you go to the same restaurant and pay £22 for a bit of sh**ty Stewing steak, and not moan and never go there again? If your answer is "You would go again" you're a f**king liar.

Fair play, when making a ridiculous comparison, you chose a different one to the norm.

If the restaurant owner promised you that when the new restaurant opens it will be better quality and cheaper and you were extremely gullible you might keep going ....