I remember a time when 11,000 would have been a great attendance, it was only really Taylor returning in the late 90's and the subsequent seasons of success that led to the higher attendances that people are refering to (as you say PotGuy), if our on pitch performance continues as it has done for the last couple of seasons the attendances will gradually dwindle back to the 10k mark and perhaps beyond.
Its not about 'proper fans' or 'glory hunters'. I was only talking about that because somebody said we were good for 18,000 every week, which we obviously aren't. Clearly though, if you turn up in the Premiershyte but then disappear when we are shyte, you aren't exactly dedicated. My Stockport mate was off to Forest Green a few days ago, and loving every minute. He couldn't give a t oss if they were in the Championship or the Conference. The question was why are the attendances so low. The answer is because there aren't a lot of people willing to pay £25 to watch us play in the second tier, because we have very little chance of promotion.
QPR had 3000 empty seats for their first match back in the Prem. According to telly, Briatore (who like a true QPR fan rather than a chairman left when the fourth goal went in) has said that he wanted to turn QPR into a "boutique club where wealthy people can come to be seen", and surely that's the model for Watford. Put a catwalk where the East Stand used to be, get rid of the riffraff, replace the plastic seats with 4000 armchairs covered in leopard skins, recruit butlers to serve lobster and champagne during the match, and wait for the wealthy people to flock to the Vic to hand over their £2000 per game. The authentic football experience for the 21st century!
That is one of the most depressing, soul destroying things that I have ever heard. The sad thing is that most chairmen/executives/owners share the same views and aims but are just not as open about it.
What compared to 12,813 for our first home game against Coventry last season. Im not sure what your trying to get at as most of our gates in this league are only ever going to be something like 10,500 - 13,500 and then topped up for a decent cup match or a derby.
Do you still have to pay extra on the day for a ticket? That has impacted attendances for ages. How many West Ham will be in our end this eve anyway, seeing that a large number could not get tickets?
Was one in his West Ham shirt in the Lower Rous, celebrated when they scored, and started clapping along to their songs....
Can that be classed as a success by the club? There were always going to be Wet Spam fans in the home end as Watford fans bought them tickets but giving them the whole end seems to have helped.
When the 3rd went in, I nearly stood up and cheered, just so I could get chucked out! Att: 14,747. A few more away fans than the last game!
