Not many left going by how empty the south stand now is

He as been a breath of fresh air for me solid in defence and a constant threat in attack. I just hope you don't want him back anytime soon.

The positives was us showing some effort in the second half to get back into the game after a embarrassing first half. It is not like you do not know what Toulose are like they start like a house on fire but if you can stay with them they drop off the intensity as the game goes on just like they did last year. Our middles were once again shown to be not up to the job unless you want to be in a relegation scrap which i think we are. Barber as to play centre for me at Barrow with hopefully McCormack in the other spot and if we can get Cory back at 9 we can then ease O'brien back if he is alright to play. Ruan hasn't cracked any pots playing on the edge i would like to see him in the middle if he doesn't improve there then there is no point him playing instead of our own players. I would also bring Charlie Graham in for Pons and give Hantz a crack we need all the help we can get in the middle of the park.

As for Finn we have some big games coming up against some of the sides around us on the table, Barrow and then you can forget about getting anything from Wakefield before we play Whitehaven on the road who have improved since we last faced them. If we come away from those games against Barrow and Whitehaven empty handed his position as to come under question unless the board are happy to stick by him whatever the consequences.

Cheers, he's shown excellent footwork in our Academy/reserves, good to hear he's coping well in the Championship

The Leeds lads have all been rubbish and should be made to stay with us until, the end of the season as punishment.

Fax have been running with poor crowds for a long time, as a yardstick the crowd of 1,347 last Saturday compared with 1,437 against Toulouse last season in a must win game to qualify for the top 6, so not much difference.

We've been a championship club now for over 20 years, with lower average crowds than most in our division so not sure why some fans think we "should" be competing for the best players and "should" be near the top.

Not sure how the BOD can pull the crowds in. That's why I keep banging on about the Shay not working. It's been mentioned the disappointing average crowds in the late 90s despite a great team, and even worse when we got relegated. I remember quite literally empty stadiums when we played London and Sheffield (Keith Senior slaughtered us that day, everyone seemed to be just talking amongst themselves sat on the sp Skircoat terracing).

Maybe entice fans with discounted mini season tickets (covering 3 matches)? The bring a friend for a tenner last (or previous?) season seemed to work just a bit, even though it was unfair on the season ticket holders who ultimately had paid more on average for admission!

What’s the correlation between the Shay and small crowd numbers? If we had a smaller stadium we would still be getting the same crowds. The reason we have small attendances is the product. Being a championship team for 20 years, not being dominant in that league, no chance of promotion (which has existed for the majority of our 20 years in the Championship) and the running of the sport in general are probably main contributors to low attendance (in my opinion). When we left Thrum Hall I know of people who said they would never go and watch us at the Shay and they haven’t. Also when we were relegated from SL I know of folks who said they would never go and watch us in the Championship and they haven’t.
For a team to be attractive to new fans and old fans to return and for huge investment into the club we need to be in the top flight and be competitive. As we know that will never happen due to licensing/IMG or what ever you want to call it and how the RFL run the sport that door is closed. The SL clubs are very happy in their ivory towers getting the majority in f funding while clubs like Fax just get the scraps.

The first season at the Shay, which was obviouly a cracking/entertaining season, saw an average home attendance of 5,668. It dropped by 1,200 the following season but went back up to 5,882 the season after. Even the poor season under Steve Linnane saw crowds maintained at just under 5,000. The big drop came over the next couple of seasons with 2,977 the average in 2003 and then below 2,000 following relegation.

The issue isnt the Shay. It the mess caused by those who run or have run the game. I stopped going around 2004 when it looked like franchising was going to be introduced. And I am sure I wasnt alone.

Just a few of the reasons.
For those who can afford it lots of people simply aren’t interested in rugby and there are lots of other leisure time alternatives and even for those who do like rugby the overhaul costs involved in going to a game still puts them off.

For those who can’t afford it a no starter and there are lots of other things far more important.

The game is being run by nutters who have now handed the keys of the asylum to another set of lunatics.

But a lot of what you say applies to football where attendances have flourished. OK, it obviously has some impact, but the main one is that the game has been ruined.

Can’t do with snakes

On 5/10/2024 at 6:54 PM, Flea said:
Good.
There can not be any softening to let that lot worm there way to get any support. Literally give those lot an inch and they will take a mile (and then say it is all theirs anyway)
They are a danger in that stunts like last seasons playing on the pitch put pressure on our club and put us at risk. They have already had a big hand in killing one football club ,yet some want to try work with them and help them now?
How much have we lost in the past month or two because of this shower? How did playing away impact us for our playoff run/push and the lost income - how much is that going to impact us next season?
They are currently actively hurting our club. There can be no co-existing with people who do everything possible to cause us damage with no remorse.
SQUATTERS OUT. 
I'm now in this camp. I've tried to see things from fax point of view as i used enjoy watching them and there are decent supporters and some good, long members of staff. But they have been let down by liars, scheisters, chances...
Squatters out


Bubba
Posted May 10

Unless something changes there will be fewer and fewer supporters at games as people realise there is nothing to play for now that P&R is gone. That won't just affect the championship but SL too. Matches will be little more value than a friendly without any jeopardy so why bother paying £20+ to see that? Throw in a load of loan players who that fans who don't identify with and you have a recipe for decline.

Looking at where Fax are I like the Shay. If I was a Fax fan I'd have no problem with it. It's got good views, decent parking and is handy for the Three Pigeons. I used to love Thrum Hall for being so close to the actions but the toilets were infamous.

The main problem seems to be that it's a ground share. We had that a lot when were at valley parade. The football club didn't like it (but they liked our money) and some City fans hated the Bulls