Widnes didnt get over 10000 when they had davies, offiah etc and won the league so what chance have they now

Different game now. Crowds weren't a big requirement as the club had a benefactor that simply wanted to out wigan, wigan. This time around, every fan who pays at the gate is important and Widnes have the catchment area to attract 10,000 fans.

Widnes were still a members club at the time, with members (ie season ticket holders) simply voting a committee to run the club every season - usually a mix of ex-players/coaches, local councillors, local businessmen & well known spectators. Don't think there was ever anybody putting significant amounts of money in - and no ability to run up large debts as committe members were personably responsible.

But your general point is a good one; crowd figures are more important now, the game is higher profile in some ways, Widnes stadium is much better and clubs are generally much more clued up about marketing. 10k average would certainly be a reasonable target.

We used to get 4,000 last time we was in the top flight, now we get 8,000+. No reason why a well run Widnes couldn't be doing the same.

Interesting to see that a few of them have bigger attendances than Harlequins and Celtic

Considering how much morethe RFL feel these clubs are of value to Super League, I am absolutely flabbergasted!

A few, other than Widnes (well done to them) care to name them?

[Ctrl-alt-vF^CK OFF YOU TROLL [/Ctrl-alt-v]........pr1ck!
Attendances = 2 points.
Urban myths about barrow loads of cash being given to us = 0 points
Youth system = more than most of you knuckledraggers can muster....loads of points
Stadium......yep, we have one!
Financial irregularities........nah, we get £1,000,000 a week from the rfl
Bitter = no, just p155ing myself laughing that the mods have let you play all on your own

Looks like a good improvement for Sheffield, Gateshead & Donny very poor. What about Championsip 1? Anyone got a list of average attendances this season?

Dewsbury 1,265
York 1,145
Oldham 1,018
Keighley 933
Rochdale Hornets 682
Hunslet 639
Swinton 512
Blackpool 478
Workington 476
London Skolars 445

I think Widnes narrowly missed 10k by a couple of dozen when we played Saints and Warrington one year in SL, when the Vikings were getting pasted every week and the club was in turmoil.

Obviously, Saints and Wire both brought around 4k, but there was a nucleus of 5.5-6k Widnes speccies every week to build upon.

If, and that's quite an if, Widnes go on to SL, then go onto challenge for the play-offs (maybe in their 2nd season?) then this figure could be boosted and get averages around 8-9k before 2015.

We do have the potential to hit an average of around 8,000 especially with Steve O'connor at the helm.