Atmosphere at games.

Quote: Paul HHZ "First of all, I think a massive woosh moment occurred around post 3 of this thread.

Secondly, I think some of the 'superfans' need to get their head out of their booty and realise that fairweather & lapsed fas are not the enemy. None of them woke up one day and thought '[iYou know what? I'm going to stop supporting Leigh as it'll bring about their demise sooner.[/i' None of them are actively trying to kill the club. Most of them would like the club to succeed. They make you sick? I hope the club doesn't have that attitude.

It's not as black & white as 'attend or the club will die'. You can't put a gun to someone's head and make them want to do something. There are underlying reasons why people don't go as often, most of it has been done to death on this very forum.

For me, it's all linked in a very vicious circle. Many people at this level have fallen out with Rugby League, they feel disenfranchised (pardon the pun) and become less inclined to attend matches home & away. This has impacted on crowds and atmosphere which impacts negatively on the sense of occasion. Couple this with increased entrance fees and the recession and it's little wonder why crowds are down.

Personally, I now ask myself if paying £16 a fortnight is value for money anymore. For that price I can take my girlfriend to the cinema for 3 hours or go for a cheap meal. I can spend 4 hours in the pub and drink 8 pints whilst socialising with family friends. If I want to do that whilst going to the rugby, the price starts racking up very quickly. Now, I'm not on a bad salary, so how must it be for people who can only just scrape by each week?

By all means, blame the lapsed supported for Leigh RL's problems, but your completely missing the point.'"

You are spot on. This superior complex that some fans seem to get about them because they go to every game or give the club x amount a year is unhelpful. A friend of mine stopped going a couple of years back for a number of reasons, before Christmas he was in the market buying a new shirt and some other stuff and was talking about how he might start going, the old bloke behind him gave him a mouthful for not being a real fan etc etc. All that did is put him off going back.

Some of us are fortunate enough to have few commitments, or enough money to be able to watch RL every weekend. Others don't have the money but chose to scrimp and save so that they never miss a game. I have nothing but respect for anyone who puts money through the turnstiles of a rugby club, but by taking this elite attitude of 'real/loyal supporters' (call it what you will) you are doing the sport a disservice.

There are plenty of people in the town who have stopped going- disenchantment, family, work, soccer, other clubs, whatever. Blaming these people for all and sundry achieves nothing other than putting them off going back. I honestly think the LSV has a much better vibe and feel about it recently, and if people come back they will see that and hopefully return. They might buy a season ticket, or, they will chose a few games to go to. What is wrong with that?

To use an example, at the cup semi final a Warrington fan was walking round with pictures of players from times gone by and demanding that people told him who they were in order to quality as a 'real fan'. What the hell does that achieve? Had that been your first game and you were put on the sport like that and made to feel daft would you have gone back again? I highly doubt it. It is exactly the same here, rant on about how much better you are and how people are killing the club whether it be on here, in the shop, in the pub, at the LSV does nothing but harm the club!

Sorry for the rant.