The Jarrod Basset fan club and the coach load of away fans made the most difference to the numbers yesterday.
If it was the "Ticket bundle", all well and good.

The jarred basset fan club are there every week generally

Then the way ahead is clearly to grow the Jarred Basset fan club as that's likely to be easier.

Extensive poster campaign at Sheperds Bush Walkabout should see us reach 5000 this time next year.

That's been closed for four years...

which means is an ideal marketing ploy by the club

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... gue-return What are peoples thoughts on this? Ostensibly a pretty positive and accurate article, however I did find the lines from Mike regarding pathways investment interesting; "The expense that goes into that is enormous: what David puts into London having an academy would arguably get a Super League team through to a Challenge Cup final in terms of spend. David is pumping what other owners invest all over the club solely into an academy." I don't necessarily disagree with his point and I think the club can point to success in bringing through our own. Interested to how accurate the comparison is however.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... gue-return What are peoples thoughts on this? Ostensibly a pretty positive and accurate article, however I did find the lines from Mike regarding pathways investment interesting; "The expense that goes into that is enormous: what David puts into London having an academy would arguably get a Super League team through to a Challenge Cup final in terms of spend. David is pumping what other owners invest all over the club solely into an academy." I don't necessarily disagree with his point and I think the club can point to success in bringing through our own. Interested to how accurate the comparison is however.

If that statement from Cake is true (which seems rather unlikely to me) then results this season would suggest he is not getting a good return on investment.

Another marketing plan fails at first contact!

Academy and reserves (possibly interchangeable) have been getting pumped this year (you often learn more from a loss but a monstering not so sure) and doesn’t seem to have been a very busy fixture list. With putting younger players out to Skolars now gone (although if the chat was true our request for money for players with limited experience might have done that already) and noting that our recent elevated academy players have mostly had some game time but a move up the table and a more competitive squad has reduced that game time significantly. On paper looks a great idea to invest for the future but the reality this season the pathway from Academy to 1st team looks a little grim. Wonder how many we will give contracts to.

The home game against FC Reserves aside, I haven't seen much of the either the Reserves or Academy this season. There was a young forward playing for us in that match who caught my eye, but I cannot for the life of me remember his name. Tough seasons for both, as you say.

Obvious logistical requirements aside, I'm not sure I see a spend of the scale stated. I would assume we are not paying our Reserve/Academy grade players.

Can't really see how there can be that much spend!