How many people

[TrueBlue]

How many people can you think of who are genuinely staying away from Roots Hall because of Ron Martin?

I can think of 12 people who I know will not set foot in Roots Hall (Rightly or Wrongly)

 

[Jam_Man]

None that I know of.

How many people are staying away because the club are in League Two and they want a reason that doesnt make them sound like glory hunters ? :winking:

Lets see if the crowds say at 4000-5,000 if we go up....

 

[tia]

I know of one bloke who wont go too home games now because of mr martin,he does a few aways still.I think as long as we are in embargo more people may start too lose heart and stay away.

 

[Pak Power]

Definately one I know, but a probable other one.

 

[shrimperton]

I wont give Martin my money, away days only for me!!

 

[WESTY_SUFC]

4

I wish I could do the same and shut it out as I feel a lot of the enjoyment has been taken out of going to football for me with all the sh*t in the background.

For the last 2 1/2 year's I've not been excited about going to watch us anymore. This has never even crossed my mind in the past. Even when we were regularly finishing bottom half of league 2 in the past.

 

[dannypav]

I don't know any and IMO it would be a poor excuse as the club is more important than one guy who won't be around forever.
But each to their own reason I suppose.
I think harsh economic times definately have an effect on ours and other crowds , and I certainly know people who can't afford to go as much

 

[Jai]

Nobody because of Ron, a few are going less due to reaching 'that age' of weddings, having kids etc and getting their priorities straight, I myself have had to cut down on aways purely because money is a lot tighter these days.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

I don't know anybody who won't go because of Ron.

I put all that to one side. I am supporting the team, embargo or not. I haven't lost any of the exciting feeling of going to watch Southend play. How could I? They are my team, they are in my blood. I just love going to the hall, meeting up with a few people I've got to know over the years and watching my team. They are my team, I have no feeling of separation, I love each and every one of them. The only thing that would stop me going would be a mass lack of funds or illness. I'd happily give something else up than stop going to the Hall, I really would.

I went in the dark days of the late 90's/early 2000 era. It was depressing but I still went. Today's football and having Sturrock in charge feel like heaven compared to then.

We as a club have always struggled financially and probably always will. Only a Cowling type character will change that but it's not something that will happen unfortunately.

 

[Its Only A Game]

I don't know anybody who won't go because of Ron.

I put all that to one side. I am supporting the team, embargo or not. I haven't lost any of the exciting feeling of going to watch Southend play. How could I? They are my team, they are in my blood. I just love going to the hall, meeting up with a few people I've got to know over the years and watching my team. They are my team, I have no feeling of separation, I love each and every one of them. The only thing that would stop me going would be a mass lack of funds or illness. I'd happily give something else up than stop going to the Hall, I really would.

I went in the dark days of the late 90's/early 2000 era. It was depressing but I still went. Today's football and having Sturrock in charge feel like heaven compared to then.

We as a club have always struggled financially and probably always will. Only a Cowling type character will change that but it's not something that will happen unfortunately.

Spot on and I agree entirely.

I was going to use this post to highlight all of the various factors that can effect attendances such as chairmen, managers, styles of play, whether there are local rivals in the division etc etc and try to point out that it isn't ALL RM's fault.

I've checked out the stats on the football league website and of the 18 teams who have been in L2 for this year and last, only 4 have increased average attendances this year (Accrington, Port Vale, Rotherham & Torquay) while 14 have dropped so far. Obviously local derbies could effect these over the season.

But,

we are at the high end of the fall off.

Topping the table is Aldershot with a 30.3% fall, then Cheltenham on 20.1, SOUTHEND 19.2, AFC Wimbledon 18.2 and Oxford on 16.7.

So although we are not alone in the reduced attendances it is quite worrying that we are up the top end of it

 

[The Big Shrimp]

Not me. I will carry on home and occasionally away. I just won't buy programmes, raffle tickets etc. I still went to games even when Jobson was here!

 

[LennySUFC]

I know one guy who used to be a season ticket holder but now refuses to put money into Ron martins "pocket"

 

[shrimperjon]

I don't know anybody who won't go because of Ron.

I put all that to one side. I am supporting the team, embargo or not. I haven't lost any of the exciting feeling of going to watch Southend play. How could I? They are my team, they are in my blood. I just love going to the hall, meeting up with a few people I've got to know over the years and watching my team. They are my team, I have no feeling of separation, I love each and every one of them. The only thing that would stop me going would be a mass lack of funds or illness. I'd happily give something else up than stop going to the Hall, I really would.

I went in the dark days of the late 90's/early 2000 era. It was depressing but I still went. Today's football and having Sturrock in charge feel like heaven compared to then.

We as a club have always struggled financially and probably always will. Only a Cowling type character will change that but it's not something that will happen unfortunately.

Absolutely brilliant post and one that true fans would understand. I will never stop going regardless, its my team, my release from evryday life and my hobby. My son is now in his second season as an ST and he loves it, he doesnt understand the politics of all the behind the scenes stuff, he just loves football and loves SUFC as much as i do and i would never want to stop him doing that. He was a mascot at the play off Crewe game and for all its faults the club were first class that day and me, my wife and son will never forget that day. Thats the sort of thing we should be talking about and trying to ensure that other young fans continue to enjoy the same experience as my son. Sos top all this 'not putting my money b*****ks into RM pockets' and get down to the Hall and support the team and do your bit.

 

[Smiffy]

Spot on and I agree entirely.

I was going to use this post to highlight all of the various factors that can effect attendances such as chairmen, managers, styles of play, whether there are local rivals in the division etc etc and try to point out that it isn't ALL RM's fault.

I've checked out the stats on the football league website and of the 18 teams who have been in L2 for this year and last, only 4 have increased average attendances this year (Accrington, Port Vale, Rotherham & Torquay) while 14 have dropped so far. Obviously local derbies could effect these over the season.

But,

we are at the high end of the fall off.

Topping the table is Aldershot with a 30.3% fall, then Cheltenham on 20.1, SOUTHEND 19.2, AFC Wimbledon 18.2 and Oxford on 16.7.

So although we are not alone in the reduced attendances it is quite worrying that we are up the top end of it

To add to that...

First 6 home (league) games last season: 5,113 average.

First 6 home (league) games this season: 4,824 average.

Which represents a drop of around 6% on the same time period last season.

So whatever way you slice it, more people are deciding not to go. Whether that be due to Finances/Ron/League 2 football. I'm sure that is a trend shared by most at this level or even higher. But it shows our financial position is not going to get any easier, unless we start pulling up tree's on the pitch.

But without the right tools given to him by the Chairman, Sturrock faces an impossible job. And I feel very sorry for the man.

 

[Gremlin]

How many people are staying away because the club are in League Two and they want a reason that doesnt make them sound like glory hunters ?

I'd wager this group is greater in number than those staying away because of RM.

 

[WickfordShrimper]

I think its just an excuse ... I cannot really get the Ron Martin thing TBH ... most lower league clubs struggle to pay the bills now... all the money is pumped into the premiership and stay there

Honest we just don't like watching the likes of Accrington nothing personal to them teams But if was playing the likes of Ipswich or wolves I would expect 9000 plus crowds week in week out so on that basis 5000 home fans in league 2 is a good crowd IMO

Just look at the Hamsters last year they lost 10,000 fans when they dropped out the premiership their crowd are like us all we want to watch top football... I bet if they was in Division 2 they would struggle to get 10,000 home fans traveling into London on a cold wet Tuesday night :-)

ONE TEAM IN ESSEX !!

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

4 - and the question was

How many people can you think of who are genuinely staying away from Roots Hall because of Ron Martin?

Not how many aren't coming because we are in league 2

 

[shrimperjon]

4 - and the question was

How many people can you think of who are genuinely staying away from Roots Hall because of Ron Martin?

Not how many aren't coming because we are in league 2

Not that many then. Where i sit in the east yellows the group of us that have been there for the past 10/15 seasons are still there. none of us have stopped due to league two football or the RM factor.

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

for me the issue is simple. I support the team not the board or chairman although it would be nice to be able to support both. Over the years I can only think of one chairman who was generally considered a good egg and that was Bill Rubin. It appears to be is a chairman's lot to be hated the issue is is this by the majority or minority of fans. If I won the Euro lottery would I put any money into SUFC and become Chairman. You must be joking.
BTW the greatest years of success on the field have come under the custodianship of 2 of the ones a number of fans hate. i.e. Jobson and Ron.
As for only going away I cannot understand this. So it's OK to give your competitors money but not your own club,. Very curious thinking IMHO.

 

[Thorpe Groyney]

It appears many people are answering their own question, and showing jolly well what jolly great supporters they are, rather than the one asked.

The answer from me is 1. Hasn't been back since 2010. To quote her, "I'll have to die before they get me back in there while he's still about." She goes regularly to away games, though, and fills her spare afternoons and evenings helping out with coaching at youth football.