Why is SUFC the best supported in the league?

[CrippsCorner]

Coming from a mild supporting history until the recent few years, I'm often not truly aware of the clubs past, apart from the defining moments of course. It's obvious in terms of support at least, we're the biggest in the NL - Why is this?

Because we've spent most of the time in the EFL (then again, don't we have more support than many clubs in League 2?)
Because of those defining moments (how many other clubs have beaten Man Utd in a cup game)
Because of certain big players (obviously Stan springs to mind)
Because of geographic reasons (for instance no Premier League clubs in Essex)
Because Roots Hall allows 10k ish fans! (have we got the biggest stadium in the league bar Oldham?)

Would love to hear an expansion on these reasons, and any others what actually makes Southend different?

 

[* ORM *]

The real answer is that we are in the ****test lowest league we have ever been in

Apart from the one we were in before joining the football league you mean. Cricko remembers it well

 

[CrippsCorner]

Thanks, you've given me a good insight!

I really hope my son gets to witness a 'big moment' from the team to really cement that memory ☺

The way I look at it it's sort of a bad time for him to get into Southend, due to being in the lowest league in our history etc. but at the same time, with the increased gate numbers, the atmosphere is usually great and certainly makes the day out more of an occasion. I remember him being speechless in awe that first time we crossed the road near the Blue Boar with hundreds of other supporters.

 

[Smiffy]

Thanks, you've given me a good insight!

I really hope my son gets to witness a 'big moment' from the team to really cement that memory ☺

The way I look at it it's sort of a bad time for him to get into Southend, due to being in the lowest league in our history etc. but at the same time, with the increased gate numbers, the atmosphere is usually great and certainly makes the day out more of an occasion. I remember him being speechless in awe that first time we crossed the road near the Blue Boar with hundreds of other supporters.

I'd say it's the perfect time to get your Son involved. Yes, the football isn't exactly free-flowing and get off your seat type stuff, but it's the level.

Things can only get better from here. Your Son will hopefully soon get to see what promotion back to the EFL means. The support and buzz will only grow from there.

 

[Rob1920]

When I first started going around 1974 we considered anything over 4500 a decent crowd. Often it was more like 3500. It stayed that way for a long time, probably until the 90’s and our rise up the league under Webby. Back in the 70’s & 80’s the notion of regular crowds over 6k was a fantasy.

 

[Whispering Bob]

......because we love the club you f*****g idiot !

 

[Dave Smiths Love Child]

The likes of Wrexham, Notts County and Chesterfield have all been promoted. That leaves us the biggest fish in a small pond. With a catchment area of 300,000 people it really is no mystery

That’s just playing with numbers not taking in other factors, if that’s the case 8.5 million live in London why are teams like Barnet, Orient, Charlton not have bigger crowds?
Stars stats and more damn lies

 

[Fairport]

That’s just playing with numbers not taking in other factors, if that’s the case 8.5 million live in London why are teams like Barnet, Orient, Charlton not have bigger crowds?
Stars stats and more damn lies

Probably because a large number of Londoners are in the ethnic minority category and do not always have a great interest in football and probably can't afford to pay the high admission charges. Most of the fans that attend London based games live elsewhere. Spammers for example say only 3% of ST holders live in the borough of Newham. Even when Orient fans came to Roots Hall probably no more than 1% actually live in Leyton It's hard to call these clubs community clubs despite what they say.

 

[Barry.C]

According to the last Census , Southends population grew less than the National Average. over the previous 10 years, up to 2021`. The Growth in England was 6.6% over the same period. Basildon however took off with a 7.5% growth but Southend on Sea just 4.4%

This is the tight population area of Southend on Sea recorded at 180,700. This includes Leigh, Chalkwell, Prittlewell, , Southchurch and Shoeburyness. If you add in Rochford, , South Benfleet, Thundersley , Brentwood and Wickford then another 175,000 join the fray. That puts us at 355,000 straightaway without the 107,000 in Basildon . So the relatively near local populace is pretty large, some bits growing faster than others

I only mention this because I love the fact that the complexly close Medway ( 5 towns ) has a population of around 285,000 and I rather enjoy the fact that over many years my Gillingham mates stand in awe of the Southend turn out and regularly mention it with disbelief and envy, ,which makes me very proud of my heritage and i think there is something in the blood

 

[Zeuss]

According to the last Census , Southends population grew less than the National Average. over the previous 10 years, up to 2021`. The Growth in England was 6.6% over the same period. Basildon however took off with a 7.5% growth but Southend on Sea just 4.4%

This is the tight population area of Southend on Sea recorded at 180,700. This includes Leigh, Chalkwell, Prittlewell, , Southchurch and Shoeburyness. If you add in Rochford, , South Benfleet, Thundersley , Brentwood and Wickford then another 175,000 join the fray. That puts us at 355,000 straightaway without the 107,000 in Basildon . So the relatively near local populace is pretty large, some bits growing faster than others

I only mention this because I love the fact that the complexly close Medway ( 5 towns ) has a population of around 285,000 and I rather enjoy the fact that over many years my Gillingham mates stand in awe of the Southend turn out and regularly mention it with disbelief and envy, ,which makes me very proud of my heritage and i think there is something in the blood

I’m sure there are Blues’ fans living in Hadleigh ,Wakering and Rayleigh.