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Post by scriptman on Jun 24, 2008 18:20:18 GMT 1
...Yep you hear it right......over 7,500 Season Tickets have been sold. This might be loose change for some teams..but let me tell you guys...never in all the years (and I can go back to watching King Alick's second stint at Donny) can I recall sales being that high....and there's probably more to come before the season kicks off ;D ;D
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Post by pintolager on Jun 24, 2008 20:59:00 GMT 1
These really are great times to support Doncaster Rovers and the sales figures really do say everything - especially considering where the club was 10 years ago. It backs up my view about folk wanting to associate themselves with success. I am not quite a youngster, and can go back to the days of Dennis Peacock, Ian & Glyn Snodin etc and while there was limited success at the time, can not even remember crowds of 5,000, never mind 7,500 plus. I have read other fans views on forums and saw the comment about this possibly being the start of even bigger things for the club and we can go on to establish ourselves as a Championship club, obviously time will tell as to whether that is the case or not, but IMO there is no reason why it can't - the club has the chairman and board of directors who have laid the foundations.
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Post by scriptman on Jun 24, 2008 21:16:52 GMT 1
When Donny went up in 1981...the directors were calling for average gates of 4,000 to break even. I think we might have managed it for a season....but we soon went back down to our usual 2 and 3k. Like you say, it's a great time time to be a Donny fan....and let's hope we don't disgrace ourselves in the CCC. I only wish I knew just how much enthusiasm the other directors have at Donny. If they are as keen as Ryan, then it's not beyond the realms of possibility that we could do a Wigan or Reading.......but it will need a huge injection of silly money.....unless our SO'D is an absolute genius. But then, I already think he and Richard O'Kelly have been the best leaders of this club in my life time.
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Post by pintolager on Jun 24, 2008 21:48:50 GMT 1
Whilst I don't have any business acumen, I am a believer that if said business is run properly, then there is no reason why it can't grow into something big. People will see the ambition and potential of the club and want to be a part of it, but what alot of fans need to realise is, that things don't happen overnight though I do get the feeling (and this isn't aimed at you script) that people will expect too much too soon....they just don't appreciate what goes on behind the scenes. Barnsley fans reading this will laugh when I say that I am envious of them, we were both playing each other in the old 4th division in the 70's but since about '81, they climbed into the old 2nd division and more or less stayed there while we have struggled in the lower divisions - including of course a spell in the conference, so well done to them I say - they even won promnotion to the Prem of course.
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Post by animallittle on Jun 24, 2008 23:04:09 GMT 1
To be honest with you it was not as hard back in 81 to establish yourselfs at this level as it is now,since we came back in 06 its been a hell of a struggle and its getting harder all the time,this is a money league now and you need plenty of it to make any sort of impression. I think Donny will do ok and i feel your team is perhaps more suited to the ccc than league 1,that said 4th bottom will still be a good season for you as it will be for us,the new season's going to be the toughest yet at this level.
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Post by scriptman on Jun 24, 2008 23:48:00 GMT 1
With me pintolager, it's more to do with hope than expectations.....but they hurt equally as much when they are dashed It'll take a generation to build this club up to the likes of Barnsley, Burnley, and Preston. These aren't the best supported clubs in the CCC, but where they differ from us is the number of die hard supporters. We are missing one, maybe two generations of these fans. With Burnley and Barnsley, there is no novelty factor....they might well be embroiled in a relegation battle.....but they'll still average 12 and 13k. With us it's different. If we do really well...we could better Barnsley, Burnley, and Preston's crowds......but if we struggle..we'll be looking at 8 or 9k. I reckon the majority of die hard Donny fans are under 21, or over 45..... comparatively speaking, there's not an enormous amount of 20 and 30 somethings.... there are some of course now....but there will be a lot more in 10 years time. animallittle It's the have and have-nots nowadays. To do well in this league, and on a modest budget...you really do need an exceptional manager and set up. I believe SO'D is a brilliant manager......but I'm just not sure if he's exceptional enough to progress us much further without spending huge amounts of money.
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Post by hometownpride on Jun 25, 2008 1:21:58 GMT 1
I’m only a whippersnapper script, but surely, Barnsley’s time in the top flight helped them to secure their fans & their only averaging 9k home fans at the minute I think …I might be wrong. So surely we can catch up with them & others in the near future & yes I agree there used to be a 10 year gap between fans, you used to either be a teen, or a 30 year old plus moaner, I’m in between… I mean age not moaner lol, but I see a difference now since say 3 years back, there’s more 20 year old pluses supporting rovers now, my generation is starting to support rovers again, after the crap rovers have gone through I don’t blame them for going else were, but as long as they return who cares !!!
I think rovers will average crowds of 12-14k next season, so you could say we have caught Barnsley up already, but how many will renew season tickets the season after next if all goes wrong ?
I think our directors will inject cash if needs be in the 2nd opening of the transfer window, but at the minute all associated with rovers believe we can finish in the top half plus local and national media hauls the championship as a poor league. Don’t let other fans tease saying it’s a massive step up because it aint in my opinion. Also, pundits are now starting to say rovers will be fine in the CCC along with rival fans saying we will be dandy next season. We just need a striker, as that seems to be the difference in the 2nd tier. I believe rovers are looking abroad for a striker, I hope we find one soon because I believe a 20 goals a season machine will keep us up, not from relegation but in the top half !!!
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Post by scriptman on Jun 25, 2008 12:29:08 GMT 1
I agree wholeheartedly with you htp.... we might exceed Barnsley levels of support next season...but the test will be if we are able to hold on to them. Taking into account the away support, Barnsley will, I guess, average home supporters, support of...circa 9k-11k........ but you have to consider that they have been doing this whilst fighting relegation. Would we get that in the same position after the novelty wears off? I don't think we will right now. We need to work on it..but we are definitely heading in the right direction. As far as I'm concerned, Barnsley are our main rivals. I live in the Dearne Valley, surrounded by Barnsley, Donny, and Rotherham fans. I do like Barnsley and Rotherham...but this season I'll come to loathe Barnsley...because of the rivalry and would like nothing more than to see Donny beat Barnsley in every conceivable way.....league position, crowds, matches...everything ;D
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