A serious question

[KentyinWeardale]

Hi all, Worthing fan here in peace.

As you may not have seen, we are doing quite well in the Isthmian Prem at present and the stated aim of the club (and seized upon by many fans) is promotion to Connie South.

I'm not nearly so sure that this is such a great aim what with increased travelling, costs, prices etc etc and wonder whether any of you had thoughts on the matter. It does appear from afar that stewarding issues and being less competitive in a higher division is causing some doubts in some of you.

Good luck for the season anyway and thanx in advance for any replies

Kenty

 

[Pink Panther]

I don't think stewarding is a major issue. Most clubs are as welcoming as in the Isthmian, you'll just find most of them have crowds the size of your own rather than being bigger than other clubs and outnumbering the home support at one or two away games. You do get a few away games with annoyingly petty stewarding. Woking was one last season. Also Tonbridge on the opening day this season. Our forthcoming match at Maidstone has been made all-ticket for away supporters with segregation, but that's an exception not the rule.

The type of football is a lot more cynical and attritional. As one of our players summed up last season, people are playing for mortgage money instead of petrol money and it feels noticeably more like a win at all costs mentality.

Clubs charge between £12-£15 adult admission, Havant is £16, and St Albans is £18 !

Travelling doesn't seem that different, last season we just swapped the Suffolk clubs for some in the South West but we lost most of the longest trips with Torquay going up, Weston-super-Mare and Truro going down, and Gloucester shifting to the North Division. Of course the Isthmian Premier has lost the Suffolk clubs too with the extra Central Division being created at that level.

We're certainly less competitive at this level so far! The average playing budget is around £250k a year, or £6k a week for a 40-42 week season.

 

[Dodger]

Basically what he said, there's no real difference except one or two clubs segregating and charging more.

 

[Son of Roy]

Kenty you know many Dulwich fans have friends at Worthing FC and we wish you every success this season. Naturally you will want promotion to prove to yourselves you can get to the next level. You might feel like a slightly smaller fish in a bigger bowl. You can see how we have struggled. Dorking are doing well though.

 

[KentyinWeardale]

Many thanx for taking the time and trouble to reply folks, I just worry that the higher we go, the more "professional" and less fun the whole thing becomes.
As an aside, growing up initially down the Old Kent Rd and later in Hither Green I have always looked out for Dulwich results and much enjoyed the fans games.
Till we meet next, best wishes
Kenty

 

[Pink Panther]

Many thanx for taking the time and trouble to reply folks, I just worry that the higher we go, the more "professional" and less fun the whole thing becomes.

I'd say it's not significantly "less fun" in terms of overall matchday experience just yet, but probably is one level higher at National Division where segregation and no beers on the terraces seems to be mandatory. (The football definitely seems to be less entertaining in National South, but maybe that's just because we were spoilt by eight seasons of routinely outclassing many opponents at Isthmian level?) Then again there's the additional adventure of trips up North at National Division level, although personally I'm likely to pick and choose those if we ever get there even if I have the spare cash to do all of them.

 

[EDC]

It’s less fun for me being a short arse, I can’t see a thing most of the time. Also the beer choice where it’s quick to get one is shite, I hate Pale Ale, the lager tastes funny and £4 for a small can of Harvey’s is a fucking joke. Price of success I suppose with big crowds. The longer terraces have helped in some games where the attendance is around 2500 but not being able to have an enjoyable pint of beer at a decent price is a drag.

 

[Bugpowder Dust]

As Dulwich fans we need to separate the change in match day experience with promotion from the increased crowds more generally from Hamlet being a nice footballing afternoon out.

Most of the woes / teething troubles I have experienced as a fan in this league are connected to the crowd size, not the league. It's the next step up that seems to be the game changer.

This year we've got more terracing, more toilets, more beer outlets, and a cracking £3 a pint deal for ST holders.

I'd say you have nothing to fear from the step up, just relish the promotion victory if/when it comes.

 

[Pink Panther]

It’s less fun for me being a short arse, I can’t see a thing most of the time. Also the beer choice where it’s quick to get one is shite, I hate Pale Ale, the lager tastes funny and £4 for a small can of Harvey’s is a fucking joke. Price of success I suppose with big crowds. The longer terraces have helped in some games where the attendance is around 2500 but not being able to have an enjoyable pint of beer at a decent price is a drag.

All of that is primarily down to the crowd size though, and we were already getting crowds of well over 2,000 for some matches at Isthmian level. It's hard to know how much of the most recent increase is down to promotion or the bounce from returning home as we were in exile for several months either side of going up. The attendance at Oxford City was about 350 and it's likely to be the same at Hungerford on Saturday. Those games don't feel any different to the Isthmian League for me. Four figure crowds are still the exception rather than the norm at a majority of the clubs we visit.

 

[KentyinWeardale]

So we won't be seeing you next season after all, good luck and take care everyone

Kenty

 

[Son of Roy]

So we won't be seeing you next season after all, good luck and take care everyone

Kenty

Dulwich supporters hope all non league clubs survive and Worthing have a very competitive team next season and win the promotion you deserve.

 

[KentyinWeardale]

Me again, seems we did well to avoid going up given the sheer ineptness of your league, and we thought the Isth was bad; silly us.

As ever stay safe all