Attendances....

[AveryDave]

Football Web Pages is a good source for that - tracks back over a number of seasons:

Dulwich Hamlet | Home Attendances | Football Web Pages

Live Football Scores, League Tables, Form Guides, Attendances, Latest News and other stats from the Premier League, Football League and Non-League football

www.footballwebpages.co.uk

Down about 16% over a similar profile of games last season and down about 13% compared to the season before that.

 

[Alex W]

Anyone know how this season's attendances so far have compared to what we've had at the same stage in recent years?

Worth remembering that attendances at Champion Hill always start low and build.

Actually, we're probably about due for the annual "September freakout about Hamlet attendances"!

 

[lwrs79]

Always slow to pick up, September onwards is usually where we get back to 2500+ be interesting to see from now how we compare. I for one am struggling with the quality of haks football.. or lack of it!

Football Web Pages is a good source for that - tracks back over a number of seasons:

Dulwich Hamlet | Home Attendances | Football Web Pages

Live Football Scores, League Tables, Form Guides, Attendances, Latest News and other stats from the Premier League, Football League and Non-League football

www.footballwebpages.co.uk

Down about 16% over a similar profile of games last season and down about 13% compared to the season before that.

 

[AveryDave]

Always slow to pick up, September onwards is usually where we get back to 2500+ be interesting to see from now how we compare. I for one am struggling with the quality of haks football.. or lack of it!

Sorry, should have been clearer - those % comparisons are over the first four games of the last couple of seasons.

There are likely a huge number of considerations as to why that might be - definitely need to see how it plays out over a longer stretch of games.

 

[Alex W]

It's also hard to make meaningful comparisons because there are so many variables.

For example, if we'd have been at home last Saturday we'd probably have had a near 3,000 crowd because of the international break, which would've made the average very impressive versus last year.

As another observation - there's a significant uptick of people behind the goal who are there for the football and the singing (rather than a chitchat), which can only be A Good Thing.

 

[Pink Panther]

It's also hard to make meaningful comparisons because there are so many variables.

For example, if we'd have been at home last Saturday we'd probably have had a near 3,000 crowd because of the international break, which would've made the average very impressive versus last year.

As another observation - there's a significant uptick of people behind the goal who are there for the football and the singing (rather than a chitchat), which can only be A Good Thing.

We've never had a 3,000+ attendance before October. Our largest September league figure by a distance in the 3 seasons since the pandemic was 2,588 against Concord on 23rd September last year. (We've generally had very few home league games in September in recent years.) The August Bank Holiday figure of 2,248 against Cray was almost identical to the last 2 years on the same bank holiday against Chatham and Welling. The FA Cup figure against Leatherhead was a few hundred down on the comparable ties against Haringey and Margate in the same round in the last 2 years. The first midweek and first Saturday league games, against Hendon and Whitehawk respectively, also down on those against Canvey and Hastings last year. These are obviously small sample sizes.

I'd say the greater worry is the risk of losing Saturday home games to opponents' cup runs. Hastings on 12th October and Wingate on 2nd November are both vulnerable to ending up on Tuesday evenings in the winter (when we won't pull much more than 1,000, if that) if those clubs reach the 4th qualifying round and 1st Round respectively. Horsham next week and Billericay on 19th October are our only "guaranteed" Saturday home games before Potters Bar on 9th November. On the other hand, we might end up playing all our home games as scheduled, and replacing trips to Lewes and Folkestone with home FA Trophy ties.

 

[lwrs79]

Do love a cold Tuesday under the lights though… not so good for the club but better for the purest!

I also feel like we do quite well on Tuesday nights vs Saturdays for some weird reason!

We've never had a 3,000+ attendance before October. Our largest September league figure by a distance in the 3 seasons since the pandemic was 2,588 against Concord on 23rd September last year. (We've generally had very few home league games in September in recent years.) The August Bank Holiday figure of 2,248 against Cray was almost identical to the last 2 years on the same bank holiday against Chatham and Welling. The FA Cup figure against Leatherhead was a few hundred down on the comparable ties against Haringey and Margate in the same round in the last 2 years. The first midweek and first Saturday league games, against Hendon and Whitehawk respectively, also down on those against Canvey and Hastings last year. These are obviously small sample sizes.

I'd say the greater worry is the risk of losing Saturday home games to opponents' cup runs. Hastings on 12th October and Wingate on 2nd November are both vulnerable to ending up on Tuesday evenings in the winter (when we won't pull much more than 1,000, if that) if those clubs reach the 4th qualifying round and 1st Round respectively. Horsham next week and Billericay on 19th October are our only "guaranteed" Saturday home games before Potters Bar on 9th November. On the other hand, we might end up playing all our home games as scheduled, and replacing trips to Lewes and Folkestone with home FA Trophy ties.

 

[scousedom]

Do love a cold Tuesday under the lights though… not so good for the club but better for the purest!

This.

 

[Paula_G]

August is full on festival season, so you’re always going to lose a large selection of the Claphamites who’ve packed the Fjällräven backpack and portable yurt before hoping Glastonbury, Wilderness or Latitude.

 

[EDC]

August is full on festival season, so you’re always going to lose a large selection of the Claphamites who’ve packed the Fjällräven backpack and portable yurt before hoping Glastonbury, Wilderness or Latitude.

Plus Boomtown on the first day of the season.

 

[Paula_G]

Plus Boomtown on the first day of the season.

I don’t like Saturdays?

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

August is full on festival season, so you’re always going to lose a large selection of the Claphamites who’ve packed the Fjällräven backpack and portable yurt before hoping Glastonbury, Wilderness or Latitude.

Also there is an annual dip in February/March time where the large selection of Claphamites spend their Saturdays on a pre booked table in a gastropub watching 'the rugger'.

 

[Pink Panther]

Don't forget the annual dip early in the year when the 6 nations is on, where hundreds of

Also there is an annual dip in February/March time where the large selection of Claphamites spend their Saturdays on a pre booked table in a gastropub watching 'the rugger'.

Do we really get "a large selection of Claphamites" at any of our games? No wonder we see so many ill informed comments from opposition supporters when our own supporters peddle this sort of nonsense.

We have a relatively young and affluent demographic compared to the traditional non-league fanbase. A lot of them take an interest in the Hamlet and enjoy going to regular games without being fanatical about attending every game, or travelling to away games. Yes, a significant number probably have other interests that take priority on some Saturdays, whether that's music festivals or international rugby but so what? I find it odd that people make disparaging remarks about this element, when (in terms of attendance at our games) they're no different to those who've always watched a Premier/Football League club on some Saturdays, or missed a few games for more mundane domestic reasons.

The annual dip for the 6 Nations, like the lower figures for early season Saturdays and midwinter evenings, is a trend that happens every year therefore it has no real bearing on the seasonal average.

 

[wphillips7]

Do we really get "a large selection of Claphamites" at any of our games? No wonder we see so many ill informed comments from opposition supporters when our own supporters peddle this sort of nonsense.

We have a relatively young and affluent demographic compared to the traditional non-league fanbase. A lot of them take an interest in the Hamlet and enjoy going to regular games without being fanatical about attending every game, or travelling to away games. Yes, a significant number probably have other interests that take priority on some Saturdays, whether that's music festivals or international rugby but so what? I find it odd that people make disparaging remarks about this element, when (in terms of attendance at our games) they're no different to those who've always watched a Premier/Football League club on some Saturdays, or missed a few games for more mundane domestic reasons.

The annual dip for the 6 Nations, like the lower figures for early season Saturdays and midwinter evenings, is a trend that happens every year therefore it has no real bearing on the seasonal average.

Spot on PP

 

[scousedom]

Do we really get "a large selection of Claphamites" at any of our games?

This is not a scientific sample - and depends as does much on life on your definition of “large” - but based on the 25-30yos in my office who talk about having gone to the Hamlet(s) on the weekend then yeah you do. And they all live in Clapham.

This isn’t a value judgement on whether that’s good/bad. But I don’t think you can deny its existence.

 

[Taper]

It's the wankers from Forest Hill I don't like.

 

[scousedom]

It's the wankers from Forest Hill I don't like.

Especially the ones that like rugby.

 

[Taper]

Fat bastards

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

Do we really get "a large selection of Claphamites" at any of our games? No wonder we see so many ill informed comments from opposition supporters when our own supporters peddle this sort of nonsense.

We have a relatively young and affluent demographic compared to the traditional non-league fanbase. A lot of them take an interest in the Hamlet and enjoy going to regular games without being fanatical about attending every game, or travelling to away games. Yes, a significant number probably have other interests that take priority on some Saturdays, whether that's music festivals or international rugby but so what? I find it odd that people make disparaging remarks about this element, when (in terms of attendance at our games) they're no different to those who've always watched a Premier/Football League club on some Saturdays, or missed a few games for more mundane domestic reasons.

The annual dip for the 6 Nations, like the lower figures for early season Saturdays and midwinter evenings, is a trend that happens every year therefore it has no real bearing on the seasonal average.

Sorry i touched a nerve by my dig at people who live in Clapham, but seeing as we agree that there is indeed a dip in attendance during the 6 Nations, i dont think im peddling nonsense. Alright, not all of them live in Clapham. Plenty of middle classes in Brixton these days who love rugby (check out The Duke of Edinburgh around 6 Nations time ), and further afield but still within the Hamlet catchment area. Their attendance doesn't really bother me, its quite amusing and i've long accepted it is a feature of the makeup of the Hamlet crowd these days and has been for some time.

It only gets annoying when im watching the match and the people from Clapham/Brixton/Honor Oak Park have their backs to the game and are discussing work or holidays and couldn't care less about the match, until a player makes a mistake and they all guffaw about 'how fucking shit this football is'. Oh, and also in January when they stand in groups clutching cans of 0% Guinness, crowing about their alcohol abstinence.

 

[Taper]

Now that's a group we can all hate. Dry Januaryites.

 

[nunhead dweller]

Do we really get "a large selection of Claphamites" at any of our games? No wonder we see so many ill informed comments from opposition supporters when our own supporters peddle this sort of nonsense.

We have a relatively young and affluent demographic compared to the traditional non-league fanbase. A lot of them take an interest in the Hamlet and enjoy going to regular games without being fanatical about attending every game, or travelling to away games. Yes, a significant number probably have other interests that take priority on some Saturdays, whether that's music festivals or international rugby but so what? I find it odd that people make disparaging remarks about this element, when (in terms of attendance at our games) they're no different to those who've always watched a Premier/Football League club on some Saturdays, or missed a few games for more mundane domestic reasons.

The annual dip for the 6 Nations, like the lower figures for early season Saturdays and midwinter evenings, is a trend that happens every year therefore it has no real bearing on the seasonal average.

Totally agree. Right on inverse snobbery on here lacks self awareness and a bit self justifying IMO (no I don't live in Clapham btw and yes i also find it a bit annoying if people dont watch the game/ dont support the players). Of course not everyone who goes to games are middle class and we want more diversity in fanbase/ club but this is a club in East Dulwich, one of most affluent areas in London/ the country, so fanbase will reflect that

 

[Alex W]

For what it's worth, there were nearly 3,000 people today and the overwhelming majority seemed to be clued into the game for the whole 90 minutes (and even those who couldn't see had a good go).

Crowds have definitely changed for the better over the past few years as day-trippers have become regular attendees.

 

[Bugpowder Dust]

Considering there are only about 2500 places where you can see the majority of the pitch, you can't really blame people with little or no view to chat with a beer.

If we could magic a big terraced shed behind each goal (like the one at Hastings for example, or smaller versions like at Tonbridge or Billericay) the change in atmosphere would be huge.

 

[El Matador]

For what it's worth, there were nearly 3,000 people today and the overwhelming majority seemed to be clued into the game for the whole 90 minutes (and even those who couldn't see had a good go).

Crowds have definitely changed for the better over the past few years as day-trippers have become regular attendees.

Glad this is your experience. Unfortunately it's definitely not mine. Wherever I stand for a game, I always end up surrounded by people who have essentially zero interest in the football.

Stood behind the goal in the second half and two different sets of people both didn't know what the score was.

I realise people pay their money and make their choice, but I do find it bizarre that so many choose to pay £13 for something they obviously don't care about.

 

[Pink Panther]

This is not a scientific sample - and depends as does much on life on your definition of “large” - but based on the 25-30yos in my office who talk about having gone to the Hamlet(s) on the weekend then yeah you do. And they all live in Clapham.

This isn’t a value judgement on whether that’s good/bad. But I don’t think you can deny its existence.

There is an element, and large could mean a few hundred (no more than 10% of the total) but then you get people making ridiculous exaggerations in moaning about it. On Saturday two blokes about my age were standing directly to my left, then during a stoppage in play shortly before half time one of them started banging on to his mate saying "50% of them aren't watching the game". (They weren't wearing colours, so I'm uncertain whether they were locals, away fans, or neutrals.) When I'm watching the game I don't really notice whether other people are watching unless they're literally right next to me, and I certainly don't start looking around the whole ground to gauge how many of 3,000 are paying attention, so my conclusion was that he can't have been paying full attention himself. Or perhaps he only noticed during the stoppage, in which case it's not that surprising people were distracted when nothing was actually happening on the pitch at that moment?

I'm sure we all sometimes get irritated by other elements of supporters at matches. Any club with a fanbase the size of ours will include groups of people with nothing in common except their support of the same club. I dare say some of them are people I'd find unbearable in other social situations, but as long as they're reasonably civilised I'd rather they were there for a few games a season and/or paying limited attention (and hopefully developing a greater commitment in the long run) than not there at all. At some clubs you get the old school moaners incessantly slagging off their own players, especially their own personal scapegoat, or you get morons more interested in goading away supporters than watching the game. On the whole I think we do quite well for not attracting the sort of people we really don't want.

I don't much care for the gentrification and social cleansing of areas like East Dulwich, and the scandalous the lack of affordable housing as a result. I spent well over a year fighting a battle against eviction from my home of 32 years in the immediate aftermath of a bereavement, having been a full time carer for several years immediately before that and therefore also having no paid employment at the time. Thankfully I won and have had a suitable new home for the past 6 years, but the whole experience severely damaged my mental health. With no remaining close family, the one thing that kept me going was matchdays and the social scene at the Hamlet, and some of the best seasons of my lifetime on the pitch. The new supporters who came on board during that time were a part of that, quite a few of them became new friends, and I don't like to see the latest generation of supporters criticised for reasons that are pretty trivial in the overall scheme of things. In many respects I preferred the East Dulwich in which I grew up in the 70s and 80s, but at least the gentrified classes have taken an interest in our venerable club over the past decade and helped re-establish it as a focal point within our community, after the older born and bred locals of my own generation had largely ignored DHFC for the previous half century. I just find it tiresome when people on here use the newcomers as a bit of a punchbag whenever something isn't as good as it might be, in this case our early season attendance figures.

 

[Al Cunningham]

Well said. I was in the stand next to 5 people eho had never been before and just moved to the area . They really got involved, commented how welcoming the club was, how great was the souvlaki and most importantly got behind the team and stood up and cheered after each goal. True they were lucky with the quality of the match but they were 5 people who had never been before who will come back and support the team.