The Crowds : Sun Feb 24, 2013 9:46 am  

We discussed this with a few guys around us, what a poor crowd last night and its only going to get worse.

I feel the kids season ticket offer was very good, so why has this not worked? Who do all the youngsters in the Keighley area support? I would think getting live sport is better than watching on tv.

I am sure the board are also worried and i can only see it going one way......

Re: The Crowds : Sun Feb 24, 2013 11:11 am  

I think last night was about what was expected. A few people were predicting 300-400, and I thought we would be lucky if we got 500, so 512 was good in my opinion. Last year we only got just over 600 on a Thursday night in May, and yesterday it was much colder, we are not doing as well and there was the effect of Bradford City.

Re: The Crowds : Sun Feb 24, 2013 12:37 pm  

This was a Saturday, yes it was cold but easier to get too than a Thursday night.

I actually like the fact the game was played on a Saturday night, is that just me then?

Re: The Crowds : Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:19 pm  

I too like friday/saturday night games apart from on the rare occasion we get a lovely sunny sunday afternoon at Cougar Park when there's nothing like a nice cold lager watching a game of rugby

The season ticket idea was well worth a try and was a good idea but lets be really honest and look at the club in general. I have been going for a long time and since having my own kiddies I have started taking my lad until recently because he would rather stay at home with his mum and the reason for this is because he is bored, actually his words "Cougars is rubbish". I am not the first fan to experience this as I know of a couple of other families that are experiencing the same the same thing. Lets face it if a new family of 4 entered Cougar Park for the first time what do we offer that will make that family think "bloody hell that was great, cant wait for the next one" In my opinion nothing. The playgroup that used to be on in the classroom and was provided by Piccolo Nursery before a game where kids could go and play on their own under proffessional supervision and do a number of activities was stopped by our Chairman, there is no club shop where a kid might want to get a little gift out of some pocket money, no flags, no balloons, no face painting, no players that aren't in the squad walking around the entrance meeting kids having a chance to get an autograph/picture or even just a chat, no real big build up to a game with a dance team or party like music. I could go on and on about this but the most important thing is the results because everyone likes to be associated with success and no one enjoys watching a losing team week in week out. There is no feel good factor about the club at the minute just a big black cloud hanging over it, I have said this numerous times for me the heart has been ripped out of the cougar brand. We are no longer different to everyone else and we are no longer the club that was loud and full of fun.

Sometimes I even find myself bored stood on the terraces and I feel we have more worrying times ahead with regards to crowds and results

Re: The Crowds : Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:08 pm  

Salford v Hull KR yesterday attracted a massive crowd of 1,989. London Broncos managed 1,887 the other week. Fair enough London isn't in the RL heartland (time to end this 'expansion' experiment nonsense) but Salford sure is and quite a few of those who attended that game will have travelled over to Lancashire from the East Riding.
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And to think they didn't want the Cougars when we were filling Cougar Park with 5,000 fans every week in the second tier back in 1995.

Re: The Crowds : Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:27 pm  

Where the hell have all them 4000 fans gone?

Re: The Crowds : Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:32 pm  

Some went to Bradford initially when Cougars were denied promotion to Super League-having won that right on the field in 1995/6.

Many would have been back long before now if there was still automatic promotion and relegation between Super league and our division (just one-up, one-down would be fine).

Those running RL in this country have a lot to answer for - they're killing the game of RL for all but the top half dozen clubs in Super League. If automatic promotion and relegation works for Soccer (including the Premier League) then it's certainly good for Rugby League.

Re: The Crowds : Mon Feb 25, 2013 4:29 pm  

Wooden Stand wrote:

Some went to Bradford initially They must be
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Those running RL in this country have a lot to answer for - they're killing the game of RL for all but the top half dozen clubs in Super League.

It's ironic isn't it. They are charged with running the whole game of RL but are interested only in the top end of the Super League and seem intent on destroying the game everywhere else (except maybe London where no-one's interested anyway).
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My 'local team' Gateshead Thunder are to play their first 'home' game of the season at Hull KR's ground on 10th March, at which time they will wear Hull KR 'insignia' on their jerseys. What kind of madness is this? Why don't they just call themselves Hull KR reserves and have done with it?

Re: The Crowds : Tue Feb 26, 2013 8:32 pm  

I remember when growing up watching the sport on Grandstand. Regal Trophy, Challenge Cup and Great Britain 3 match test series v Austraila televised to nation with the grounds packed.

For me the game is going backwards and the blame lies at the door step of Red Hall where those at the top have zero interest in anything outside super league. Even the advert in the WCC programme for this years challenge cup final only featured SL players when it should have featured a player from every team that has entered it.

Rugby League is the best sport by far to watch, but those running it are ruining it.

Re: The Crowds : Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:05 am  

Wooden Stand wrote:

Some went to Bradford initially when Cougars were denied promotion to Super League-having won that right on the field in 1995/6.

A hell of a lot went to Leeds. And a hell of a lot walked away from the game altogether.