weather can be too good, then they come under pressure to do other things with the family.

We need to look at history a bit too.

On 13/4/08 (our only league home game that month) we had 2,024 for a game v Featherstone (with a solid away support)

on 9/4/07 we played Dewsbury and got 1,889.

Doncaster at home in league in 2007, towards the end of the campaign, produced a crowd of 1,905.

The reality is that despite all the success on the field - we have not added a SIGNIFICANT increase in supporters who are paying and thus securing the future of the club. I suspect that as kids were "in for a quid" we probably took less money than in 2007 against higher costs (inflation). As Gateshead will bring few fans the club needs 500 new FULL PAYING fans each game as a minimum to build up income.

Although we're playing some wonderful stuff, we still haven't actually won anything, or got to a Final as yet. When this eventually happens it'll PROVE we're the real thing which will get some of the floaters back. Winning the NRC for a start would be a great kick start.

Like I have said on another post I have seen people I have not seen for years down there just of late and this Sunday I saw someone who vowed never to come back again around 6yrs since but it is new fans we need to encourage as well.I still think the away support is down as people cannot afford it following home and away.

I thought the away support at Whitehaven was fantastic...and thats one of the most costly away trips we have to make.

I know we haven't won anything, but we are now top of the league, the press is good, people around the town are talking about the rugby and we need to get people coming back, and if good press isn't bringing people back then we need to be more creative...hence my original suggestion.

Hmmmm. Rather worrying. Could be a fly in the ointment in what is turning out to be a potentially historic season for the club. How long can we sustain this squad on crowds of 2,000? Finances could be eased if we progress beyond Castleford, take the NRC and appear in the GF but long term - we need to be converting on-field success into bums on seats. What if it doesn't happen?

Keep the faith. I know for a fact that people are keeping a track of our progression. If we manage to make the grand final this year i'm sure we will be pleasantly surprised with the amount of dormant support there is actually still out there.

On top of this I feel once the east stand is finally finished the club as a whole will have a greater appeal to it somehow, it would sure look like a more complete package and a much more appealing visit from the outside.

I think this also tells a story looking at other clubs crowds this weekend and that is the Easter programme is too much for the fans, the last game of the holiday period seems like a miss for a lot of fans.
Maybe time to just play one game over the easter weekend?

we need to use this:
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I refer you to the AUP, point 1.2b[/i

Don't laugh but....

I know two lads who have been going for years. They weren't there on Sunday because, "we know that they'll win easy....".

That was someones excuse for skipping the Batley match,

That's what the Man U fans said on Sunday.

i think a lot of people don't get as excited about games like that but the players need the support if we think its an easy game or not. I'm expecting a few upsets in this league at some point and I don't think we should get complacent.

Anyway i have e-mailed the club!

When i've spoken to different people about Fax some of whom are former fans they all tend to say the same thing, and that is whats the point of going when in reality you've nothing to play for.
Franchise (sorry i mentioned the F word) has come at a bad time, with money being tight people are not getting excited enough about Fax because there is no chance of promotion. Even though i explain to them that it's part of the criteria to have played in a final they just laugh and say the whole thing is a joke.
Despite this our gates are rising at a steady pace. I think our best option is if we do manage to win something this year, hopefuly the league, and the stand finaly gets finished. The club should be able to really sell itself for next season. As for now we need to keep up the good performances on the field, because the more former and new fans that keep coming back then the more chance word will get around just what an entertaining side we are.

Winners of the Champions League. Nowt to be sniffed at



To be honest - i go primarily to watch a good game of rugby and to see my team smash other opponents. If people are so hung up on league positions then they are "floaters" anyway and cannot be relied upon for mainstay support. Bradford Bulls have a lot of these types of fans.

I think the crux of the matter is - in their eyes - we're playing tin pot teams. No disrespect to Batley and Doncaster but these aren't the big guns which people want to pay £14 to come and see. They want to see Wigan, Leeds, St Helens and the like. It's a right chicken and egg situation isn't it? We can't get into Super League until our crowds increase. We can't increase our crowds until until we're in Super League.

IMO, the Halifax population (and many other towns actually) are a shower. Sport isn't high on the agenda. There's too much competition from Sky TV, X-Boxes, Wii's and Playstations. Has anyone seen Wall:E ? We're all gonna end up like those human exiles who had to evacuate the planet and evolved into a fat "cabbage patch" like species.

Just brought this back up to the top again re`special priced entrance for other supporters with season tickets.What about going all out to target the club who are playing away at Tolouse ? The minority will go there which leaves the rest at home twiddleing their thumbs why not encourage them to come down the Shay and lets all make a special welcome for them .You never know we may get a few it`s worth a try I think.

Jonny I think thats a good idea as well... I haven't heard anything back from the club however, do you have anyone's e-mail address at the club as I think I may have sent it to the wrong place? Or could someone PM me?

i get the posters etc for matches from this add. jenna@halifaxrlfc.co.uk hope helps.

i get the posters etc for matches from this add. jenna@halifaxrlfc.co.uk hope helps.

I do think Mike reads this board and I know he or someone posts on this board from the club you could try PMing him .I know we may not get many or none when such as Whithaven play out there but it may just be a good publicity angle as we could market it as wanting to be our own fans first team and every other clubs fans second team.I know most fans have a second team mine used to be Cass and when we play away in France I will not be going so I intend to take in a game or two at any non super league side that takes my fancy. But if there was a club that activly said to me please come along to our game show your season ticket and we will knock a few quid off and make you really welcome and I thought there may just be a few other odd Fax fans I would go there.It`s worth a try just for the publicity.

i have had a response from the club thanking me for the idea...they said they may consider this for one off promotions later in the season. The club mentioned that problem will be 'reconciling the gates as they are unable to take vouchers from other season tickets'..not quite sure what they meant by this.

The good news is the players apparently have a lot of time booked at local schools for the summer term.

There was also the suggestion the current season ticket holders must be considered when doing such promotions, with which I responded to, and it seemed that current season ticket holders may have complained in the past when promotions have been on offer.

Its a modern phenomena now to go to Old Trafford, The Emirates or Anfield in football or Headingley (was Odsal or the JJB) in RL to see the 'best teams' and in 'luxury' and be associated with 'the champions or Cup winners' as nothing else gives you any bragging rights does it???
Its a lot harder supporting a poorer team as people are sporting 'snobs' and like to be able to go to work saying 'we won again this weekend' compared to 'we lost again'.
I bet we all know people who go to see football at some of the premier league clubs like Man U, Man C, Liverpool etc.. yet they won't come down to The Shay even to see Town when they were in the league!
Halifax is not unique in this.
People can support who they like fair enough, but I respect somebody more if they support their home town team (or adopted lesser team) rather than one of the 'Big Boys'.

Don't forget when local super league teams ply in catalan aswell

Can we get Orange TV on the net or anything? They could show the TL match in the bar or something?

I got the Toulouse vs Leigh game through Orange TV the other day, with a bit of technical know how i'm sure a laptop could be connected to the projector in the bar and the match then viewed on the big screen,

Not sure about the legiality of it all though

Just don't tell anybody apart from those that need to know!