meast

Back in the 90's Huddersfield were always one of the better supported sides outside the first division/SL, despite our troubles in the 80's we increased our crowds from around 350/400 to over 2,000 by the early 90's. We were averaging around 2500-3000 in the old 2nd division and averaged around 3500 when we won promotion in 1998 and around 3000 when we last won promotion in 2002. Not bad considering our attendances rarely got over 4 figures for over a decade, compared with Leigh for example who had experienced relative success and already had a hardcore fan base around 2500-3000 for most of the last 40 years.

I know that feeling, it's been like that at Huddersfield the last few times we've played Leigh

10,131 I think it was given as. Around 250 Huddersfield, which isn't too bad for a Thursday night in awful weather.

Not quite the 7000 they were hoping for but I attended the street festival outside the stadium in freezing temperatures with heavy snow falling, that surely will have put loads off. Still almost 6,000 is not bad considering we were struggling to get 4,000 for the last few years.

Indeed, 3000 from anywhere in the current climate would be a great effort

Huddersfield are hoping/planning for over 7500 with possibly 3,000 from Humberside, but as you say, the weather could put a lot off.

Toulouse FC were also playing I believe. Real shame for Olympique.

Huddersfield don't get judged on how many people we have or don't have but how many empty spaces we have, unfortunately apart from becoming one of the best supported teams overnight there's nothing we can do about it. I've said before, put our crowds in any other ground and we wouldn't get half as much stick about our apparent lack of fans.

Where have I said that? Maybe read what I wrote?

Giants looking/hoping for 7500-8000

There are no tangible restrictions here, only a covid pass is needed to enter public places including the stadium last night. There were no refreshments inside the ground but a couple of vans selling food and drinks around the perimeter. It was all sadly very low key yet the bars around Toulouse were all very busy watching rugby union and football. 5,000 is extremely generous, I would have guessed around 3,000 max. Is there a reason why they can't play at Minimes?

I was pointing out that people, especially on here believe that Salford, as well as Huddersfield, Wakefield, sometimes Hull KR , sometimes Castleford, "bring nothing to the game" and should be replaced by the likes of York, Newcastle, Toulouse, Toronto, etc who, in my eyes offer even less than the aforementioned existing SL clubs, whatever "bring" and "offer" is supposed to mean.

In fairness, last year was a complete write off, we needed Watto to sift through the squad and to completely rebuild the culture, but off the field, there was nothing. We were still under some covid restrictions and so any activities inside and outside the stadium were very limited, it was a case of get 2021 over with. When Leigh came, it was very low key, just like it was when Wigan, Salford, Catalans, Hull KR, Wakefield etc came. The rope walk pub shut down during the early part of the pandemic and has never reopened, all the other pubs around the ground have all gone, the only bar on site is the legends, which on a matchday is run by the Huddersfield Giants Supporters Association (HGSA) for it's members and for Giants fans who donate to us. On occasion we do let away fans in, that Leigh game was one such occasion, we were limited to 50 people inside which is why access was poor, we are run by volunteers as I'm sure LISA are and we could only do our best. The game was the last of the season and by that time most people were looking forward to 2022 and the game was almost irrelevant to most people, Leigh travelled in good number but 2 coachloads rocked up and most of them wanted a drink or two. Most Leigh fans were excellent, understanding and pragmatic and were happy to donate to enter, but some were just complete tools and expected to just waltz in and be given red carpet treatment. Hopefully it will be a bit more vibrant on your next visit

Precisely my take on it. Which is why it baffles me when people suggest we should remove established clubs and replace them with clubs who are doing good things but are nowhere near the level they need to be.

Yeah and that club was ultimately proven to have been built on sand, covid or not, it was never going to work out in the longer term, as much as people, including me at first wanted it to. Salford would get 1500-2000 in the championship if they were competing, but they aren't in the championship they're in super league and are there on merit so I guess, we'll have to guess?

Well, as long as everyone enjoys it and Giants win then it's all good

All the talk about the last few years has been about how the likes of Toronto, Toulouse, Newcastle, York should replace Huddersfield, Salford, Wakefield etc in SL as apparently these clubs don't "offer anything" Yet, going by this thread, if Toulouse get less than 4,000 then all 3 clubs would have attracted less than 6,000 fans between them, hardly a new world order is it? Hopefully there'll be a good, vibrant atmosphere at Toulouse on Saturday evening.

Giants are also doing something similar this year with a street festival with a DJ, live acts, bars etc hopefully it will be a success and we can attract a whole wad of new fans?

They've certainly got an identity crisis and certainly come a long way (well, not geographically speaking) since the days of dancing in the streets of Llantsantfraidd

So is Emley, but they just moved the game to Sunday so all good

Despite the media and lots of "mainstream" football fans thinking otherwise, the FA Cup starts this weekend, 348 teams contesting the extra preliminary round. Why not get to your local club and support them? I'll be watching Emley hopefully beating Congleton Town and earning a trip to City of Liverpool.

I've tried to get tickets for the Spakenberg derby before, it's looks like a right knees up! The funny thing is, that both teams usually fill their grounds for derby days but usually get a few hundred watching them, they both indulged in a bit of "one-upmanship" over the years, trying to outdo each other with bigger, more, impressive stands

English football model down to a T sadly

It's not to go anywhere, it's to keep possession and stop the opposition from having the ball and potentially hurting you, soccer snobs may believe it's the greatest thing to happen to the game and think it's the right or only way to play, but to me, it's defensive and negative.

Most of the football at the top levels is walking now isn't it? Apart from the odd scuttle to catch a misplaced pass from one of the many that get played around the back 8