Not that we've ever had massive gates but IMO there are no doubt a whole host of reasons as to why people have stopped going over the years ranging from personal finances, the standard of football, the lack if investment in the team, other outside interests, family, ticket prices, work without even going into the other things on offer for families or the yoof of today to do, some of which they don't even have to leave the house to do. I'm sure there's more than a few that I've forgotten to. It's a tough market and Gills have to make themselves as attractive and accessible as possible, as we've discussed many a time on here our ticketing system is certainly is not that.
The one thing that is certain is that it is damn sight easier to lose supporters than it is to get them back on a regular basis. When I had a ST if I couldn't go I struggled to give my seat away. There is an apathy around the Medway towns for the club and how that's changed I'm not sure, but the first place to start is by getting a winning team on the pitch consistently and showing ambition and potential, not just by talking about it, something that the Chairman has been good at over recent years.
I had a ST for 27 years up til 3 years ago but due to family and work commitments I couldn't justify the financial outlay, especially when I wasn't enjoying going and a lot of the time coming home from games more pissed off or stressed than I was before I went. The enjoyment factor had gone.
What could the club do to get me back regularly and buy a ST?Currently not a lot, as I work most Saturdays I can't commit to the financial or time taken up by having one. I've got to about 8-10 games a season for the last 3 seasons, but that's when it's been convenient for me and I can afford it or have nothing else on but if they opened up a cash turnstile on matchday they'd probably get me through it 3 or 4 times more a season.