Opinion: Worthing FC can’t succeed at this level without big numbers coming through the gates

On Tuesday night a month later, September 15, it was 1,657 watching the Rebels win a thrilling encounter, 1-0, against fellow promotees from last season Hornchurch.

Even allowing for the variables on the visiting supporters, FGR bought almost double what Hornchurch did, Worthing have still lost – hopefully only temporarily – 40% of their revered and respected fanbase in a month. How and why? There are clearly a number of factors. The importance and significance of the first NL game at Woodside would obviously have attracted some casual fans, effectively almost turning up for the occasion out of curiosity.

Also a month ago, the Premier League hadn’t started, so no ‘locals’ were watching top flight games, be it in person or on the magic stick.

Then there’s form – Worthing previous excellent performances over the last few seasons have seen attendances go through the roof, but ultimately some fans are fickle, and will flock to see a winning team, so despite some great matches prior to Tuesday, Worthing hadn’t won in the last four games, two defeats, two draws.

A school night? How many of the 3,000 plus in August were of school age, and how many did that prevent from going against Hornchurch? Armchair fans? How many on Tuesday chose to stay in and watch Liverpool and Spurs in the League Cup, or perhaps one of the other ties via the aforementioned ‘magic sticks’?

Cost was also a factor I heard mentioned in the bar pre-match on Tuesday night – two home games in four days, £22 admission each time – for some it’s tough out there at the moment.

But the bottom line is getting promoted has seen the Rebels’ playing budget significantly rise along with the day-to-day running costs at the club, and aligned to that is naturally a break-even match day attendance figure that needs to be met.

Clearly there will always be outside factors, like some previously mentioned, but ultimately for the club to continue its excellent progress both on and off the field, that figure and above has to be achieved on a regular basis.

Hopefully Tuesday was a blip, and regardless of the result at Hartlepool on Saturday come the next home game, on Saturday, September 26 versus FC Halifax Town, the crowd will be back well over the 2,000 mark, and hopefully nearer 3,000? There’s no Albion or any other EPL action that day, it’s the first weekend of a long international break, with an England game against world champions Spain not on until the Saturday night. In Adam Hinshelwood and his backroom team, Worthing have the ‘greatest dugout’ in the their history, and I firmly believe they will establish the Rebels at this level and perhaps given time take the club to the next stage, but they can’t do it without the support of the local footballing community.

It’s almost a variation on the theme of ‘Use it or lose it!’. So let’s hope crowd-wise it’s nearer Forest Green levels than Hornchurch levels at the clash with Halifax a week on Saturday?