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Fans hit back at Mark Ives’ comments on National League Cup which sees low attendances

Fans hit back at Mark Ives’ comments on the newly formed National League Cup which sees low attendances on its first round of group matches.

The first set of National League Cup matches were played on Tuesday night, and as you can imagine, the attendances very low compared to the average clubs get this season.

National League General Manager Mark Ives talks glowingly of it, fans disapprove, as you can see with the crowd numbers below…

Oldham Athletic 2-1 Stoke City U21 – 455
FC Halifax Town 1-2 Newcastle United U21 – 292
Gateshead 1-0 Middlesbrough U21 – 253
Woking 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 227
Ebbsfleet United 2-2 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 213
Maidenhead United 2-0 Fulham U21 – 210
Dagenham & Redbridge 5-5 Tottenham Hotspur U21 – 184
Wealdstone P-P Southampton U21

General Manager Mark Ives had his say ahead of the National League Cup getting underway this week, claiming it was exciting time for member clubs, despite many clubs declining an invitation to take part in the controversial competition.

He said to the Non League Paper: “We’re very much looking forward to the opening night, and kicking off what we know will be a very worthwhile competition.

“An enhanced games programme that enable you to participate against clubs at a senior level – both Premier League and EFL clubs.

“It will give the opportunity for our management teams to mix with managers they don’t normally see, it will give an opportunity for players to get first team experience where maybe they were on the fringe previously.

“Of course we need to make sure it is financially viable and beneficial for the clubs. That was always the key. When you piece it all together it makes it a viable proposition to give it a go.”

He also made it clear the stance of his on FA Cup replays, after the Football Association confirmed the decision to get rid of replays from the First Round Proper, with games to go straight to extra time and potentially penalties in the competition proper from the 2024-25 season onwards.

“We’ve never gone against replays, we’ve never voiced a view with regards to that,” he added.

“We have an understanding of the challenges that face the professional game with regard to the fixture calendar the higher up you go.

“We understand that. It was a decision that was made because of that challenge at the top level of the game.

On people people drawing a conclusion when they are not privy to what went on: “The FA Cup is a fantastic competition. When you change the position and the way it works, it is a very emotive subject.”

As mentioned, fans hit back at Mark Ives’ comments on the National League Cup which sees low attendances on its first round of games played…

@heyit5sam: Surely clubs made big losses?! Payments for catering, drinks, stewards, matchday staff etc. Numbers for next game need to be even less

@charles_colin: Joke of a competition, benefit of Prem teams kids. Bring back FA Cup replays if Prem want matches.

@ChorleyPaulC: Wonder what he’ll say when the 2 finalists in The National League Cup are teams that aren’t in The National League?

@78ajs: Hope you got to see some premier league stars of the future tonight Mark! Attendances were shite, risking future fixture congestion and problems on poor pitches, chance of injury and suspension of first team players. Once appearance, goal, clean sheet bonuses are paid on top of stewarding and matchday running costs it’s probably not really worth their while for what was given away by you, but as long as you had a good night Mark, well done to all clubs & fans who fu@ked it off👍🏻

@DaggerPaul78: Worthwhile for your pocket you mean

@Dragonfly293: Read the room, attendances so low clubs losing more revenue than they will ever possibly win. Scrap it now before you bankrupt clubs. Terrible idea that no real NL fan wants 👎

@oaphotography1: I can’t help but think that if the National League wanted a competition like this, they could just have well bunged NL/NLN/NLS together and done a traditional League Cup… would have gathered more interest than this…

@ChrisJStott19: 455 at Oldham, crowd (if you can call it that) over 90% down on a normal game. Also picked up unnecessary injuries. The “competition” is a farce and should be scrapped immediately

@Ben_YCFCsankey: How were ppl with a straight face while in the room listening to this

@TrailOfDebt: How are you always so wrong about absolutely everything, Ives? It’s an incredible skill.

@KrasnyiDJW: Utter sham of a competition. Rejected by all true non-league supporters. Resign.

@CornerMoaners: Less than 100 turned up to watch Woking vs Brighton tonight. Apparently a worth while competition ? Not sure who for though

@Dan_Smith_esq: Read the room Mark! No one wants this competition … unlike FA Cup replays which we all want. You’ve sold us out

@th3reddot: “very worthwhile” my fucking arse

@GRTourist: Reckon a good percentage of those will be groundhoppers trying to tick off a ground on the cheap

@SibsMUFC: I haven’t bothered to look at the fixtures but if there’s games in December or January we will probably see sub 100 crowds. Good. No to B teams.

@AFCHalifax2006: That says alot about what the fans think

@EdwinPo10198306: These U21 teams should NOT be anywhere near this farce. Same as in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. They have their own tournament..that’s where they should stay. But again the suits at the @TheVanaramaNL and @EFL know what there doing…!!

@charliefewster: Shame on all those who attended these games!!

@RealRodneyClam: Shame on anyone who attended

@ShaymenHXFC: Very worthwhile to the premier league overlords maybe? You can shive this competition up your fucking asses, none of us want this and everyone thag agreed is killing our sport.

@BAKinEnglish: That sends out a very strong message. Well done everyone for staying away. Let’s make sure it continues.

@Alfie_e7: Poor from those who went

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