‘I just don’t understand’ – King’s Lynn manager left baffled by drop in attendance

King’s Lynn manager Tommy Widdrington have been left baffled by a drop in the club’s attendance, speaking ahead of his side’s FA Cup game.

This is an issue being spoken more about post-lockdown with chairman Stephen Cleeve also vocal about the crowds coming through the turnstiles at The Walks.

According to Eastern Daily Press, the Linnets doubled its average home attendance to more than 1,400 three seasons ago and even last year saw 1,158 as they battled to stay in the National League. Only to drop back into the National League North is now averaging just over 800 yet they are top of the table.

Of course, being relegated plays a huge effect having not benefitted from bigger crowds against bigger opponents with bigger away followings.

What else could be the issue I wonder? The cost of living? The much talked about admission prices? The connections between the club/players and its supporters?

Tommy Widdrington said of his players: “They’re a good set of lads and they want to do well for the club and for the town and because they are doing what they are doing I’d like to think people are going to come out and watch us.

“I just don’t understand – we are at the top of a league which is one away from the National League which is viewed as the fifth professional level, and we’re a big town. There are enough people in it.

“I know Norwich is the biggest club in Norfolk but they are not playing next week at the same time as us and they are away from home so I’d like to think an FA Cup game with a chance of getting through to the first round proper – we might pull out an Ipswich if we got through – then I would like to see the place bouncing.

“I know people from Ashington and I don’t want them to come down and make a bigger noise than us.

“It’s the greatest cup competition in the world because Ashington can beat us and they can pull out Ipswich in front of 30,000 people the next week and that would change their world. So from that point of view, it is a cup final for them and it is a cup final for us – we don’t get to play in front of 20,000 every week but I would love the lads to experience that.”

King’s Lynn after getting set to take on Northern League Division One outfit Ashington in the fourth qualifying round.

“They are an experienced group of lads,” said Widdrington on a side who in the last round knocked out Bradford Park Avenue, with the North East club dropping just two points from eight games.

“Most of them have played at least the level that we’re at because Newcastle and that area is stepped in football, nearly everybody plays so at some stage the lads will have played for Gateshead or Blyth. They will be well drilled, and they have had a hell of a start to their season as well, so let’s not forget that.”

“They are an experienced group of lads,” Widdrington adds. “Most of them have played at least the level that we’re at because Newcastle and that area is stepped in football, nearly everybody plays so at some stage the lads will have played for Gateshead or Blyth. They will be well drilled, and they have had a hell of a start to their season as well, so let’s not forget that.”

After dropping ticket prices in a bid to boost the attendance for this cup tie, Stephen Cleeve has said: “The final numbers as will be too busy tomorrow to update but we now have 708 tickets sold with @Ashington_FC into 3 figures with an excellent 104. So guess the crowd – I am going for 1,148.”

Ticket prices for the game – £10 for adults and £1 for children.

An adult season ticket is set at £340 and with seat £380. Premier seating is £395. Concessions will be £300 with seat £340 and student £250, with seat £290. Under-16s is £40 standing and £150 with seat.

Adult match day tickets is £17 standing and £19 seat. Premier seating is £22. Concessions are £15/17, U16 £5/10.

KING’S LYNN ATTENDANCES FOR 22/23

Sat 13 Aug (H) – Blyth Spartans National League North – (1) 2 – 0 (0) – 886
Tue 16 Aug (H) – Brackley Town National League North – (0) 2 – 1 (1) – 733
Sat 27 Aug (H) – Leamington National League North – (1) 1 – 1 (0) – 1,022
Tue 13 Sep (H) – Alfreton Town National League North – (2) 3 – 2 (0) – 714
Sat 17 Sep (H) – Bedford Town FA Cup 2Q – (0) 1 – 1 (1) – 1,009
Sat 1 Oct (H) – Kettering Town FA Cup 3Q – (4) 6 – 1 (0) – 828
Sat 8 Oct (H) – Chorley National League North – (1) 2 – 0 (0) – 871