Under the floodlights

We have been down around 1,500 to 2,000 home fans for midweek games this season. I was one of 13,300 Addicks at the Colchester game and there were similar home numbers for Sheffield Wednesday, although that was on the box with the Bury game proving the least attractive with less than 13,000 Charlton.

However on Saturdays the Preston, Carlisle, Oldham and Notts County crowds were far better despite a similar number of visitors.

When I was a kid I used to love night games but kick-offs were earlier and clearly fans travel longer distances these days to get to SE7, I certainly do!! Also one mustn’t underestimate the pull of television. Rarely a night goes by without a big game on Sky to challenge the most loyal to get out in the cold weather.

When I was a teenager and in my 20’s, if I wanted to see a game, it was simple I had to get of my arse and get down The Valley, which probably had something to do with the often crackling atmosphere under the lights.

I hope a few more can get down to The Valley tomorrow for what could be a pivotal game in our season. Yeovil will make it hard, but it needs to be all about us and we can move back into the outside lane on the road to promotion.