Attendances at the Abbey Stadium are up this season - and not just slightly - as the Cambridge public get behind John Taylor and his side at the start of their League campaign.
The average for the first four matches of this season is 4,436 compared with 3,513 for our opening four League matches in Division Two last season, an increase of 26%.
This figure looks even better when you discover that when we won promotion to Division Two in 1998/99 attendances for the first four games on the campaign averaged 2,992, and you have to go all the way back to the opening four games of the 1992/93 campaign to find a better start to the season as far as gates are concerned.
That 1992/93 season, our last in Division One, saw an average gate of 5,142 from opening home fixtures against Charlton, Birmingham, Brentford and Sunderland.
John Taylor has been delighted with the increase, commenting, "Of course we want to get some more people coming and watching and more kids coming to watch and get involved in the Football Club, but at this time it's a big 'thank you' to the people who have already turned up.
"If we can entertain them and keep them here, and should we keep on averaging between 4,000-4,500 during the season, obviously I'll be delighted and the people here who look after the money will be pleased as well.
"It takes just a little bit of the pressure off the Football Club. Another 1,000 people paying their money to come in brings in a little bit of extra money that we definitely wouldn't have had if we had started poorly, so thank you very much for coming in - keep coming, and tell your mates because every penny obviously helps!"
Secretary Andrew Pincher said, "It's a tremendous show of faith in the present management team and also of support for the Football Club. It's a magnificent response from the supporters who have rallied round at a difficult time and hopefully it will continue as the season goes on.
"The South Stand has enabled us to have a greater degree of flexibility; there has been no need to implement the membership scheme and, so far, no games have been made all ticket and that's also a reflection on why crowds have been up."
PR Manager Graham Eales commented, "In the wake of the country's interest in England's World Cup exploits, it is heartening that the Cambridge public is responding to the Club's plea to support United at this crucial time."
The upward trend is indeed set to continue with home matches against York City and Wrexham coming up. York are the surprise package of the season so far and are sure to provide attractive opposition, while the game against Wrexham on Saturday, October 5th will be a Family Day.
That Wrexham match will see the Club looking to build on the success of last season's event, which was held on the final day against Tranmere Rovers. Group bookings, which proved extremely popular last season, will again be welcomed but it is suggested that tickets are booked in advance. Tickets go on sale on September 23rd and the prices are £1 for under-16s and £5 for adults for all parts of the ground.
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Previous Main Features:
08Aug02 - What's In Store? A Look At The Season Ahead
12Jul02 - Harwood: There's Good And Bad News
14May02- Summer At The Abbey Stadium
02May02- Family Day A Huge Success
21Apr02 - Fans Groups Call For Direct Action
06Apr02 - League Chairman Thanks Fans For Support
30Mar02 - ITV Digital - Crowd Statistics & Viewing Figures
24Mar02 - LDV Vans Trophy Final Photo Feature
17Mar02 - Follow The U's To Cardiff!
10Mar02 - Away Day Blues
03Mar02 - The Best Of The Best?
24Feb02 - The Future of Football?
17Feb02 - U's Fans On Sky TV's Soccer AM
10Feb02 - U's Fans Feature On ITV Digital Quiz
02Feb02 - A Week In The Life of PR Manager Graham Eales
20Jan02 - U's Players Get Darth Vader Treatment
13Jan02 - Kit Carson Explains His 'Head of Talent Development' Role
05Jan02 - Dale Brooks Enjoying New Role
04Dec01 - U's Players Try Out Premiership Physio Machine
10Nov01 - U's Launch New Away Kit
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