Some say the real strength of English football is the depth of its support. The four-figure crowd reaches further below the pyramid than anywhere else. If nothing else, British gaming is culturally strong.
Wycombe Wanderers are second in League One after 25 games. Head coach Matt Bloomfield’s reputation is growing every week, and the story of Chairman’s star forward Richard Cohen, the conference’s second-leading scorer, is told almost as often as he puts the puck in the net.
Yet Tuesday night’s crucial game at home to Huddersfield Town, who sit seven points behind them in fourth but are unbeaten, revealed something. This was an important game for both teams, but it didn’t feel like one. Adams Park is quiet and cold. The occasion, the team, the environment, the situation, the fans there – it all deserves better.
Will the low gate hinder Wycombe?
Without any additional context, there isn’t much reason to suggest that low attendance would affect the results. The very fact that Wycombe occupies an automatic promotion spot proves the lie of that idea. But the feeling echoing in the wintry silence of Buckinghamshire is that the circumstances of the season may still be at play.
The Huddersfield manager has noticed it too. After his side’s 1-0 win, Michael Duff noted the challenge it posed for his own side: “It feels a bit subdued because the stadium is pretty quiet.”
Duff and others didn’t believe a crowd of just over 4,000 would have given the Terriers the win. Herbie Kane’s magnificent volley won them the game. Marty Pearson’s outstanding defensive performance won them the game. Jacob Chapman’s three saves in the second half won the game for them. But it’s hard to escape the thought that Wycombe need twice as many voices to back them up after conceding.
Wycombe has scored 50 goals in 25 games this season, nine more than any other player in Division One. They are two points behind leaders Birmingham and 13 points ahead of the first team outside the play-offs. Their average home attendance of 5,184 is better than only Crawley Town, Stevenage and Burton Albion. That’s about half the league average.
Exploring the reasons behind this disparity is not a criticism of the football club or its supporters. After all, supporters are the ones who are out there and making their voices heard every week.
But Wycombe’s new owner must believe there is untapped potential in the town of more than 127,000 people, just as he sees the potential in Wycombe’s location, management and players to sustain a return to the Championship.
Even for a big game on a cold night in the first week of January, attendance is expected to be below average. Games are televised and there’s no way people can afford to pay for every game, let alone so soon after Christmas.
Wycombe’s average attendances are up on last season but down on the previous two seasons – the cost of living crisis and football’s struggles may be worth watching.
High Wycombe is close to London and owner Mikheil Lomtadze plans to capitalize on the Chairman’s long-standing presence at the ground, but it’s hard not to think about the thousands of potential supporters watching. Possible loss to Capital City club.
This is still a young club in the majestic football league. Wycombe has not enjoyed much support from generations.
That’s what Birmingham City’s leaders did. They are averaging 26,775 points per game this season. Huddersfield did the same; the average attendance at the John Smith’s Stadium was 18,533. Wrexham, who sit third between Wycombe and Huddersfield, have averaged attendances of 12,869 since moving into the third tier, which could be higher if venues allow.
Wycombe’s results are excellent and it would be inaccurate to cover a half-empty stadium in a promotion game and assume this will be an issue, but there didn’t seem to be enough of a crowd to provide a spark when Bloomfield’s side faced it on Tuesday .
If these four teams, along with Barnsley (average 12,587 points) and Reading (12,287 points), compete for promotion, one of them will be at a disadvantage.
How that plays out remains to be seen. Whether Wycombe plans to have peach fruit on the cheeks of his seat is anyone’s guess. But this is a very good Class A team, and another piece of Chairman’s history is within reach. This is cause for celebration.
At the very least, it’s worth a look.
