Fisher consider Friday night football to bring in the crowds

FISHER joint-manager Martin Ford says experimenting with Friday night football should bring the crowds back to the club.



The Kent League club, based at Dulwich Hamlet’s Champion Hill Stadium, play their midweek home games on Monday nights and Ford believes the club should also play on Friday night’s to bring in extra support.

Non-league football clubs’ attendances always suffer during midweek, especially with the vast choices that armchair supporters can pick from, from the comfort of their own living room.

Dartford and Ebbsfleet United sometimes play their Conference Premier matches on a Friday night – when they are chosen by Premier Sports, who screen live matches in that division.

But Ford believes crowds would come and watch his side if Fisher stage Friday night football.

“Why has no club at our level tried Friday night football instead of Saturday?,” asked Ford.  “Certainly could bring the crowds back.”

Club secretary Dan York backed Ford’s suggestion, but it would need the co-operation of the opposing club to bring the kick-off forward a day.

“Personally, I like Monday’s.  I started going to the Fish to watch the Monday night games so maybe I am biased,” replied Mr York.

“There are very few games on Wednesday’s, most clubs go for Tuesday, so we may well also pick up ground hoppers if we went for Wednesdays.

“We could definitely look at Friday’s too,” he added.  “I think we would want to pick the games, eg when Millwall are at home the following day.

“It is also far, far easier to get volunteers along in good time before kick-off on a Saturday.  Something for the AGM this summer, maybe?

“In the run-up to Christmas I am very keen to move games away from Saturday’s, either Friday or Sunday, because crowds are absolutely shocking in December.”

The move to Friday night football would certainly be supported by supporters of other clubs.

Most clubs in the area play their games on Tuesday night’s, for example, Bromley or Cray Wanderers could be at home on the same night as Holmesdale or Greenwich Borough, less than a mile away at Oakley Road.

Visit Fisher’s website: www.fisherfc.co.uk