When I was a lad (late fifties, early sixties) schools used to get an allocation of free complimentary match tickets given out on a first come basis.(but I cant remember if there was a section of HP set aside for the kids with these tickets.)
Does this not happen anymore? because it would certainly be a great inducement, especially if it meant an accompanying parent bought a ticket.

Any kid at primary school had the option to get a FREE season Ticket, take up was crap.

Where have you been fella this offer was rejected by the great Leigh public before the season started, not another rip van leyther

The problem here is a generation gap thing. How many on here went to their first games because they went with one of their parents beacause if your Mum/Dad/Guardian were going to the match "well you can take him/her with you n all" was the cry? I wager the majority.You went initially because you had to but then soon got hooked. In the early days you were carried over the turnstyles so it was still free for you. Then it became a family thing with you , your dad and your son/daughter going aswell. Most of the town were born and bred here and rugby league was in the blood.

Nowadays parents of a certain age cannot be ar$ed due to either not being from the town/no interest in rugby/not in the 'habit' of going/economical situation and so even with free season tickets for kids they dont want to go so the kids dont.These are the people (alongside the kids) that we need to be targetting. Interest in playing rugby is still in abundance but why do only 4 from 16 from my lads under 14's team go regularly to watch Leigh? Its because 3 out of 4 of their parents are still regular attendees to the match.

What I am getting at that Leighs status as a rugby league town with rugby league people in it is diminishing and diminishing fast. We have out of towners coming to live here (I have no issues with this) because it is easy access to the East Lancs road/motorway network to get to work in Liverpool/Manchester. The families with money coming into the area are not rugby league families, the families staying here maybe are but dont have the money.

We HAVE to make it as attractive and affordable a package as possible on matchday.We HAVE to convert and entice the 'non-rugby league families/people' (like trainee lobbygobbler)whilst making it affordable to those who are. We HAVE to make it affordable.

Do we currently have family tickets on offer? (I think not but stand to be corrected). This is a MUST and must be a maximum of £20 for 2 adults and 2 kids which as the younger kids [ican[/i get in for free already this is a tenner per adult).

School 'tokens' should be free kids with an adult paying a tenner.

Admission prices overall MUST be lowered to £10 standing or sitting.I know of half a dozen people who both at Hilton Park and LSV did/do not visit because of the price even though they love going to watch Leigh Centurions.How many do you know? I bet us reading this board could between us name over 100, which is potentially 200 if they were to bring one child with them.

Youths upto 16 should be free a fiver for under 18's, maybe even £8 for under 21's. The 14's and upwards come themselves and we must hook them and entice them to keep coming so that they get it in their blood and in a few years time when they are married and have children this blood can be transferred into their siblings.

Catering prices MUST be lowered. When and if you are making your first visit to the LSV stadium you do not want anything putting you off returning.

We MUST continue the good work in the community and schools but placing an even greater emphasis and focus on this.

We MUST try to utilise the huge empty spaces outside the LSV to cater in some small way for the kids.

I dont accept this 'we cant afford to do this' attitude/statement as if we do not do something soon the decline WILL continue.

I know most of the above has maybe been mentioned before and it is a difficult task that remains ahead for those connected and associated with LC and LSV but I want to see some action.

WE HAVE TO CONVERT, PERSUADE AND ENTICE.

(Steps down from the soapbox)

Good post, just to pick up on this bit.

I’ve often thought that the club should do a deal with the local estate agents, and Barrett’s or whoever else is building new homes in the town, and give to out of towner’s some kind of “Welcome to Leigh Package”.

Some thing along the lines of, buy one adult season ticket the rest of the family get a free one, they also get a Mug for each family member, a Car sticker, 10% off of any item purchased in the club shop.

Hopefully next season they come back

Agree in principle, but then what has happened to all those kids who got thrown over the turnstyle, i was 1 of them and guess what i'm still going and my son comes with me every game, and has since he was 5 or 6, if u were hooked u still should be,my lad goea to school in Wigan, every time they are allowed to wear their own clothes, its aleigh kit and proud, ridiculing bothers him not,leyther and proud come on u LEYTHERS

Good point, but generations die/move on etc..

It has become less and less in the blood.

I think alternative choices is a factor as in my teens there were not many other alternatives/distractions.

This has changed.

We still have to target new generations and the new outside blood.

GLOW makes a great point/suggestion and one I have not personally heard before.

I am one of the 'thrown over the turnstyles' as was my lad and we still both go. I guess we are now in the minority rather than the majority as it was a couple of decades back.

How much would it cost to canvas/question the reasons why folk dont go to the match anymore in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley town centres? How long would it take to knock on every door in Leigh with a short questionaire?

1. Have you heard of Leigh Centurions Rugby League Club?(a. Yes b. No)
2. How often do you/family/children watch Leigh Centurions (a. regularly b. occasionally c. once or twice a season d. Never)
3. When was the last time you watched them (a. This season b. Last season c. In the nineties d. In the eighties e. Any other.)
4. Why did you stop going? (a. Price b. Poor Team c. Too old d. other reason e. Never started)If other then why?
If never started what might make you start?
5. What could the club/LSV do to tempt you back/to come along and watch the Leigh Centurions?

I bet there would be a few who would offer their services for nothing or maybe enticed to help with the offer of one hospitality package or at least a family match ticket for each volunteer.

We can all speculate and gossip as to the reasons why people do not go to the rugby at all/anymore (I have speculated based on a small survey of friends and local knowledge)but until we ask them we will never know for sure.

Once we know these answers we can then set up a structured, disciplined, marketing strategy to help make Leigh Centurions achieve the success we are all craving for on and off the pitch.

I for one would volunteer for free as at the moment I have nothing else better to do!

As The Watcher has said many times before "let allu16`s in for free with or without an adult,its so simple yet it is the whole future.

I can understand the concept but too many scrotes 14-16 bracket who would not enhance the matchday experience.

FOC to junior schools, great idea badly sold, YES you do need to sell freebies.12-16 playing sport, ie club member, £10 ticket £5 of which is retained by their club, photo needed in both the above. The clubs/schools would sell it with LRL's support, ie player visits/adoption
12-16 not attached to a club, £10.

Very good point, we gave free admission to Juniors for our TV game against Widnes the other week. Had to endure fairly large groups of 13-16 year olds, within these groups maybe one or two lads were interested in the game, the rest of the 'boys & girls' were just making a nuisance of themselves.
Now nothing, and I do mean nothing would ever stop me from going to watch my team, however if I was a new spectator at my first game and had to endure the scrotes running around like that I would not be returning.
To be fair on the night in question i gripped a couple of them and their face was a mixture of shock and down right fear, enjoyed rest of the game event free!! Not condoning my behaviour

My point, your reality and I believe a problem at Widnes a few seasons back.

Widnes STILL get the support though.

We have to find out why people do not attend. We can carry on speculating till we are blue in the face but no-one can say for sure and I mean no-one until this is thoroughly investigated.

Little expense will provide grand knowledge and understanding.

Talking to a lifelong Leigh supporter/sponsor yesterday, he asked if I still went, he said cant justify the time to watch now stating no promotion, poor entertainment and a lack of interest anymore, although this would change if in SL.
He has other things more enjoyable on sundays now.
This confirms a number of things, mainly 1. We must be aware that we are in the entertainment industry 2. We must be creative in overcoming the apathy caused by the franchising of SL .

I must admit, this season we’ll only be going to a limited number of away games, previous seasons went to most.

I’d like to think it’s because I’ve got plenty to do at home, so I need to utilise the time, but in the back of my mind I can’t help but think would I have gone if there was more to play for?

The other issue is, I quite enjoyed last Sunday, bit of gardening, then sitting in the shed having a beer whilst listening the Rugby on the radio, will this become a habit and next season I miss home games as well.

I haven't been to an away game for ages and I'm picking my home games this season. Bought a season ticket last season in the hope we'd be ultra competitive with the signings of Moran, Doran and TKL in particular. I've got other interests outside of RL as much as I love the club and I don't feel we're getting our money's worth these days.

Too many false dawns puts people off and the club is marketed and promoted poorly and has been for years. I'm not laying that at anyones door because money is tight but I keep on saying it. I'll never stop going completely but it would take a lot to get me to go every game like I used to a few years ago.

a lad who used to come to games with us has not been yet this season he said he has lost interest since there is no promotion

I agree with most of what has been posted but times have changed



Most people of Maurice's age was kicked out by mum and dad (who had grafted all week) was told to take the kids out for the afternoon , and that was probably to make sure he came home



I've had many Sunday dinnertimes sat outside the Church Inn in the back of a car with a bottle of Coke and a bag of plain crisps



Dad was always taking us to Belle Vue Zoo but I always ended up over the turnstiles and watching the Comics again , We did make it to the zoo one summer and I'd change eveything to have a full house again every match



My opinion is that since 1980ish the licencing laws changed and gone was the days were the pubs closed at 2pm and clubs at 3 and anyone wanting a drrink after that all roads led to Hilton Park for a 3-30 ko and the match



Maurice is a lot older than me but he probably had similar experiences

I have made this point many times on these boards , times have changed , we as a club need to change all the time to keep up , like all businesses , if you stand still you are going backwards

Just turned 31 (caughs and splutters ) ish

Excellent thread this and many correct points.

I went to Saints games from 5 up until I was 30 [3 years ago then I moved up here and decided to follow Leigh. The problem i found with letting loads of kids in is it becomes a Youth Club, Knowsley Road is just full of teenagers getting off with each other every chance they get, they arent interested in the rugby its just a place to meet so your not going to get them into Rugby.