New fans so important for the future of football clubs

In his weekly Your Local Paper column, Mark Hearle talks about why attracting the next generation of fans to football clubs is so important.The wonderful, sunny weather at the end part of last week encouraged some to shed a layer of clothing to enjoy the sun’s spring rays right across the area, revealing, in some cases, their chosen preference for football support.I saw the usual array of Manchester clubs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Norwich and a Peterborough United shirt amongst both those probably a bit too old to kick a ball around now, and those who certainly are.What I didn’t see was the colours of any of our local teams being worn with pride among either age group which was disappointing to a degree, especially the youngsters who were enjoying a kickaround and using their jumpers for goalposts.I know that a couple of weeks ago the Linnets held their Academy day when a host of their team’s sides were invited along to The Walks to enjoy the afternoon’s Conference North action whilst providing a noisy backdrop at the same time.This is, of course, a fantastic initiative and one that should be encouraged at every opportunity so full marks to the club for doing it.The hope will be that some of these youngsters will become the likes of Lynn and Downham Town’s supporters of the future because without them any club will struggle to survive. This isn’t a local problem either with other clubs at non-league level, struggling to encourage their supporters of the future into football grounds at an early age. I must admit I didn’t start attending matches at The Walks regularly until my mid-teens when then the crowds were around the 250 mark and the support seemed senior.It probably wasn’t as old as it seemed but unfortunately, now a few of those I used to sit with and watch a game, as well as have a joke or two as well, have sadly departed for pastures new.It is for that very reason that clubs, especially at non-league level, must act to bring their average age of supporters down and ensure that a cycle of support is maintained for the seasons that at present, are in the very distant future. This is no easy task and I know that on a few occasions in the past Lynn have attempted to get out and about in schools to bang the drum for The Walks outfit with varying degrees of success.It is something that needs patience and time to first establish a link between school and club and then to see the full benefits of any such scheme further down the line. A quick fix it certainly isn’t and that is probably why those attempts to implement these initiatives have failed to date.Of course the main reason we don’t see as many of those ‘jumper for goalposts’ moments now is because the youngsters have so many other choices of entertainment which have taken preference over playing or watching football. For me, it’s vitally important that this chain is broken quickly because if it isn’t the terraces at some of our favourite local grounds will be even emptier than they are now.The rollercoaster that is King’s Lynn Town’s National League North season had an upward trajectory again at the weekend following the fine 1-0 away success at fellow play-off chasing Buxton.For the neutral, the league this season is a dream if you love uncertainty, inconsistency and frustration in equal measure.Just when you think Lynn appears to be falling away from the chance of extending their season they pop up with an outstanding win, other teams around them stumble and they are back in the mix with just six regular season fixtures to play.It’s been a season like no other and it’s still almost impossible to make any kind of prediction as to where the Linnets will finish the season. However, as I see it I think the best they can probably finish would be fifth place, meaning a home play-off quarter-final, although realistically sixth or seventh looks to be more of a possibility, which would see an away game.However there are flies in the ointment in the shape of both Curzon Ashton and Spennymoor Town, well, you just knew there would be, didn’t you?Both have two games in hand over the Linnets, and both have a much better goal-difference record.If Curzon wins both of their games they move ahead of Lynn by five points and if Spennymoor wins their games they will be level on points but with that better goal difference. So at present, the Linnets’ hopes are out of their control and they will be hoping for the other two teams to slip to allow them last-gasp entry to the play-off lottery.Town journey to Leamington on Saturday to face a team who have made a pretty good fist at their first season back at Step 2.It’s always a difficult place to play if you’re the away team but Adam Lakeland knows that for his team now it’s about picking up as many points as possible from their last six games and seeing how things look afterwards.The scenario of six cup finals has never been more true. Finally today I noticed over the weekend that Macclesfield have already won automatic promotion from the Northern Premier Division meaning if the Linnets fail to gain promotion this season a certain Robbie Savage will be visiting The Walks next season in National League North.That in itself will certainly create a warm atmosphere, even if the game is played in the deepest December.The Hearle World returns in two weeks after a short break.