Albion opt to play Friday nights

PLYMOUTH Albion will play the majority of their home matches this coming season on a Friday evening.

The club have announced today they will only play five of their 14 home games on a traditional Saturday afternoon
The rest, apart from the Leeds home game that is still to be confirmed but likely to be played over the New Year bank holiday, will be played under floodlights with 7.45pm kick offs.

Albion have an impressive record on a Friday evening.
They have only lost once in a league game on a Friday night at home – and that was a one point defeat to Bristol nearly two years ago.

But previously the club were reluctant to play more Friday games, despite their success rate, because they felt it had a negative effective on their corporate hospitality.

However, CEO Debbie Fisher said: “We have got a different mix now and there has been a bit of a swing to them (corporate clients) not minding it.

“So we are going to give it a shout.

“Friday games have been quite popular with supporters.

“It was predominantly a rugby choice.

“(Head coach) James Shanahan is keen for it. He looked at the stats over the years.

“But we have balanced that with the corporate.”

Playing more Friday night matches will avoid clashing with Plymouth Argyle.

Albion are desperate to improve their crowds after a significant drop since the Championship was founded in 2009.

The Brickfields-based club’s attendances have halved since the league was cut from a 16-side competition to the new-look 12-team Championship.

For the last two seasons, Albion have been averaging around 1,700.

The club, though, hope they can increase that to at least 2,500 next season.

“We have set a target of an average of 2,500, which is quite a step up,” said Fisher, who is hoping the weather will be kinder to Albion this season. “But we believe with the interest created by our new squad and coaching set-up our numbers will be up.”

Albion have made sure the games where visiting clubs are likely to bring large travelling support, like Bristol and the Cornish Pirates matches, are on a Saturday.

They have yet to name a date when they will play Leeds as they are waiting to see when the Pirates want to play their Christmas fixture against Albion at Mennaye Field.

Clubs can move any fixtures over the three week Christmas holiday period.

How many does Brickfields hold?

Mock Cuncher wrote:

How many does Brickfields hold?

7000 could be more, I think to play in the Premier league it 10.000 and I think Albion can do it

Tgwu wrote:

Mock Cuncher wrote:

How many does Brickfields hold?

7000 could be more, I think to play in the Premier league it 10.000 and I think Albion can do it

As with football, it's now all about money/investment at the right time.

Argyle missed the boat again after reaching the second tier. Now the current custodian seems determined to stifle any ambitions other than those of his jamboys.

Tgwu wrote:

Mock Cuncher wrote:

How many does Brickfields hold?

7000 could be more, I think to play in the Premier league it 10.000 and I think Albion can do it

it holds 8500 tgwu not 7000

Its a good move from Albion to do this IMO, Its been a problem for them having home games on the same day as Argyle so at least now fans can go to both if they want to and not have to choose so much.