Central District Bulldogs call for fans to back the club to avoid cuts to junior programs
CENTRAL District is urging fans to help boost match crowd numbers or risk losing the Bulldogs’ junior development program, which connects with 20,000 youths.
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CENTRAL District is urging fans to help boost match crowd numbers or risk losing the Bulldogs’ junior development program, which connects with 20,000 youths.
The program may be cut from 2016 if game day attendance numbers do not increase.
Crowd numbers for Bulldogs games at Playford Alive Oval have dropped from about 3000 to 2200 over the past three seasons.
The club believed the downturn was due to the team’s on-field performance, the retirement of several high-profile players, the availability of other entertainment options, and more people working weekends, being time-poor or having families.
What do you think the Bulldogs should do to boost crowds next year? Leave your comment below.
The club won nine premierships between 2000 and 2010 but its dominance faded in the following years and the team failed the make the finals in 2014.
Club chief executive Kris Grant said Central District, like many SANFL clubs, were doing it tough financially and it needed more supporters, both local and from opposition clubs, at its home games.
“Very simply, if our income doesn’t improve over the next year, we are going to have to make drastic cuts,” he said.
“And the next area that we’ll cut will have to be development, which is spending money on youth in the area.
“That’s something we don’t want to do but if things continue to take that path they’re taking, then I would suggest when we sit down and do our 2016 budget, that’s where cuts will be made.”
Mr Grant said the club spent about $300,000 a year on junior development programs, such as its summer football academy for under 15 players, school visits, school holiday clinics and development squads.
About 20,000 under 18 footballers are involved in the programs each year.
“We’re not just here to fill league and reserve sides – we fill 18s and 16s and we develop players,” Mr Grant said.
Mr Grant said if the programs were cut young football stars of the future would have less opportunity to break into the SANFL and AFL.
This would mean junior players from the northern suburbs, Gawler and the Barossa would miss out on an important football launch pad.
Mr Grant urged the community to support the club by turning out in force during the 2015 season.
“If we want to be successful again, we need support,” he said.
The club is also encouraging people to sign up as members for 2015.
The Bulldogs hope to get to 3000 members next year, up from 2135 this year.
Membership numbers at the club have remained between 2100 and 2500 since 2009.
The club wanted to match the membership figures of other clubs, such as the Sturt Football Club, which has 3000 members and Norwood Football Club, which has 4000.
What do you think the Bulldogs should do to boost crowds next year? Leave your comment below.
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