The BHA as a 'Big Club' debate

[Cheeky Monkey]

Chris Cattlin was quoted back in the day as saying that we have the potential to be one of the big nine biggest clubs in the country (although which country he failed to say). At the optimistic end of the scale is the 1.2 million Sussex catchment area figure that is occasionally trotted out, and if we can't raise 20-30k crowds based on that then god help us. At the other end of the scale is the fact that, whatever you think of the 1.2m figure:
1. Sussex is not Brighton, and at the peripheral areas of the county support is lost to Pompey in the West, and London in all areas north.
2. Sussex is populated with ex-Londoners of Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham etc. persuasion, as well as the glory hunting twats we all know and love.
3. The majority of Sussex does not give a flyer about the Albion.
5. What happened to number 4.?
6. If any future stadium does not have pay on the day then crowds will suffer as Albion fans can be fickle, and although this isn't a trait exclusive to BHA fans it is a factor that can strip our fanbase down to the 8-9k hardcore that we've had in the past for the less attractive fixtures.

 

[Marc]

7. Our catchment area could've been MASSIVE.....if it was'nt for the English Channel!

 

[Stumpy Tim]

We are a small club, and I prefer it that way thank you very much. Imagine being a "sleeping giant" like Wolves or (now) Leeds, and being beaten by a little team on the south coast with no stadium. I love it

 

[Saint Lennard]

is the size of the club based on it's catchment area?

Sheff Wed are always quoted as a BIG club... but surely that is based upon stadia and club history.

We will never be a big club. Falmer doesn't lend itself to a big club. What's wrong with that?

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

is the size of the club based on it's catchment area?

Sheff Wed are always quoted as a BIG club... but surely that is based upon stadia and club history.

So as winners of the Charity Shield and FA Cup Finalists (x2)we've gotta be up there!

 

[lincs seagull]

never will be a premier league regular team but a new ground will give us a west brom size club

up and down like yo yos.

or reading the nearly but not quite

 

[pasty]

Who cares how we're perceived?

Big club, little club, sleeping giant? Couldn't care less as long as they're always there for me.

 

[perth seagull]

You're right, people in Sussex generally don't give a rats arse about the Albion. But if a club like Reading could build itself up to what it is today out of nothing, then surely there is no limit for the Seagulls.

 

[fatbadger]

We are a mid-sized club, which suits me just fine. Our average finishing position in the league since the 1958 reorganisation is 50th, and our attendances have historically been perfectly respectable, without setting the world alight.

We are NOT a big club, and I get a little tired of the idiots who think we are.