Welsh Football – What a load of empty seats

Five years ago Wales were the self-proclaimed ‘best supported side in Europe’ with over 70,000 passionate Welshman rocking the Millennium Stadium on five occasions as the side battled for a place in Euro 2004. In a country of rugby lovers, the public found their enthusiasm for their football and at £5 a ticket demand rocketed. The team responded with a historic victory over Italy but eventually fell short. It hasn’t been the same since.

Five years on and their attendances at this fantastic arena would make half the Championship blush. The visits of Germany and Ireland in recent years have just hit the 25,000 mark while 10,000 of the committed Welsh public dragged themselves to see the visits of Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein. Watching these matches is an uncomfortable and thoroughly unenjoyable experience.

Put 10,000 people in a small ground and they could make one hell of a din. In a 74, 500 seater stadium it feels ridiculous and very amateur. You can almost hear the players in-game conversations in a ghost-town atmosphere that must surely effect the players. The infuriating over-use of air-horns make these vital qualifiers feel more like a celebrity soccer tournament.

The bitter disappointment amongst supporters after missing out on Euro 2004 was compounded when the Welsh FA binned their bargain ticket prices. After over 55,000 watched Wales struggle against Northern Ireland and Poland crowds plummeted. With the exception of the visit of the old enemy in 2005, home games have never threatened to be anything but a washout.

A severe lack of promotion means it’s never really obvious if the country has a football team let alone one in a group with Germany and Russia. Arsenal’s recent Carling Cup tie with Sheffield United saw £10 tickets introduced and adverts on the back of the Metro. If the marketing team of Arsenal can manage such simple PR tricks you have to ask why a national football association isn’t doing the same?

A student in the capital can watch Cardiff City for £10 but is then expected to pay a credit-crunch inducing £20 to watch the mighty Liechtenstein. I know where I’d rather and it seems that thousands agree.

While Northern Ireland and Scotland put up a real fight for Euro 2008 in front of intimidating home crowds, the Welsh were being embarrassed 5-1 by Slovakia in front of a half empty ground. The atmosphere at Welsh matches is light years away from the vocal and visible fans that drove their celtic neighbours to historic victories and it could harm their chances.
This Welsh side has bags of potential, but it is a shame they may only get the chance to prove it at such a morale-sapping venue. Joe Ledley and Wayne Hennessey join a squad with eleven Premiership players in its ranks. They face a crucial Millennium Stadium double header with Finland and Germany in the spring where victory in both would keep their hopes of qualification alive. But will anyone be there to watch it?

~ by Peter Evans on December 20, 2008.