Worth mentioning that they had a big promotion with Peter Crouch and his podcast at the game and doing content (Crouch was a mascot for the day) which would have drawn a lot of attention. It was also a top of the table clash against Sholing with very decent weather. I think they possibly had part of their new stand open as well?

The ground was full and they shut the turnstiles for safety reasons - apparently some pre-purchased ticket holders and season ticket holders were locked out, which is pretty embarrassing, as they should have always allowed for those and limited the amount of pay on the day available.

They are indeed riding a huge wave, 2 straight promotions and now challenging at the top of step 3. It is only a matter of time before they are step 2 to be honest, if not achieved this season, then next.

50 away fans was the case for Dorking even for many away games in our first NLS season (2019/20) before covid halted the season, and sometimes less at night games, ie 30-40 at Hungerford and Oxford City spring to mind.

They haven't begun building the new Clock End Terrace which they have permission for, but if I was them I would revisit the drawings and be more ambitious at that end of the ground, as once that is done, their further options for increasing capacity elsewhere in the ground are rather limited.

In short, they would have to re-do their whole Main Stand side and build bigger there...and they only built their Main Stand and 'Pepperami' covered side terrace just over a year ago. It would mean moving the changing rooms and toilet block back in order to fit in a bigger stand and side terrace. Their car park needs surfacing too, it's a puddley mess when it rains!

They also need more turnstiles and definitely more toilets inside the ground. And should start thinking about future abolity to segregate away fans.

In short it is a very constrained site. But one I love visiting, in a great location.

They also need to consider making games all ticket if crowds such as this become common!

On another note, I had a look at NLS clubs average attendances so far this season. I know Step 2 is a novely for Horsham, but they are averaging bigger crowds than us already. 

I was happy with over 1500 for Totton, to be fair, and maybe Horsham's average is a bit artifical as they already had a sussex derby game against Worthing.

But we should be doing better than them for sure soon with a good winning record at home.

Torquay 3512

Maidstone 2228

Worthing 1838

Dagenham 1592

Horsham 1486

Ebbsfleet 1468

Chelmsford 1384

DORKING 1374

Totton 1190

Maidenhead 1106

Salisbury 1080

Eastbourne 1014

Farnborough 1014

Bath 994

Weston 957

Dover 957

Tonbridge 897

Enfield 825

Hornchurch 821

Hampton 819

Hemel 818

Slough 762

Chesham 717

Chippenham 707

@dorking-eagle Horsham average is definitely a tad inflated at the moment as they have had the visits of Worthing and Torquay. I believe both of those clubs took 600+ for those games. Eastbourne and Salisbury travel in decent numbers compared to most teams in the league as well. A few of those games are big matches as well so will attract more home fans to go with that.

I don't think we've had any decent away following at Meadowbank yet this season. Hampton or Slough probably took the most and even then I doubt it was more than 150 at most. I imagine Dagenham in a couple of weeks will be the biggest so far but I don't remember them travelling in particularly big numbers when we were in the NL with them. I am sure the Andy Carroll factor will draw a few neutrals to that game as well though now that he is back from injury.

Our attendances should now start to trend up quite a bit with the school holidays over and some big matches coming up throughout September and October.

Thanks Tom, that would explain Horsham's big numbers a bit better.

Away fans at Meadowbank that I kept the numbers for:

112 Totton fans

153 Tonbridge fans

149 Slough

(haven't got the Hampton & Richmond figure)

@dorking-eagle Yes you're right - if they build this new terrace they remove the opportunity to shift the pitch towards the clock end and make the far end available for spectators, meaning it remains a 3 sided ground.

I vaguely recall plans to do just that, and I guess they still could longer term but it would seem a bit of a wasted effort.

I also really like the ground and location, but they are SO limited without shifting the pitch, and I can't see them staying unless that's the longer term plan (assuming they continue to progress).

We are very lucky in that respect - a high street central location - but - absolutely loads of space around the ground for development. Could easlily fit an 8k capacity redevelopment at Meadowbank, which I'd imagine is the ultimate aim (or maybe 6k).

Meadowbank is still constrained in many ways.

Away end was limited as to the height we were allowed the terrace steps to be.

Dugouts side has a gas pipe running underneath, and an expensive acoustic barrier to move back if we are to realise the true potential of that side.

Home end has the huge hulk of the soft play building in the way meaning what is there already is probably the maximum (barring clever re-use of the soft play and office building as either dressing rooms or hospitality space.

The Stonegate Stand side probably either needs extending the seats all the way along to the away end, or knocking down and starting again.

I reckon you could get through £5m in a heartbeat just doing a basic ground on the site.

There are however many improvements that would cost a lot less than that, which would really improve things.

Install the roof on the away end which there is already permission in place for.

Roof along the whole 'dugouts side', perhaps with integral tv gantry.

Refreshments hut or van somewhere along the north side or NW corner.

All those things would just enhance the matchday fan experience.

@dorking-eagle I'm pretty sure we have workarounds with regards to the gas pipe and other issues - and once we own the ground I believe that includes the softplay area/cafe and all the other buildings so it would (I think) be ours to do with what we will.

What I do know is that the footprint is very big - and the potential likewise - in time. Sponsorship will no doubt play a huge part in any major, long term ground improvements

For me, roof over the away end is very low priority - do we really want to amplify the away fans noise? Personally, I'd restrict away tickets to around 600 for big games in years to come, assuming we can sell out the rest, making for a much more daunting atmosphere - and ideally keeping away fans from behind the far goal. Maybe we can do something with that shallow terrace in years to come so at least the view would be better.

But for now, it's more than satisfactory for this level and maybe the one above. 

In this league, for all but a couple of home games the 'away end' is effectively the second home end for us. We have been lucky with the weather thus far this season, but when it does chuck it down, the ground has approx 1400 spaces under cover, and everyone else gets wet.

I am surprised there is no sort of cover over the new Lampard stand, even if just a marquee type fabric roof of some sort.

Notwithstanding everything above, promotion has to be the priority this season, we can do so much more when we then have a regular 2000 in the ground each week.

Posted by: @calvertskans

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@dorking-eagle Horsham average is definitely a tad inflated at the moment as they have had the visits of Worthing and Torquay. I believe both of those clubs took 600+ for those games. Eastbourne and Salisbury travel in decent numbers compared to most teams in the league as well. A few of those games are big matches as well so will attract more home fans to go with that.

I don't think we've had any decent away following at Meadowbank yet this season. Hampton or Slough probably took the most and even then I doubt it was more than 150 at most. I imagine Dagenham in a couple of weeks will be the biggest so far but I don't remember them travelling in particularly big numbers when we were in the NL with them. I am sure the Andy Carroll factor will draw a few neutrals to that game as well though now that he is back from injury.

Our attendances should now start to trend up quite a bit with the school holidays over and some big matches coming up throughout September and October.

Agree that Horsham's attendances have been inflated by Worthing and Torquay support (two of biggest in League) but they did average 1274 last year, and support has been growing in town last few years. Also bigger town so there is potential to grow. They also have good away support so would expect a lot to go to Dorking.

The absolute number 1 priority at Meadowbank is to do something with that dugout side. You can't have an entire side of a stadium at step 1 or even 2 that is flat standing. Most neutrals and new fans that come to games are put off by the limited view from most areas of the ground and most won't want to arrive 45-60 mins early just to secure a spot against the barrier so they can see the match. If you make it so that there is plenty of space and good views on that north side then you would get many more return visitors.

The new Lampard stand is mediocre at best and I think ideally you would have some terraced standing along that whole north side, similar to what Woking have for their "away section". If not that then I would like to see the family stand moved and repeated on either side of the dugout and extend the Bank stand across most of the end behind the goal.

@calvertskans Incredible SLANDER OF THE LAMPARD STAND 🤣

@jlamps Sincerest apologies to principal sponsor, The Lampard Family 🤣

@calvertskans Apology accepted, legal action averted