How do we change the 'cultural' make up of football crowds?

[pauliewalnuts]

Or, looked at in the most sado-masochistic of ways, they're amongst the things that make this city great, they can frigging well take some of the misery that comes in following the Villa, too.

[Percy McCarthy]

Spot on paulie.

I think Villa Bobby came across as borderline BNP in some other discussion we had ages ago. Just the impression I got, apologies if he's a full-on Nazi. Or not.

[silhillvilla]

I've seen more Asians at Villa park this season than any I can recall which is encouraging. I also had a lady from Malaysia at the Swansea game sat next to me who had flown all the way just to see villa play.

[bilsim]

I've seen more Asians at Villa park this season than any I can recall which is encouraging. I also had a lady from Malaysia at the Swansea game sat next to me who had flown all the way just to see villa play.

Lucky her, easily the best home game all season!

[VillaBobby]

Spot on paulie.

I think Villa Bobby came across as borderline BNP in some other discussion we had ages ago. Just the impression I got, apologies if he's a full-on Nazi. Or not.

Would you like back up your claim with fact and not conjecture?

You absolute moron. If I have a different opinion to yours ten i am a nazi?

[VillaBobby]

Why does the ethnicity of the crowd need to be changed?

It is surely desirable that attendances increase, and one way to do that is to attract more people from ethnic minorities.

I don't believe that was the original question?

I find it all a little racist to suggest we need to recruit anyone on the basis of their ethnicity.

If we want to increase attendance's then we need a better team. The fan base already exists, the club just need to give them a reason to come back, not create a new one.

So we should just ignore every other potential new supporter?

Where have I said that? My experience of football fans are not chosen they chose.

[Legion]

No need for the personal abuse.

[VillaBobby]

Why does the ethnicity of the crowd need to be changed?

It is surely desirable that attendances increase, and one way to do that is to attract more people from ethnic minorities.

I don't believe that was the original question?

Well, it kind of was, wasn't it?

The obvious inference from the subject being discussed is that we don't attract enough attendees from racial minorities (especially when you consider the community around Villa Park).

Even before you get into the pros and cons of targetting specific communities, there's the fact that we need all the help we can get in filling our ground, which is what Percy said.

Honestly, I can say that the increase in the numbers of Asian fans attending our matches is one of the things that makes me happiest about our support these days. I have friends who support Newcastle and Sunderland, and they get hardly any Asian fans at their games.

I go to our matches and see - nowhere near enough, but it's a start - lots of Asian fans there.

Aston Villa is about Brummies, it is a Brummie institution, and the people of Birmingham - given that we are by far the second most racially diverse city in this country after London, which is itself the most racially diverse city in Europe, and possibly the world - are of a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds.

I want the club to reflect the city as much as it can, and I want Brummies of  Indian, Pakistani, Jamaican, West Indian, Eastern European, whatever you like, descent to think that this is their club as well.

Nobody knows what the men who made this club great would want, but I'd take a guess that visionaries of the likes of McGregor, were they around today, would want the same thing too.

I know you could probably say that sounds woolly and Guardian reader-ish, and you'd probably have a point, but I genuinely believe it, so hey ho.

The club is on the door step of a very Asian community but that is not the reason they do not attend football matches nor that you see few professional footballers from the Asian community.

Culturally football has not been adopted into the culture.

I see many black people at Villa Park but not in groups, thankfully, because culturally they have integrated into the culture.

All this talk of neo-nazis is blatant nonsense.

[VillaBobby]

No need for the personal abuse.

Agreed, I will accept an apology for being branded a nazi.

[Legion]

Certainly. Could you do likewise for your 'absolute moron' post?

[cheltenhamlion]

I can only speak for the 9 or 10 on my row but we are as racially integrated as you get.

2 middle aged white chaps on the one end and a row of Asians, to include one lady and the associated kids of branches of the family.

Its bloody great. The look of excitement and horror in the youngest ones face at the QPR game was a joy.

We got a late winner, my mate shot past me to celebrate with his Dad, and I hoisted junior above me like a cheap flag, before he was high fiving me after.

He is 8 but a smashing little chap. In fact, our row of people is a big part of why I keep that season ticket.

[dave.woodhall]

Why does the ethnicity of the crowd need to be changed?

It is surely desirable that attendances increase, and one way to do that is to attract more people from ethnic minorities.

I don't believe that was the original question?

I find it all a little racist to suggest we need to recruit anyone on the basis of their ethnicity.

If we want to increase attendance's then we need a better team. The fan base already exists, the club just need to give them a reason to come back, not create a new one.

So we should just ignore every other potential new supporter?

Where have I said that? My experience of football fans are not chosen they chose.

You said it where you said "The fan base already exists." As for "football fans are not chosen they chose," what does that mean?

[peter w]

Well I suppose I may as well come in at some point.

I think we need some re-thinking to this whole question. I have to say at this point that I do think the club are doing quite well in this area at the moment. But most, if not all clubs, started as the focal point or their community. Or, if not immediately, they soonbecome so. Now that community has moved out and taken the club with them. but the ground and the club are still in the same area. So, we need to work tirelessly to put the club at the centre of that 'new' community.

Some say that a winning team brings fan in whoever they are from wherever they live. But this hasn't borne out to be the case when we've previously successsful (ish) teams. 5-10 000 more fans will see the vast majority of existing fans return, not new ones. So, we have to recognise that and find out a way of appealing to them. Making the club their club. Its not just about what goes on the pitch. You get them coming into the club, and the ground, for non-footballing reasons and more and more will find their way through to matchday.

Yes, I could be wrong. But what clubs are failing to do is come up with new ideas. As I said, Villa are doing well in this area. But so far what is the return regarding the local community? are they coming in any more numbers? It doesn't seem so. Villa are still not trying a different approach but the same one as seen everywhere else, although to a higher standard.

[pauliewalnuts]

The club is on the door step of a very Asian community but that is not the reason they do not attend football matches nor that you see few professional footballers from the Asian community.

Culturally football has not been adopted into the culture.

I see many black people at Villa Park but not in groups, thankfully, because culturally they have integrated into the culture.

All this talk of neo-nazis is blatant nonsense.

So, if there is not a natural fit, culturally, between the Asian population and football, what do we do? Isn't part of the reason you see so many black fans at matches these days because, over the years, football has reached out into that community?

Also, clearly football isn't a total disconnect for the asian population, as there are increasing numbers of them coming to the matches.

That's what we need to work on.

I don't know why you raise the neo-nazi point with me. I didn't say you were.

[VillaBobby]

Why does the ethnicity of the crowd need to be changed?

It is surely desirable that attendances increase, and one way to do that is to attract more people from ethnic minorities.

I don't believe that was the original question?

I find it all a little racist to suggest we need to recruit anyone on the basis of their ethnicity.

If we want to increase attendance's then we need a better team. The fan base already exists, the club just need to give them a reason to come back, not create a new one.

So we should just ignore every other potential new supporter?

Where have I said that? My experience of football fans are not chosen they chose.

You said it where you said "The fan base already exists." As for "football fans are not chosen they chose," what does that mean?

I mean that football fans usually choose to watch football matches and its not forced or created. Football is a culture within our culture and has taken generation upon generation to develop. I don't believe that can be instilled into people but has to come from time and experience.

Aston Villa are not exclusive in this which should say something.

I also think the club should be doing more to get fans they have lost back and again I will state, that will only come with an improvement on the pitch.