Matt Ritchie - Bournemouth

[Ralphy]

I'd say the only clubs bigger than us in League 1 and 2 are Sheff Wed, Sheff Utd, Charlton, Preston, Huddersfield and Bradford.

[Reg Smeeton]

This which club is bigger argument comes up all the time. We should have a thread to settle once and for all which clubs are bigger than us and which clubs we are bigger than. Then we can just refer to the list when we need it.

I did a bit of analysis a while back, after a discussion with a Swansea supporting chum of mine, where I suggested a three category separation of clubs into large, medium and small....the analysis was based on looking back at random year league tables and seeing how relatively little has changed. Of course there are changes around the edges and these categories aren't set in stone, but I think the argument holds up.

So essentially STFC are a small club like any number of others we currently compete with and have competed with down the years...occasionally small clubs can gain a bit of forward momentum, maybe make the Championship or above, but always resort to small club status. It's very difficult to go from small to medium....I would offer Reading as a club that has achieved it.

 Brighton and Swansea may achieve it, but it is too early to tell, they may be just in a small club blip.

The Championship and lower end of the Prem are stacked with medium sized clubs....it's very difficult to go from medium to large, but not impossible, but it needs millions of £'s to be pissed up against the wall for it to happen.  As to rankings within the small club category it is largely futile as the rankings tend to be sorted by league table and seasonal fluctuations within....but essentially we haven't ended up in Div 4 because we're a big club.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

Bradford? Really?

[Ralphy]

http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/aboutaball-historical-football-rankings/historical-ranking-of-english-football-clubs

[carbonwhite]

if he wants to leave then let him, he will probably be back in league 2 before too long

[Batch]

Bradford? Really?

I think he's looked at attendance on that one. They charge 2 and 6 for their season tickets though.

They are pretty similar in that they lived the Prem dream and are now paying for it. The difference I see between us and them is we currently have the resources to challenge for promotion, I'm not sure they do.

[Coca Fola]

http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/aboutaball-historical-football-rankings/historical-ranking-of-english-football-clubs

Complete bollocks. Bury bigger than us? Notts County bigger than Southampton? Oxford bigger than Cheltenham?

[Batch]

Talking of small clubs in medium ponds, Bristol City lost £11 million last year and £30 million over the last 3 years.

We'll face similar challenges when we get to the championship.

[Batch]

Complete bollocks. Bury bigger than us? Notts County bigger than Southampton? Oxford bigger than Cheltenham?

That's based on past success not "size"

[Saxondale]

Complete bollocks. Bury bigger than us? Notts County bigger than Southampton? Oxford bigger than Cheltenham?

Oxford bigger (but only just) than the wanderers and bradford park avenue, its a disgrace.

[Ralphy]

Complete bollocks. Bury bigger than us? Notts County bigger than Southampton? Oxford bigger than Cheltenham?

Oxford were non league when this was compiled. If you look, they score 32 points, 7 more than us. So they'd be ranked higher if they were a league club. Luton scored 75 points.

It's based on all time point totals, seasons in higher divisions etc. Basically success, not attendances.

[Bob's Orange]

Oxford were non league when this was compiled. If you look, they score 32 points, 7 more than us. So they'd be ranked higher if they were a league club. Luton scored 75 points.

It's based on all time point totals, seasons in higher divisions etc. Basically success, not attendances.

Which is kind of how football works.

[Ralphy]

Points awarded as follows:
Champions Cup Win    +15
Other European Trophy Win    +10
League Championship    +10
FA Cup Win    +6
League Cup Win    +3
Second Level Division Win    +3
Lower Division Win    +1
Season in top division    +2
Season in 2nd division    +1
Bonuses: Super Cup; Club Cup; Double    +1

[flammableBen]

Points awarded as follows:
Champions Cup Win    +15
Other European Trophy Win    +10
League Championship    +10
FA Cup Win    +6
League Cup Win    +3
Second Level Division Win    +3
Lower Division Win    +1
Season in top division    +2
Season in 2nd division    +1
Bonuses: Super Cup; Club Cup; Double    +1

How completely arbitrary.

[jonny72]

Not sure that success on the pitch is a factor in how big a club is. I'd base it on attendances and income, basically the number of people that want to watch them and how much they'll pay. Though I think you'd also need some level of correction for the division a club is currently in as that affects the above.

I did some quick number crunching comparing our attendances against the league averages. Over the past 10 seasons in the 3rd tier our attendances average about 8.5% below the league average. Whilst during our one season in the 4th tier we were 80% above the league average. Not sure what this proves though, plus our last two seasons attendances were very high in comparison to the previous seasons.