Martin_Brock":2ptj2v8a said:
I've been reading the Football Passport thread with interest, both to learn more about the mix of supporters on here (my first Argyle match was in 1988) but also in context of some market research I've been doing. That seems to show that interest in football among those aged 18+ is like a bell-shaped curve, so those aged 18-24 and 60+ have lower interest, with those in mid-age having highest interest. Do people think that is a reflect of Argyle's support, and why/why not? Particularly on the lower age end of the scale. Without wanting to sound like an old git, I could only hypothesize that it was down to people having more options of things to do these days so football has to work harder to get attention vs. computer games, for example, or is it a financial factor? Argyle last season cost £9 if under 18 but £23 once you hit 18, so a big difference if on lower income.
Realise I'm rambling but it'd be interesting to know thoughts of others.
M
I think evidence shows that the number of kids playing football has declined over the past decade (even allowing for the fact that the number of girls playing has increased quite sharply).
There's obviously competition from social media, e-sports etc but kids these days are also subject to much greater academic pressure. They're tested a lot more, and good grades and some form of further/higher education are more important to their life chances. Today's young people also drink, smoke and take drugs less frequently than those now in their 30s and 40s did at the same age. Free time and recreation are more limited, which means there's less opportunity to take up pastimes like playing/watching football.
In terms of the old folks, football attendances troughed in the 70s and 80s, before rising after Italia 90 and the advent of the Premier League brought in a more affluent fan-consumer.
So rather than a result of life circumstances, it maybe that the oldest and youngest generations simply aren't as into football as those in the middle, and that this will continue as they shift from one stage of life to the next.