Singapore's less-than-popular Balestier Khalsa have sent their players out into local neighborhoods, knocking on doors to try and encourage new fans.
While Singaporeans are huge football fans, they are far more interested in watching English Premier League giants Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal on television rather than going to see local clubs.
Despite some clubs having a rich histories that extend back into the nineteenth century, average attendances of the twelve-team league dropped to a pitiful 932 last season.
"The more often the players go knocking on doors, the higher the chances of them becoming familiar with residents," Balestier chairman S Thavaneson told Monday's TODAY newspaper.
"Who knows, they may become curious and decide to watch a game or two."
Thavaneson was hopeful the door-to-door campaign could help fill the 3,900-capacity Toa Payoh Stadium throughout the 2013 season, which began on Wednesday.
He added: "There are 100,000 residents in Toa Payoh, if we can bring in just 3 percent of them to our stadium, we will have a full house each time."
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| Balestier Khalsa have a unique method of bringing the fans back for their home games |
While Singaporeans are huge football fans, they are far more interested in watching English Premier League giants Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal on television rather than going to see local clubs.
Despite some clubs having a rich histories that extend back into the nineteenth century, average attendances of the twelve-team league dropped to a pitiful 932 last season.
"The more often the players go knocking on doors, the higher the chances of them becoming familiar with residents," Balestier chairman S Thavaneson told Monday's TODAY newspaper.
"Who knows, they may become curious and decide to watch a game or two."
Thavaneson was hopeful the door-to-door campaign could help fill the 3,900-capacity Toa Payoh Stadium throughout the 2013 season, which began on Wednesday.
He added: "There are 100,000 residents in Toa Payoh, if we can bring in just 3 percent of them to our stadium, we will have a full house each time."
