CHIEF executive Mark Jewell believes it is “imperative” for Eastleigh to keep bucking the trend in football and not out price their growing support base.

During their first season in the Conference top-flight, now known as the National League, the Spitfires managed to average gates of 1,752 at home games.

That meant Eastleigh’s average attendance was up an incredible 157.5 per cent from just over 650 during the Skrill South winning campaign of 2013/14.

Last term they broke their record gate twice and increased the Silverlake Stadium’s capacity to over 5,000 with the construction of the Mackoy Community Stand at the far end of their complex.

But it wasn’t any coincidence that this rapid evolution took place.

Daily Echo:

Above: Eastleigh fans in the Mackoy Community Stand during their 4-0 drubbing of Macclesfield last season.

The Spitfires enticed new fans with free entry matches and rock-bottom ticket prices, but also looked after their original support base with competitive season ticket prices.

And despite their progress on field, with a fourth place play-off finish in their first term in the Conference, there is no intention of hiking prices anytime soon.

“We don’t want to rest on our laurels, we want to push on and increase the numbers of supporters,” said Jewell.

“We’ve got to get to an average gate of over 2,000.

“We’re certainly engaging these people that are coming in, who are new to Eastleigh.”

“Particularly the younger boys and girls that come along, they’re buying the kit, they’re wearing the colours and they’ll be Spitfires fans going forward.

“That’s all we want really.”

In fact, majority of season ticket prices have been frozen, with an adult season pass available for £150, which converts to just over £6.50 a game.

In comparison, newly relegated Tranmere are charging £380 for season ticket, and £300 at Conference South champions Bromley.

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Above: New signing Andy Drury in action at a recent friendly against Partick Thistle that saw 700 supporters turnout.

“Increasingly people are buying season tickets because they are competitively priced.

“We hear people saying that they follow a team in the Premier League, but it’s becoming completely unaffordable for a family of three or four to go along and pay in excess of £1,000 for season tickets.

“They can come down here and it’s a matter of a few hundred pounds for the season and it does make a massive difference.”

“We’re good value for money and people are buying into that.”

Jewell knows Eastleigh are in a privileged position with owner Stewart Donald’s financial backing.

Daily Echo: Picture from the Skrill Conference South match in which Eastleigh beat Basingstoke Town and became champions.

Above: Eastleigh owner Stewart Donald (left).

“We are able to be more speculative with our budgeting knowing Stewart is there is invest and back any projects that we do,” Jewell explained.

“I know we’re very fortunate in that way, but invariably those ideas come off. You might think, because we’re giving this money away at the gate, are we going to make it back?

“But, yes we do, because we make more bar sales because people are buying burgers and sausages rolls.

“Whilst we might not have the income in gate receipts, the benefit to the business is in other areas.

“So it doesn’t necessary cost us to let someone in for nothing, because then if they want to buy a season ticket, you’ve won.

“For lower league clubs, it’s the only way forward.

“We are lucky that we have Stewart Donald with his various businesses, in the first part of this project that’s being backed up by personal investment and sponsorship.

“We’re gaining more sponsorship all the while. We’re getting more investment into the club from outside of Stewart’s empire.”

Daily Echo:

Above: Mark Jewell at the club.

Off-field targets have been set for next term.

“One thousand season tickets is the target and where we’d love to be at the start of the season,” Jewell said.

“With some community involvement that’s achievable this year, which 12 months ago you wouldn’t have thought possible.

“Every time we get a television game or do a promotional game where we reduce ticket prices, we get a bumper crowd.

“You’ll never get those people coming back every week, you might pick up another 20 or 30 from that batch of new people coming along.

“It’s relaxed and friendly, so incrementally we’re building and building in blocks for the future.”