The 2022/23 season will be remembered as one like no other. The World Cup will begin on Sunday, making its Middle East debut and winter debut.

With the Premier League paused until Boxing Day and Championship matches on hold until 9 December, clubs in League One and below will be the only club football competitions taking place during the World Cup.

The big question for Tranmere Rovers and their fellow competitors will be how they can make the most of the interruption in the football calendar.

In the league, Rovers have an average attendance of 6,206 at Prenton Park this season which has a capacity of 16,587. With their Merseyside neighbours Everton and Liverpool not playing during the World Cup period, executive chairman Mark Palios could well adjust ticket prices to get more football fans through his turnstiles.

It is well documented that a lot of people from Liverpool don’t care for the national team.  If season ticket holders would rather watch live football than the international competition then Tranmere Rovers or other local lower league sides could have their attendances boosted significantly.

National League side Notts County have managed to sell out full capacity for their clash against Yeovil Town this Saturday. County priced their tickets at £5 for an adult and just £1 for under 16’s. The tickets sold out four days prior to kick off at Meadow Lane.

Notts County’s chief executive Jason Turner told the club’s website: “Following the incredible success of last year’s cut-price fixture, which drew a record National League crowd of 12,843, we were confident of improving that figure this time around. Everyone can rest assured they’ll be part of a wonderful record-breaking occasion!”

Surely, with all the positivity and praise that has come Notts County’s way, clubs like Tranmere throughout the football pyramid must follow suit.

Micky Mellon’s side only have two home games whilst the Premier League and Championship are on hold, this Saturday against Wimbledon and the 17 December against Crawley Town. With tickets for the clash against the Dons priced at £22 for adults, it has taken many fans by surprise that they aren’t taking the risk by lowering the cost with the absence of Everton and Liverpool.

Football fans on the Wirral and across Merseyside will surely be keeping an eye on the Crawley fixture to see if the club decide to try and get more bodies inside the ground. For their League Cup clash against Newcastle United, the attendance was 10,961 which saw an incredible atmosphere for a midweek fixture. The impact this could have on the Whites could be what makes the difference for them this season, but it all comes down to the decisions made at the top end of the club.

As it stands, the only statement Tranmere have made regarding the World Cup is that they will be showing all the club’s matches online through the EFL’s iFollow platform.

Where Notts County have taken the approach to get the attendance as high as possible, it seems that for now Rovers are taking a different stance.

 

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