PLYMOUTH Albion’s director of rugby Graham Dawe admits it is a shame his team do not have a Christmas home fixture this season.
Albion will play their final game of 2015 at Brickfields this Saturday when they welcome Loughborough Students.
They will not be back at home then until January 9 when they host Hull Ionians.
In between those fixtures, Albion will travel to Hartpury College on December 19 and Rosslyn Park on January 2.
Last season, Plymouth enjoyed a bumper Christmas home fixture against the Cornish Pirates on December 27.
That derby match pulled in a crowd of 3,982 at Brickfields, which was three times bigger than the majority of their other attendances last term.
Their next best crowd in 2014/15 was 1,985 for another derby game against Bristol.
The Christmas fixture brought in some much-needed money and massively boosted Albion’s average attendance for the season, with eight of their 14 league and cup matches in 2014/15 pulling in less than 1,300.
Not only do Albion not have a Christmas fixture or any derby match this year, but they have to go a month without a home game, which Dawe admits is not ideal.
“It is a big blow because being a semi-pro club we need all the funds we can and we would like to think we could provide some pretty good entertainment for a post-Christmas home match,” said Dawe.
“But we were lucky enough to get two home games at the start of the season and if you play 15 home games you have to play 15 away games.”
Dawe, though, is hoping West Country rugby fans will take the opportunity this Saturday to watch his team in their final home match of 2015.
“We are getting close to the holiday season and the festive break, but hopefully people turn out and want to watch a competitive rugby match before Christmas,” said Dawe.
“We are hoping for good numbers this weekend because it is such an attractive game and we would really like to see a great atmosphere.”