FOOTBALL fans can have their say on attending matches at the town’s new stadium.

The Gazette has today launched an online survey asking for your views on how Colchester United could attract more crowds to its home games.

The club’s 10,000 seater new stadium in United Way has only been half full for the six Coca-Cola League One games played there since it opened in August.

Crowds peaked at just above 6,000 for the first fixture, a pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao, but numbers have since levelled out at about 5,000 people per match.

Fans have blamed the team’s performance, the cost of buying tickets on a premium rate ticket line, as well as the lack of parking near the ground.

Lea Finch, of Colchester United Supporters’ Association, also a steward at the ground, said: “I think it has been influenced by the fact we were relegated and people had to cope with the increase in prices although they were watching a lower division football side.

“And although the club has done well with setting up the buses, it isn’t as easy to park and walk down to the ground as it was at Layer Road, and I think there is an element of people thinking they can’t be bothered.”

The club offered 1,200 free seats in the stadium’s north stand to local primary school children for the match against Carlisle United on Saturday, as well as selling one adult and two children entries for £20 in a bid to boost attendance.

Colchester United delighted the home crowd of 5,152 with a 5-0 win .

Supporters have two weeks to respond to the free survey which asks questions about the ease of buying tickets and match-day transport.

The results will then be published in the Gazette.

Visit http://tinyurl.com/ gazettesurvey to have your say.