Bostik League attendances show substantial increase

Our statistician Mike Wilson has finished crunching the numbers for the first two months of the season, and his results are clear. The crowds for our league are growing well- and are almost twenty per cent better than at the same point in the last campaign.

By this point last season 74,282 visitors had passed through our turnstiles, whereas this season the total for August and September is 81, 275. Taking into account the fact that there had been 29 more matches during the same period last year, that shows an increase of 19.1%.

The highest attendance so far came at Champion Hill, when Dulwich Hamlet took on Tooting & Mitcham United on August Bank Holiday Monday and 1866 came to watch. Billericay Town are in second place, with the 1651 who watched them take on Leatherhead on 9th September, and Margate are in third place, 632 watching their match with Tonbridge Angels in August. The same three home clubs hold the best three average attendances, too, and in exactly the same order.

In the North Division the best supported match was AFC Sudbury v Canvey Island on the opening day, which was watched by 384, but that is closely followed by the 379 who watched Hertford Town take on Ware, and the 377 who watched Grays Athletic take on AFC Hornchurch. Canvey Island, AFC Sudbury and Hertford Town are one, two and three in the average league table, too.

In the South Division Guernsey hold the lead, with 743 watching them take on East Grinstead Town. Hastings United ran them close, with 699 watching them play Lewes, and the Rooks are themselves in third, courtesy of the 480 who watched them take on Molesey.

Guernsey, Lewes then Hastings United hold the top three places in the average crowd listings.

This Saturday is Non League Day, which will undoubtedly increase the attendances for October, too! Look here tomorrow for a guide to what our clubs are doing to celebrate.