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Attendances are up, but are they reliable?

Record attendances have been reported in the Football League and National League. A note of caution is needed. In the past, attendances may have understated the crowd, particularly at really popular games. Youths knew ways of getting in for free; clubs may have been trying to minimise their 'entertainment tax' liabilities; and it has been alleged that some gatemen were on the fiddle.

Today, fans complain that attendance figures are boosted by the number of complementary tickets given out (the referee has always been entitled to some for his mum or friends who like the way he flashes a card). Many fans do not like the fact that season ticket holders are counted whether they are in the ground or not. Fans at Charlton who are opposed to Belgian owner Roland Duchatelet think that attendances have been exaggerated to mask the erosion of supporters.

In any event, attendances in the English Football League have reached their highest levels for more than 60 years with more than 18.3 million supporters watching League fixtures in 2017/18. This is the third consecutive year that the 18 million barrier has been broken, with the average gate at all three divisions at over 11,000.

The 2017/18 figures represent a 1.5 per cent increase on the same figures for 2017/18. Sunderland's Boxing Day crowd of 46,069 against Bradford City set a new League One record.

The National League has broken the two million mark in total attendance across the three divisions for the first time in the competition's history. The total average attendance increased by 8.8 per cent from last year.

The top division's average attendance fell by 3.3 per cent but National South saw a 45 per cent increase while National North was up by 11.9 per cent. Of course, such figures are affected by the teams in the division in any one season.

Champions Leyton Orient had the largest average attendance of 5,445, compared to 4,337 last season. Wrexham were second with just over 5,000, while relegated Chesterfield were third with 4,503.

In the National League North former Football League side Stockport County claimed the top average of 4,001, up by 15 per cent on last season. York City, another former League club, took second spot with 2,528. Newly promoted Hereford, a reformed league club, were third following their promotion with 2,367.

Torquay United were top in the National League South with 2,508 followed by Woking with 1,898 and Dulwich Hamlet with 1,842. Three other clubs, including Billericay Town, had four figure averages.

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