Nationwide hits 38-year high

The number of fans attending games in the Nationwide Football League has hit a 38-year high with the First Division, in particular, proving popular.

Bumper crowds for a dramatic final weekend of the regular season pushed the total for the three divisions to 14,871,981, 150,000 more than last year, and the highest attendances since the 1964-65 season.

The average attendance for Football League games during the season was 8,981, and the First Division saw a two per-cent increase to return the best aggregate figures since 1959.

The Football League chairman, Sir Brian Mawhinney, said: "These figures are a tribute to the clubs and the exciting football they are playing. Fans are responding positively, which is very good news.

"Once again this season the Football League has been the best-attended sporting competition in Europe and I would like to show my appreciation to supporters everywhere for the outstanding backing they have given to their clubs throughout the last nine months."

The League points out that crowds in the First Division are now roughly 50 per cent higher than the equivalent divisions in Italy and Germany and more than double those in Spain and France.

NATIONWIDE ATTENDANCES 2002/03

2001/02 figures in brackets

OVERALL: 14,871,981 (14,716,162).

Average: 8,981 (8,887); % change +1.1.

FIRST DIVISION: 8,519,866 (8,352,116). Average: 15,435 (15,130); % change +2.0.

SECOND DIVISION: 3,892,400 (3,965,449). Average: 7,051 (7,184); % change -1.8.

THIRD DIVISION: 2,459,715 (2,398,597). Average: 4,456 (4,345); % change +2.5.

WORTHINGTON CUP: 1,244,925 (1,076,798). Average: 13,386 (11,578); % change +15.6.