Thursday, 3 October 2024

Best Attended UK Clubs : 1981 - 2024 (11th & 12th Salford & London)

The series "Best Attended UK Clubs : 1981 - 2024" looks at which clubs have the highest attendances but also the evolution that has occurred over the period. A club must have been in the top flight for at least half of the seasons and featured in each decade to be considered. The Lancashire club Salford Red Devils and the London Broncos are featured. The green column is annual averages and the blue column is the average over each decade.


11) Salford Red Devils. Average 4,122.

While they have been mostly in the top division, the Salford club has consistently had relegation to deal with. They have bounced back with haste which is to their credit. The introduction in Super League has helped crowd numbers, to the tune of 20.7%. It may be associated with the city of Manchester but is a small club that battles to retain its top flight status. A nice, recent upturn in spectators is welcome.



12) London Broncos. Average 3,391.

In the city of London, this nomadic club is barely noticed. It has not settled into an area but kept moving, often losing supporters in the process. SL brought an average increase of 15.7%. It is important to have a presence in London, where much youth development has taken place but its future is currently in doubt. Even if the club survives, will it ever be in SL again?



In the chart, London in particular has spent a fair bit of time in a lower division, Salford on occasion too. That doesn't affect the average as only years that the team was in the top flight competition count. The seasons of 1982 and 1984, the London based team was known as Fulham. Covid didn't allow the years 2020 and 2021 to be included.

Others in the series can be seen by clicking on the following rankings:

1st & 2nd3rd & 4th5th & 6th7th & 8th9th & 10thSummary

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