Best Attended UK Clubs : 1981 - 2024 (9th & 10th Are Widnes & Wakefield)

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. We continue with the clubs Widnes Vikings from Lancashire and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats from Yorkshire.

9) Widnes Vikings. Average 5,844.

Widnes had some great sides years ago but of late haven't managed to maintain that standard. That's reflected in a tiny 3.6% increase in crowd numbers since the introduction of Super League. It is now out of the top flight and not looking like making it back anytime soon.

10) Wakefield Trinity. Average 4,978.

In the 80's and 90's there were some periods where they were relegated from the top echelon. However, the past 20 years have been much better. In the SL era, attendances have been up 23%, which isn't as good as I would have expected, given the improved on field performance. A loss of work in the area within this time frame may not have helped. It was relegated from SL in 2024 but should be back soon.

In the chart, both sides missed some seasons due to being in a lower division. That doesn't affect their averages as only years that the team was in the top flight competition count. The green column is annual averages and the blue column is the average over each decade. 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 & 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 5th & 6th, 7th & 8th, 11th & 12th, Summary.