Historical Elite Level Attendance Figures : Featherstone Rovers

How does being at the top level of a sport affect attendance figures compared to when relegated to a lower division? I thought I'd look at that with data I have, now addressing the Featherstone Rovers club. It's situated in the City of Wakefield (historically Yorkshire) and was particularly known for its coal mining. The present population is only around 15,000.

As for the RL club, it formed in 1902 after the previous RL club only lasted from between 1898 and 1902. They have won the Challenge Cup thrice (1967, 1973 & 1983) and been League Champions once in 1977. For a town this size, amazing.

	Pre-Super League				Super League
	80-81	3,007	12/16		Nada
	81-82	2,805	10/16
	82-83	2,647	12/16		SL Average		n/a
	83-84	2,965	12/16		Pre SL Average		3,439
	84-85	2,505	9/16		Combined		3,439
	85-86	2,678	13/16
	86-87	3,008	14/16
	88-89	4,379	6/14
	89-90	4,264	10/14
	90-91	4,722	8/14
	91-92	4,002	13/14
	93-94	4,030	11/16
	94-95	3,697	11/16

The 1980-81 to 1986-87 top flight presence (shaded yellow) ended when they came 14th out of 16 sides. Another four successful years followed (salmon) but 13th from 14 was the end of that run at the top. A 1993-94 return ended after two seasons, only dropping despite a creditable 11th out of 16 due the introduction of Super League and making way for two new teams.

Since the arrival of Super League, Rovers have never been able to gain entry to the top level of UK RL. Attendances in the division two Championship are not too far removed form the first division elite level (see chart below). Clubs like Featherstone that have a long history of RL often seem to retain more spectators when the club is relegated as opposed to newer ones. Fev is a true RL town.

Please note the Pre-SL Average above includes only the figures shown above from 1980-81 to 94-95.

Featherstone	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Championship	2,282	2,496	?	2,008	2,655	2,624	2,094	2,304