Historical Elite Level Attendance Figures : Oldham RLFC

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 looking at the Olham RLFC club. It's situated in the Greater Manchester (historically Lancashire) and was particularly known for its textile manufacturing from the late 19th century. Apparently it was once the most productive cotton producing town in the world, producing more cotton than Germany and France combined. Wow! The present population is around 95,000.

As for the RL club, it is one of the 22 founding clubs that formed in 1895. They have won the Challenge Cup three times (1899, 1925 & 1927) and been League Champions on four occasions (1905, 1910, 1911 & 1957). They also won the now defunct Lancashire Cup nine times. Collectively That's quite an achievement, although nothing in recent times.

	Pre-Super League				Super League
	80-81	3,220	16/16		1996	3,629	8/12
	82-83	3,721	8/16		1997	3,832	12/12
	83-84	3,641	10/16
	84-85	4,562	5/16		SL Average		3,731
	85-86	4,726	9/16		Pre SL Average		4,247
	86-87	4,525	13/16		Combined		4,168
	88-89	5,858	12/14
	90-91	5,095	12/14
	93-94	4,294	13/16
	94-95	3,890	10/16
	95-96	3,188	8/11

The 1980-81 season (shaded yellow) had them relegated when they came 16th. Another five years of success followed (salmon) but 13th from 16 sides was the end of that run at the top. 1988-89 and 1990-91 were two one year stints in top flight before a five year return. The latter two was in the newly formed Super League, they came 12th and have never returned. They are currently in League 1 (division 3).

Current average attendances are well below the modest first division elite level (see chart below). Financial problems dogged the club after its relegation from SL.

Please note the Pre-SL Average above includes only the figures shown above from 1980-81 to 93-94. In the chart below, yellow is League 1 (division 3) and blue Championship (division 2)

Oldham	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Champ/Lge 1	606	689	?	571	831	774	505	633