Premier crowds in a different league

Adel Taarabt: The midfielder's club Queens Park Rangers returned to the Premier League after a 15-year absence
Marco Giacomelli11 April 2012

The chasm between life in the Premier League and the Football League is highlighted today by a Standard Sport survey, which shows how London's top-flight clubs have defied the recession.

Four of London's five Premier League clubs have increased their attendances over the last year whereas six of the 10 capital sides in the three divisions below have suffered losses.

The report compares the average home League gate in 2010 to that in 2011 and provides an insight into how the elite game in England is thriving amid the global financial crisis.

Arsenal, who in common with many clubs include season ticket holders in their crowd figures whether they go to a game or not, are the only faller in the Premier League. But despite ticket prices going up by 6.5 per cent this term, the average for seats sold at the Emirates is down by just 0.04 per cent.

Not surprisingly, the biggest riser in the top flight are Queens Park Rangers, who returned to the Premier League in August after a 15-year absence.

Similarly, West Ham's relegation in the summer means they have suffered the biggest decline - 6.97 per cent - although they are the best supported team in the Championship. This season, the Hammers have pulled in an average of 29,430 fans per home League game, which is more than 3,000 ahead of the next best, Derby.

What is striking is comparing teams who have stayed at the same level throughout the two years.

For while crowds at Chelsea, Tottenham and Fulham have increased, Watford and Leyton Orient have shown significant drops with other Football League clubs also suffering.

However, all our League Two sides are up with AFC Wimbledon the biggest winners after promotion from the Conference while Dagenham & Redbridge, relegated in the summer, benefited from 15 home games in League One between January and May.

Barnet provide the report's quirky statistic. Their 17.16 per cent increase during two years of struggle is thanks to an 11 per cent rise in home fans and an incredible 41 per cent rise among the away supporters at Underhill.

The ups and downs of watching the capital's clubs over the past year

Premier League

Arsenal (capacity 60,432)
2010: 60,005 ave (19 games)
2011: 59,984 (20)
Difference: 0.04% down

Chelsea (41,837)
2010: 41,463 (18)
2011: 41,522 (20)
Difference: 0.14% up

Tottenham (36,214)
2010: 35,794 (19)
2011: 35,819 (17)
Difference: 0.07% up

Fulham (25,700)
2010: 24,331 (19)
2011: 25,119 (18)
Difference: 3.24% up

QPR (18,360)
2010: 14,171 (23) Championship
2011: 16,600 (20) Champ/Prem
Difference: 17.14% up

Championship

Crystal Palace (26,309)
2010: 14,747 (22)
2011: 15,326 (23)
Difference: 3.92% up

Millwall (20,416)
2010: 12,415 (24)
2011: 12,343 (25)
Difference: 0.57% down

Watford (19,900)
2010: 13,842 (22)
2011: 12,890 (25)
Difference: 6.88% down

West Ham (35,333)
2010: 33,681 (20) Prem Lge
2011: 31,332 (20) Prem/Champ
Difference: 6.97% down

League One

Brentford (12,763)
2010: 5,519 (20)
2011: 5,399 (27)
Difference: 2.17% down

Charlton (27,111)
2010: 16,578 (21)
2011: 16,258 (23)
Difference: 1.93% down

Leyton Orient (9,271)
2010: 4,605 (19)
2011: 4,320 (28)
Difference: 6.19% down

League Two

Wimbledon (4,720)
2010: 3,369 (21) Conference
2011: 3,955 (25) Conf/Lge 2
Difference: 17.38% up

Dagenham (6,000)
2010: 2,396 (19) Lge 2/Lge 1
2011: 2,533 (28) Lge 1/Lge 2
Difference: 5.71% up

Barnet (5,500)
2010: 2,019 (23)
2011: 2,365 (22)
Difference: 17.16% up

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