TT BLOG

Steve Harris – @Byehorse

Steve looks at our best average Plainmoor attendances

TALKING ATTENDANCES

A new record was set by United when they faced Weymouth in their final home game of the season with on Easter Monday, as they recorded their highest ever crowd in National League South of 5,567. As well as beating the Gulls’ previous highest crowd of 5,351 (versus Hungerford Town in 2018-19), it also moved United’s average attendance for the regular 2024-25 season to 3,865; the club’s highest seasonal average since the 2004-05 season in League One under Leroy Rosenior (3,511).

In addition to this, it will also be their highest average crowd since the 1971-72 campaign – the last season of what could be regarded as the greatest era in the club’s history under the managerial reigns of Frank O’Farrell, Allan Brown and Jack Edwards between 1965 and 1972. During this era, the Gulls won promotion from the Fourth Division in 1965-66 before recording the club’s highest ever league finish of fourth in the ‘old’ Third Division in 1967-68, when they attracted an all-time high average attendance of 9,052. They were then relegated back down to the Fourth Division at the end of 1971-72, when their average crowd had dropped to 5,677.

Then from 1972 onwards the Gulls have only average attendances have topped the 3,000 mark nine times (See Below). What also makes the 3,865 figure for 2024-25 seem more remarkable is that the average away following who have made the journey to Plainmoor is 89, with Bath City providing the highest number of travelling fans of 259 and Aveley the lowest at 22.

During the 2004-05 season, visiting clubs to Plainmoor included the likes of Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City, Bradford City and Swindon Town – all of whom are well supported clubs with fans who travel in large numbers.

From a personal point of view having a successful team who have been in contention for promotion has helped, but the enthusiasm created for the club by the Bryn Consortium shouldn’t be underestimated. Free tickets have been made available for certain fixtures as part of ‘Community Days’ – however, such events are designed to help create a positive impression of the club. The hope is many of those recipients will return in the coming seasons which would, in turn, help aid United’s rise up the leagues.