Dot Counting Home League Attendances 2024/25 - 2nd best season ever

[warksox]

Using the figures from the BBC Sport website:
Our average home league attendance this seaon over the 23 matches is 11,369

From the record books we have only ever averaged over 10K three times before:
1968/69 (1st ever season in tier 2): 11,543
1985/86 (1st ever season in tier 1): 11,009
1986/87 10,357

The 2nd best attended season ever

 

[Coffin Dodger]

With a bigger stadium we would have far exceeded these figures.

 

[Jster]

What was our capacity in 68/69, anyone know? Presumably a lot more than 11.5k?

 

[Colin B]

What was our capacity in 68/69, anyone know? Presumably a lot more than 11.5k?

It was quite fluid in those days, and as many as they could cram in. Probably somewhere between 18,00 and 19,000 though. Our largest home league crowd that season was 17,939 against Derby and our smallest home league crowd was 7,005 against Preston, and there was a very large swing in attendances week on week, depending on the opposition, unlike the present day, where crowds don't fluctuate much.

I have most of the away averages for this season, and will complete it today, and put the figures up here, but it looks like we'll finish 12th with an average just below 1,600. I think that is excellent, and will be the highest away verses home average in the division.

 

[holdsteady]

What’s our actual home capacity now? We had different amounts of away fans in sell out away crowds so does that mean we don’t have an exact figure?

What did we average for own travels? Was around 1,500 with a few away games to so must have gone up.

 

[Oxford84]

What was our capacity in 68/69, anyone know? Presumably a lot more than 11.5k?

highest attendance was 17939.

 

[Oxford57]

Going back take good old days at the manor with the crowds mentioned you would have lucky if you saw much of the game to be honest, the Good Friday games against Brum were completley packed like sardines, at least it’s a bit more comfortable now !

 

[Foley]

What’s our actual home capacity now? We had different amounts of away fans in sell out away crowds so does that mean we don’t have an exact figure?

What did we average for own travels? Was around 1,500 with a few away games to so must have gone up.

See Colin's post above

 

[MarkG]

Does anyone know our away attendance at Sunderland this season please.

 

[Scotchegg]

Between returning to the football league and the covid year, we averaged around 7,000. Then in the three league one seasons after covid, we saw an average of 8,600 before hitting 11,300+ this season.

With the away end selling out most weeks accounting for some of the increase, but we're seeing an increase in home fans of around 3500 since before covid. That's a 50% increase in only a few years and shows beyond doubt the appetite for live football across Oxfordshire.

And we know from our own experiences that we are seeing many more families and younger fans coming through. The pricing of tickets for families has made a big difference, and I suspect that the Yellow Division is also made up of several fans benefitting from the pricing on young adult tickets too. But I also think that there has been a real positive embracing of all fans over the last few years and match days feel more of a coming together of one big Oxford United Family than ever before.

@Colin B is far more expert than me, but we know from other clubs that a new build creates a huge uplift in attendance, but it feels like we're already half way there with the organic increases over the last couple of years and if we maintain this then we're easily going to be looking at sell out plus games at the Triangle in the 28/29 season too.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

I was always slightly disappointed with the number of empty seats at our home games, the north stand especially, hopefully we can bump up the average attendance to 11500 (which was the Leeds attendance) next season.

 

[Essexyellows]

RE: Empty seats.

If someone buys a ticket and then "squeezes in" with their mates at the back/elsewhere you get an empty seat................. wouldn`t mind betting plenty of "empties" are in fact present.

 

[CaptainOx]

RE: Empty seats.

If someone buys a ticket and then "squeezes in" with their mates at the back/elsewhere you get an empty seat................. wouldn`t mind betting plenty of "empties" are in fact present.

I get that in the East Stand where there is a large amount of standing to assist with the squeeze ins. But there has regularly been whole clumps of empty seats in the North Stand, particularly the family area and South Stand at either end in the areas normally last to be sold. But games have been selling out in terms of Season Ticket Holders + all general sale tickets being bought.

 

[CaptainOx]

Based on my number and I'm sure @Colin B will cross reference.
I have the following numbers for home games:

OUFC Home League Average
11,369

Home Fans Total
227,762

Home Fans Average
9,903

Total Fans at Home
261,495

​

And the following for away games:

Average Away Crowd
22,339

Total Fans in Away Games
513,794

OUFC Away Average
1,567

Total OUFC Away Fans
34,481

​

*I'm missing an away figure for Sunderland - neither club website has it*
*The Swansea figure being announced as 2006, even though we 'sold out' 2600 is odd.*

 

[SteMerritt]

Just seen the following picture posted on Facebook...



Just over 13K for the game that kept us in the top flight. But look at the other attendances that day, we had more than Chelsea managed at The Bridge, and more that Tottenham attracted to The Lane.

 

[Scotchegg]

Just seen the following picture posted on Facebook...

View attachment 27030

Just over 13K for the game that kept us in the top flight. But look at the other attendances that day, we had more than Chelsea managed at The Bridge, and more that Tottenham attracted to The Lane.

Also David Bardsley scoring for Watford. What a great player he was for us.

 

[Colin B]

Based on my number and I'm sure @Colin B will cross reference.
I have the following numbers for home games:

OUFC Home League Average
11,369

Home Fans Total
227,762

Home Fans Average
9,903

Total Fans at Home
261,495

​

And the following for away games:

Average Away Crowd
22,339

Total Fans in Away Games
513,794

OUFC Away Average
1,567

Total OUFC Away Fans
34,481

​

*I'm missing an away figure for Sunderland - neither club website has it*
*The Swansea figure being announced as 2006, even though we 'sold out' 2600 is odd.*

1,180 was the official away following at Sunderland.

I'm with you on the Swansea attendance. At the moment I'm going with the sell out 2,617 figure. This is based on some tickets being returned and the club posting that they had a very limited number available and then the Sold Out sign came up. On Saturday evening FotMob had a figure of 2,550 for us, and I agree the figure on the OUFC official website looks like a typo, as it came up very quickly after the match and finished and was probably a typo whereby someone meant to type 2,600 and typed 2,006 instead. That figure hasn't been posted anywhere else, including by Swansea.

 

[Marked Ox]

Just seen the following picture posted on Facebook...

View attachment 27030

Just over 13K for the game that kept us in the top flight. But look at the other attendances that day, we had more than Chelsea managed at The Bridge, and more that Tottenham attracted to The Lane.

That was a great day. And Billy Hamilton scoring topped it off.

 

[Chris on a Bike]

Agree, I was going to offer the typo theory too

 

[OX14]

1,180 was the official away following at Sunderland.

I'm with you on the Swansea attendance. At the moment I'm going with the sell out 2,617 figure. This is based on some tickets being returned and the club posting that they had a very limited number available and then the Sold Out sign came up. On Saturday evening FotMob had a figure of 2,550 for us, and I agree the figure on the OUFC official website looks like a typo, as it came up very quickly after the match and finished and was probably a typo whereby someone meant to type 2,600 and typed 2,006 instead. That figure hasn't been posted anywhere else, including by Swansea.

Some away following we have. 16% of our average home crowd number have travelled away this season.

 

[Stranger]

1,180 was the official away following at Sunderland.

I'm with you on the Swansea attendance. At the moment I'm going with the sell out 2,617 figure. This is based on some tickets being returned and the club posting that they had a very limited number available and then the Sold Out sign came up. On Saturday evening FotMob had a figure of 2,550 for us, and I agree the figure on the OUFC official website looks like a typo, as it came up very quickly after the match and finished and was probably a typo whereby someone meant to type 2,600 and typed 2,006 instead. That figure hasn't been posted anywhere else, including by Swansea.

What did Swansea post, as a matter of interest?

 

[Colin B]

What did Swansea post, as a matter of interest?

Nothing. They are one of those clubs that doesn't give an away figure in their match report.

 

[MarkG]

This season i went to 36 games and every one using public transport. Travelled 8846 miles by train (estimate using route planner between stations). Train cost £1635.25 and buses £55.60.

 

[Marked Ox]

This season i went to 36 games and every one using public transport. Travelled 8846 miles by train (estimate using route planner between stations). Train cost £1635.25 and buses £55.60.

That is either very impressive or slightly worrying knowing it to that level of detail.

 

[SteMerritt]

That is either very impressive or slightly worrying knowing it to that level of detail.

To be honest, I have respect to someone who keeps records to that degree.

 

[windmill]

Just seen the following picture posted on Facebook...

View attachment 27030

Just over 13K for the game that kept us in the top flight. But look at the other attendances that day, we had more than Chelsea managed at The Bridge, and more that Tottenham attracted to The Lane.

There were Ipswich fans in the Cuckoo Lane end supporting Arsenal, in the hope of keeping them ( Ipswich ) above the drop......It came to nothing.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

This season i went to 36 games and every one using public transport. Travelled 8846 miles by train (estimate using route planner between stations). Train cost £1635.25 and buses £55.60.

An expensive hobby. What did you spend on match tickets?

I saw 23 home league matches , one home league cup match and 12 away matches.

Saw four away defeats - Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City, Burnley and West Bromwich Albion. Saw the wins at Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday and draws at Portsmouth, Preston North End, Stoke City, Norwich City, Cardiff City and Swansea City.

It was without doubt the most expensive season but worth every penny.

 

[MarkG]

An expensive hobby. What did you spend on match tickets?

I saw 23 home league matches , one home league cup match and 12 away matches.

Saw four away defeats - Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City, Burnley and West Bromwich Albion. Saw the wins at Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday and draws at Portsmouth, Preston North End, Stoke City, Norwich City, Cardiff City and Swansea City.

It was without doubt the most expensive season but worth every penny.

£510 plus season ticket £269. (Face value of the tickets so not including postage and fees of £62.

 

[TailsWeWin]

An expensive hobby. What did you spend on match tickets?

I saw 23 home league matches , one home league cup match and 12 away matches.

Saw four away defeats - Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City, Burnley and West Bromwich Albion. Saw the wins at Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday and draws at Portsmouth, Preston North End, Stoke City, Norwich City, Cardiff City and Swansea City.

It was without doubt the most expensive season but worth every penny.

I must admit I admire those supporters who travel around the country by public transport - and all the potential hassle that involves.
Whilst attending almost all home matches and many away this season (and some of the latter really quite depressing) I admit I have the luxury of travelling by car and the advantage of going “door to door” and the only requirement being road conditions and where to park.
Occasionally, however, the temptation to stay in and watch on Sky has been too much (Hull on a Tuesday night for example).
Fair play to the other 1600 Yellows who I see regularly around the country - and who have travelled without the benefit of a car!

 

[holdsteady]

£510 plus season ticket £269. (Face value of the tickets so not including postage and fees of £62.

Do you keep any record of what you spend on top of travel and match tickets? Like drink, food, merchandise etc? Would be interesting to see a complete total from one season.