Second Tier Crowd to Rival Leaders Liverpool?

Here’s another attendance flashback piece. This is from February 1984 when Second Division Manchester City were reported as only being a few thousand behind League leaders Liverpool. The article praised City fans of course but it also highlighted the support Newcastle were also getting in the second tier of English football at the time.

In recent years it has become fashionable to knock fans when stadia are not quite full but in the past we tended to praise and recognise those that continued to be loyal. With the cost of football now considerably higher than it was back in the 1980s then I think it’s only fair that we start to go back to recognising the dedication and loyalty of fans. It is so frustrating when modern day fans (often who don’t pay to attend games) or even journalists/commentators/former players on TV (again, often who do not pay to attend games) criticise the supporters of any club if they see a seat or so empty. If only they realised the efforts fans go to to attend games at times usually arranged for the media’s benefit and not ours.

Parking issues, money concerns, travel gridlock, strikes, weather, travel, work… a whole host of things get in the way and it takes dedication to attend any game.

Lots more on this website about attendances. If you want to know crowd comparisons for the decade before 1983-84 season then this is well worth reading. It may surprise fans of some clubs: