Non-League football is on the rise, and therefore attendances have increased over time due to a variety of distinct factors.
One of the main reasons is the inflation of ticket prices in the top divisions, where an average ticket can cost as much as £50 for a topflight fixture.
Fans who do not want to fork out half a mortgage on a ticket have started attending non-League more often now.
Another reason is that the stereotype of Non-League is changing – many ex-professionals are now taking part in the lower levels, including the likes of Charlie Austin (Hungerford) and Ryan Seagar (Havant and Waterlooville) in the Southern Premier South.
The capacity size of the four Dorset sides in the higher steps of Non-League football also show that they’re planning infrastructural changes to support even higher attendances in the future.
Another reason for changes in attendance includes how well the team is doing at the time.
For example, Wimborne Town’s highest average attendance in 2023/24 was due to their title-winning season to promote them into the Southern Premier Division South.
Local rivalries are also a key factor – in games between the Dorset clubs, attendances rarely drop under a thousand.
Wimborne’s home fixture last year against Poole saw a whopping 2,094 spectators turn up for a 1-0 victory for the hosts.
With the introduction of Weymouth to the division this year, the other Dorset outfits’ attendance figures are sure to rise even further.
Weymouth have far and away the strongest attendance figures altogether, however, have dropped off due to their relegation season last campaign into the Southern Premier South, and those figures have yet to rise to the illustrious 1,000+ averages this season.
The attendances for Non-League clubs in Dorset have increased through the years and this trend will likely continue.
Non-League football is growing, as well as the fanbases surrounding it.
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