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    Non-League Attendance Stats

    Before they joined the Football League in 1960, Peterborough were pulling in crowds 13,000+ for big local derbies in the Midland League:

    http://www.uptheposh.com/matches/2893/

    http://www.uptheposh.com/matches/2780/

    Alvechurch pulled in at least 13,500 (estimated 16,000) for an FA Amateur Cup QF in 1965-66: http://www.alvechurchfc.club/a/club-...86.html?page=3

    Altrincham's record attendance was for a youth game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altrin....#Club_records

    Kettering's attendance exceeded 10,000 three times in their annual FA Cup ties against Peterborough; their ground capacity was around 11,500: http://www.uptheposh.com/teams/110/
    Last edited by Satchmo Distel; 22-09-2017, 12:44.

    #2
    Hayes' record crowd at Church Road was 15,370 for the visit of Bromley in the Amateur Cup, in 1951.

    The ground remained largely unchanged over the years but safety regulations and segregation saw the official capacity reduced to 6,500 by the end.

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      #3
      Dulwich Hamlet drew over 16,000 for their opening match at Champion Hill in the 30s. It was a regular Isthmian League fixture against Nunhead.

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        #4
        Shildon: 11,000 v Ferryhill Athletic, Durham Senior Cup 1922
        Ashington: 13,199 v Rochdale, FA Cup, 1950
        Bishop Auckland: 17,000 v Coventry, FA Cup, 1952
        Frickley: 6,500 v Rotherham United FA CUp 1st Round 1971
        Molesey: 1,255 v Sutton United, Surrey Senior Cup Semi-Final 1966
        Maine Road FC: 3125 v FC United of Manchester NWC Div 1 2006 at Stalybridge.

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          #5
          Big attendances — by today's standards — weren't uncommon throughout non-league football prior to the mid-60s. I was part of crowds of over 5,500 at Hitchin Town for FA Cup qualifying matches, sitting on the edge of the pitch inside the fence. The record is almost 8,000 for a FA Amateur Cup tie against Walthamstow Avenue in 1956. I've no idea how they crammed that many people in, they must have been sitting on the stand roofs. Maximum capacity these days is a little over 3,000, and the ground is almost exactly the same as in the 1930s.

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            #6
            Originally posted by Satchmo Distel View Post
            Frickley: 6,500 v Rotherham United FA CUp 1st Round 1971
            I was there. It was a 2-2 draw, with us equalising right at the end. We stuffed them 4-0 in the replay, with Carl Gilbert getting a hat-trick.

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              #7
              The FA Amateur Cup was a huge draw and it's difficult to find a parallel today; certainly not the FA Trophy or Vase, although they are perfectly honorable competitions and the finals are a huge day out. I don't think it was mainly the promise of a Wembley final that drew the Amateur Cup crowds. Wycombe and Barnet are current league clubs whose record attendances were in the FA Amateur Cup. Colchester and Yeovil had their record crowds in the FA Cup before they joined the league.

              Cambridge United curiously had their record attendance in a friendly, v Chelsea, 1970.

              https://weallfollowchelsea.wordpress...lsea-may-1970/

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                #8
                For the senior amateur clubs it was a national competition you might actually win. It also brought together teams from the South East and North East, the two hotbeds of amateur football, which was rare in other competitions. The qualifying rounds of the FA Cup for example were regionalised.

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                  #9
                  How the fuck did Frickley fit 6500 into their ground? Did they use the slag heap?

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                    #10
                    Bath City's FA Cup tie against Brighton brought over 18,000 to Twerton Park in 1960. Goodness knows where they put them.

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                      #11
                      Originally posted by longeared View Post
                      How the fuck did Frickley fit 6500 into their ground? Did they use the slag heap?
                      Not easily...

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                        #12
                        Wealdstone's record:

                        At Lower Mead: 13,504 versus Leytonstone, FA Amateur Cup 4th Round Reply, 5th March 1949

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                          #13
                          Another thing about the Amateur Cup. There was no promotion/relegation between amateur leagues. The cup enabled Athenian League teams (such as Hitchin and Barnet) to test their mettle against mighty Walthamstow, Wimbledon and Enfield.

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                            #14
                            There was nothing else to do in Peterborough at that time, except counting the sugar beet lorries on their way to the factory.

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