According to the official attendance figures compiled for delighted Ryman League officials, a total of 380,470 fans flocked to games during 2013-14 campaign, the crowds breaking the 300,000 mark for the first time in seven seasons since the 2008-09 season when 325,766 were paying spectators.

In more welcome news, the gates were also the third highest posted since the Football Association’s major restructuring of Non-League football in time for the 2004-05 season when the Ryman League lost more than a quarter of its clubs in the major shake-up.

The Ryman League’s Premier Division unsurprisingly dominated the figures in attracting 54.8 per cent of the total. Crowds were up in all three divisions from the first month of the campaign with 58,029 fans attending August’s fixtures, up from 23,302 in August 2012. And with the exception of February and March when the country was suffering its wettest winter on record, they carried on that way until the final weeks of the season.

In total, 207,634 fans were recorded at top flight fixtures, 58,395 in Ryman North and 114,441 in Ryman South. In terms of highest attendances, the Ryman Premier’s came at Maidstone United versus Dulwich Hamlet in March when 2296 supporters were at the Gallagher Stadium in Kent.
In Ryman South, Guernsey at home to Horsham back in August set the benchmark with 1363 spectators. The opening month of the campaign also saw the biggest gate in Ryman North, 359 attending AFC Sudbury’s home game against Needham Market.

As expected, the statistics also highlighted the success of numerous clubs in all three divisions attracting record numbers of new and old fans through the turnstiles at the Ryman League’s 72 clubs.

In the Ryman Premier, 41,879 supporters saw Maidstone United play, a rise of 7.2 per cent on the previous season. The top fight’s other big winners were champions Wealdstone with a rise of 24.1 per cent after 15,645 supporters attended The Vale.
Elsewhere, Kingstonian were up 15.8 per cent thanks to their figure of 8048 paying customers at Kingsmeadow and Dulwich Hamlet rose an astonishing 36.5 per cent with 15,344 heading for Champion Hill over the campaign.
Thamesmead Town are also heading in the right direction after posting a huge rise of 105.7 percent on the previous season, 2463 supporters turning out to see them in action.
In Ryman South, Burgess Hill Town and Leatherhead posted the biggest rises. Crowds at the Hillians’ newly renamed Green Elephants Stadium were up 15.4 percent at 5327 while the figures at Fetcham Grove rose by 10.9 per cent to 5360.
Harlow Town were the standout club in Ryman North after posting one of the biggest rises across the entire league, a figure of 4183 helping the Hawks to record a 33.8 per cent improvement. Cheshunt’s officials have plenty to build on next season too after posting a lift of 13.4 per cent thanks to the 3288 spectators who saw the Ambers at home.

Ryman League Chairman and President Alan Turvey said: "The figures are a testament to the hard work of our clubs and the success they are having in working in their local communities to attract news fans and encourage existing supporters to back them.
"There is always more that can be done but we are absolutely delighted with the statistics from the season just gone and are sure our clubs will be aiming to build on the biggest crowds we have seen in years next season as they continue to go from strength to strength."

Ryman Premier Attendance
Ryman North Attendance
Ryman South Attendance

Ryman League