Every FAWNL team’s average attendance for the 2022-23 season

Photo: Colin Lock

We take a look at the average attendance of every FA Women’s National League team for the 2022-23 season.

The 2022-23 season, which represents the first since the Lionesses famously lifted the Euro 2022 trophy last summer, has seen record crowds and large increases for multiple clubs in the FAWNL.

Peterborough United saw a significant rise in gates, with crowds swelling from an average of 50 to 321 since moving to Abbey Lawn at the start of the 2022-23 season, while Exeter City, Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest, Norwich City, and record-setting Newcastle United were among the many other success stories of the season, each recording notable increases compared to last term.

It’s worth noting, however, that this wasn’t reflected across the entirety of the Women’s National League, though the general trend was one of growth.

Below, we’ve listed the average attendance of every FAWNL team for the 2022-23 season, the rankings for the top 25 average attendances, and a separate top 25 rankings list that includes matches that were held at regular home grounds only (figures shown in brackets where applicable).

NORTHERN PREMIER DIVISION

1. Nottingham Forest – 931 (516)
2. Derby County – 847 (407)
3. Wolves – 800 (497)
4. Burnley – 408 (152)
5. WBA – 264 (111)
6. Stoke City – 237 (96)*
7. Loughborough Lightning – 159
8. Brighouse Town – 141
9. Liverpool Feds – 110
10. AFC Fylde – 103
11. Huddersfield Town – 79
12. Boldmere St. Michaels – 78

SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION

1. MK Dons – 473
2. Portsmouth – 451 (349)
3. Ipswich Town – 426
4. Watford – 408 (255)
5. Plymouth Argyle – 311 (129)
6. Gillingham – 293
7. Oxford United – 290
8. Billericay Town – 199
9. Crawley Wasps – 147*
10. Bridgwater United – 108
11. Cheltenham Town – 101 (70)
12. London Bees – 77

DIVISION ONE NORTH

1. Newcastle United – 3,817 (1,790)
2. York City – 373 (68)
3. Middlesbrough – 341
4. Hull City – 230
5. Barnsley – 208*
6. Bradford City – 201 (121)
7. Leeds United – 181
8. Norton & Stockton Ancients – 136
9. Stockport County – 104
10. Chorley – 90
10. Durham Cestria – 90
12. Merseyrail – 56

DIVISION ONE MIDLANDS

1. Peterborough United – 504 (321)
2. Doncaster Rovers Belles – 320 (210)
3. Northampton Town – 231 (128)
4. Stourbridge – 216
5. Lincoln City – 178 (95)
6. Leafield Athletic – 106
7. Solihull Moors – 70 (59)
8. Sporting Khalsa – 65
9. Sheffield – 61*
10. Wem Town – 50*
11. Long Eaton United – 48*
12. Leek Town – 47

DIVISION ONE SOUTH EAST

1. Norwich City – 1,125 (317)
2. AFC Wimbledon – 342 (126)
3. Queens Park Rangers – 291 (98)
4. Cambridge United – 219 (51)
5. Cambridge City – 78
5. Hashtag United – 78
7. London Seaward – 73
8. Ashford Town (Middx) – 56
9. Actonians – 49
10. Chesham United – 44

DIVISION ONE SOUTH WEST

1. Exeter City – 714 (256)
2. AFC Bournemouth – 437 (174)
3. Swindon Town – 125 (55)
4. Cardiff City – 101
5. Maidenhead United – 85
6. AFC St Austell – 82
7. Southampton Women’s – 81
8. Selsey – 77
9. Larkhall Athletic – 74
10. Portishead Town – 67
11. Keynsham Town – 65
12. Moneyfields – 59

TOP 25 – OVERALL

1. Newcastle United – 3,817
2. Norwich City – 1,125
3. Nottingham Forest – 931
4. Derby County – 847
5. Wolves – 800
6. Exeter City – 714
7. Peterborough United – 504
8. MK Dons – 473
9. Portsmouth – 451
10. AFC Bournemouth – 437
11. Ipswich Town – 426
12. Watford – 408
12. Burnley – 408
14. York City – 373
15. AFC Wimbledon – 342
16. Middlesbrough – 341
17. Doncaster Rovers Belles – 320
18. Plymouth Argyle – 311
19. Gillingham – 293
20. Queens Park Rangers – 291
21. Oxford United – 290
22. WBA – 264
23. Stoke City – 237*
24. Northampton Town – 231
25. Hull City – 230

TOP 25 – HOME GROUND ONLY

1. Newcastle United – 1,790
2. Nottingham Forest – 516
3. Wolves – 497
4. MK Dons – 473
5. Ipswich Town – 426
6. Derby County – 407
7. Portsmouth – 349
8. Peterborough United – 321
9. Norwich City – 317
10. Gillingham – 293
11. Oxford United – 290
12. Exeter City – 256
13. Watford – 255
14. Hull City – 230
15. Stourbridge – 216
16. Doncaster Rovers Belles – 210
17. Barnsley – 208*
18. Billericay Town – 199
19. Leeds United – 181
20. AFC Bournemouth – 174
21. Loughborough Lightning – 159
22. Burnley – 152
23. Crawley Wasps – 147*
24. Brighouse Town – 141
25. Norton & Stockton Ancients – 136
25. Stockport County – 136

*Data missing (Stoke City, Long Eaton United, Wem Town, Crawley Wasps, Barnsley 1 match; Sheffield 2 matches).

Source: FA Full-Time