Cult Followings: Unravelling the Passionate Fanbases of Lower League Teams
PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - Enthusiastic supporters of Portsmouth create an electrifying atmosphere during a home game at Fratton Park.
Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Everton are some of the teams from the Premier League that have great fanbases, following, and loud crowds in and out of the stadium. But football isn’t only limited to the top tier.
We wrote the above names because you see those stadiums and their atmosphere week in, week out on the television. The Lower League teams do not have the luxury of being televised as often but that does not mean they do not have a cult following or loud atmospheres. Some fanbases across the lower leagues would put some of the Premier League fan bases to shame.
Throughout England, the Lower League Football Fanbases consistently prove that passion for the game doesn’t reside solely in the Premier League. Whether it’s the electrifying atmosphere at Fratton Park or the unwavering support at Derby’s Pride Park, these Lower League Football Fanbases are the heart and soul of the sport. Their commitment challenges the narrative, showing that the essence of football lies not just in star players or high-profile matches, but in the communities that elevate their teams through thick and thin.
Let’s look at some of the passionate fanbases in the lower leagues.
1.  Derby County
The Rams have one of the most passionate fanbases outside the Premier League. Even when Derby was a Premier League club their fans created a hostile atmosphere for the visiting teams. Shame the team wasn’t as good.
Derby averages around 27,000 fans at Pride Park even in League One. Now that is what you call the following. Derby has gone through some rough times recently but that has not subdued their fans’ passion towards their team. They are loud and they are proud.
Derby County has always filled up their away allocations as well. They travel in large numbers and generate quite an atmosphere. The official capacity of Pride Park is 32,956 but in a game against Liverpool in the year 2000, 33,378 fans packed the stadium to watch the game. It is an attendance record for an official game to date.
2.   Lincoln City
Lincoln City has never played in the Championship let alone in the Premier League. That reality has not affected the Imps fans one bit. Lincoln City has one of the most loyal and loud fanbases in the lower leagues of English Football.
Sincil Bank stadium has a capacity of 10,669 seats and Lincoln averages 8,800 fans per home game even in League One and Two matches. For a club that has never played in a league above League One, that is simply huge.
According to FootballGroundMap, Lincoln City was ranked the fifth best-supporting side in League One.
3.  Ipswich Town
Portman Road doesn’t need any introduction. It creates one of the fiercest atmospheres wherever the club plays. Ipswich was relegated to League One in the 2018/19 season, despite that Ipswich’s average attendance stood between 18,000-19,000 fans at Portman Road.Â
The Tractor Boys got promoted to the Championship last year, so expect the average attendance to grow even more. Their away attendance is always near full capacity and they have one of the best away attendances in English Football.
4.  Portsmouth
An absolutely electric fanbase. Fratton Park is a nightmare when it comes to the atmosphere. Pompey fans are up there with the loudest fanbase in the World and Fratton Park might as well be the loudest stadium in the World pound to pound.
19,000 strong fans attend Portsmouth’s home games. Here is the kicker, the club has been in League One for quite a few years now. That hasn’t deterred the Pompey faithful from downing their tools. They are just as loud as they were in the Premier League more than a decade back.
It’s not just the home attendance, Portsmouth averages around 4,000 fans every away game as well. That’s crazy for a League One club.
A word for Mr. John Westwood, the drum-yielding super-fan. Without him and his famous drum, Portsmouth’s famous atmosphere would halve! In all seriousness, John Westwood adds so much to the renowned Fratton Park atmosphere with his constant drumming. True legend.
5.  Sunderland AFC
We had to include the Black Cats. While most of our focus has been on clubs below the Championship, for Sunderland we have made an exception. The Sunderland fans are amongst the best in the world let alone in English Football. They are loyal to their bones.
Which other club can average 30,000 fans in League One? Stadium of Light also saw a record attendance of 46,000 on Boxing Day, 2016. It wasn’t in the Championship or Premier League but in League One! That’s remarkable!
Sunderland, now in the Championship, averages 39,000 fan attendance. Black Cats also averaged around 3000-3500 away fans in the Championship last season. Sunderland’s supporters are one of the key reasons their team hasn’t fallen off the cliff. They could have easily lost their bearings after back-to-back relegations but the support has kept the ship steady and now they are aiming to return to the Premier League. Incredible.
