With more money pouring into the Football League from media rights and sponors, such as Carling, LDV and DIY-chain Wickes, it looks set to have its best season to date.
Wickes joined the line-up of Football League sponsors last month when it committed sponsoring a new award for the 2005-2006 season -- the Wickes Apprentice Trophy.
Just over 400,000 people attended the 36 matches played in the Coca-Cola Championship, League One and League Two last weekend. The average attendance for the opening weekend was 11,223, an increase of more than 5% on last season.
The highest crowd was at Carrow Road where 25,355 people saw the 1-1 draw between Norwich City and Coventry City. Six other matches in the Coca-Cola Championship also drew crowds in excess of 20,000 -- the games at Crystal Palace, Derby County, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leeds United.
In League One, Nottingham Forest attracted a crowd of 24,042 for their clash with Huddersfield Town, while 16,733 people turned out for the first league match at Swansea City's New Stadium, with the home side triumphing 1-0 over Tranmere Rovers.
In League Two, the highest crowd of the day was at Sincil Bank where 5,397 people saw Lincoln City and Northampton Town draw 1-1.
Andy Williamson, Football League operations director, said: "Crowds at Football League matches have enjoyed a sustained period of growth over the last 20 years and it is encouraging to see this continuing into the new season.
"League clubs are making a real effort to ensure that the next generation of football supporters watch live football at their local club and these figures are a fitting reward for all their hard work and investment."
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