Crowds in the Football League have climbed to their highest levels for 45 years following a 3 per cent rise for the 2004/5 season.

16.4 million people watched the 1,656 matches in the Coca-Cola Football League – the highest since 1959/1960 (18 million).

The Coca-Cola Championship noted a 10 per cent increase in attendance – up to 9.6 million – and now has an average gate of 17,410.

The chair of the Football League, Brian Mawhinney, said: “These figures are a fitting reflection of the entertainment our clubs have provided and the imaginative efforts they make to attract fans to their games. They are also a testament to the supporters themselves and I salute them for their commitment and loyalty.”

He added: “We intend to build on these figures by working with our clubs on a further programme of attendance-driving initiatives.”

The figures indicate that English league football continues to compare extremely favourably with European leagues. The French equivalent to the Championship attracts an average of 6,425 supporters a game; in Germany the average is 13,458; in Italy, 6,523 and in Spain, 7,503.