Fans continue to flock to the Football League

The Championship is now the fourth most watched league in Europe, with its total audience of 9.4 million fans bettered only by the Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga and Spain's La Liga.

An average 17,022 people visited games in the Championship - down by over 1,000 on last year's total - with 195 matches being watched by a crowd of more than 20,000 and six by more than 30,000.

League One also recorded its highest set of attendance figures for 36 years, as average crowds rose by 6.7 per cent to 7,992, while League Two saw a 5.1 per cent increase to an average crowd of 4,343.

Attendances also grew in the League Cup and Football League Trophy.

Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney said: "These are another set of impressive figures.

"I would like to offer my appreciation to everybody that has gone to watch league football this season. Our competitions thrive on the passion and loyalty that fans give to their clubs."

"I would also like to congratulate league clubs on the efforts they have made to fill their grounds."