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20 years of attendances at Adams Park - Part 2

This is the second part of a piece published in August 2010 to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of the move from the much loved Loakes Park to Adams Park. Part One looked at the first ten years at Adams Park, the rise to Football League status and the parallel rise in capacity from the initial 6,000 to the 10,000 figure set when the Woodlands Stand was built in 1996. The second ten year period began with arguably the most memorable cup run in the Wanderers long history. 2000/01 Perhaps the greatest fairytale in the Wanderers history happened in 2000/01 as the club reached the FA Cup Semi-Finals, losing 2-1 to Liverpool at Villa Park. Naturally with such success, the crowds followed and the 9,000 barrier was smashed twice, with a new record of 9,650 for the fifth round tie with Wimbledon. The seasons average climbed from 5,104 to 5,575. Highest cup - 9,650 v Wimbledon 17th February 2001 FA Cup 5th Round Highest league - 7,516 v Colchester United 5th May 2001 Lowest league - 4,410 v Bury 11th November 2000 Average league - 5,575 2001/02 Riding on the crest of the FA Cup wave, the 9,000 barrier was beaten for a league game twice, against Queens Park Rangers and Reading, and the lowest crowd remained above 5,000. The seasons average is the best the club has even recorded at 6,681. Highest cup - 9,921 v Fulham 8th January 2002 FA Cup 3rd Round Highest league - 9,250 v Reading 26th February 2002 Lowest league - 5,400 v Wigan Athletic 15th September 2001 Average league - 6,681 2002/2003 The 2002/03 season was something of a disappointment as Lawrie Sanchez started to lose control and results deteriorated. Somewhat predictably the crowds did too, although the average for the season was still 6,002. Highest cup - 5,630 v Brentford 16th November 2002 FA Cup 1st Round Highest league - 8,383 v Queens Park Rangers 26th August 2002 Lowest league - 4,897 v Chesterfield 29th October 2002 Average league - 6,002 2003/04 The 2003/04 season was arguably one of the clubs most disappointing since promotion to the Football League. Lawrie Sanchez was sacked in September and only six league games were won. Tony Adams couldn't prevent the club from suffering only the second relegation in its entire history. The average gate dropped by around 700. Highest cup - 6,072 v Aston Villa 23rd September 2003 League Cup 2nd Round Highest league - 7,634 v Queens Park Rangers 20th March 2004 Lowest league - 4,401 v Colchester United 16th September 2003 Average league - 5,290 2004/05 A change in ownership structure and another managerial change in November didn't help bring success on the field. John Gorman was appointed manager after Adams resigned but crowds continued to fall, with the first sub-4,000 attendance in four and a half years. The average also fell below the 5,000 barrier for the first time since the 1995/96 season. Highest cup - 4,767 v Luton Town 4th December 2004 FA Cup 2nd Round Highest league - 8,124 v Chester City 8th March 2005 Lowest league - 3,884 v Rushden and Diamonds 19th October 2004 Average league - 4,937 2005/06 An incredible 21-game unbeaten run at the start of the season saw the club looking at promotion until a double tragedy put paid to those hopes with defeat in the play-off semi-finals. The average was up around 500 to 5,445. Ironically the current record attendance at Adams Park was set on 13th July 2005, and it wasn't even for a competitive game. It came in a pre-season friendly against then English Champions Chelsea and was exactly on the capacity of 10,000. Highest cup - 5,365 v Aston Villa 20th September 2005 League Cup 2nd Round Highest league - 7,134 v Torquay United 18th March 2005 Lowest league - 4,166 v Wrexham 27th September 2005 Average league - 5,445 2006/07 Another change in the managerial hot-seat at the start of the 2006-07 heralded yet another amazing cup run, this time the semi-finals of the League Cup were reached and they were paired with then English Champions Chelsea, and the team even drew the first leg 1-1. After an encouraging start the league campaign tailed off alarmingly and the average crowd dipped back down to just below 5,000. Highest cup - 9,771 v Chelsea 10th January 2007 League Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg Highest league - 7,150 v Franchise 28th April 2007 Lowest league - 3,885 v Darlington 5th December 2006 Average league - 4,983 2007/08 League performances improved under Paul Lambert who guided the team into the Play-off semifinals, losing 2-1 to Stockport County on aggregate. A disappointing trend in cup attendances continued with the F.A. Cup mirroring the League Cup. The average league attendance also fell by around 250 to 4,736. Highest cup - 3,332 v Swindon Town 10th November 2007 FA Cup 1st Round Highest league - 6,202 v Peterborough United 5th April 2008 Lowest league - 3,821 v Morecambe 14th December 2007 Average league - 4,736 2008/09 After five years in League Two, promotion was achieved by the narrowest of margins of one goal, under new boss Peter Taylor, who was appointed after the resignation of Paul Lambert. The lowest league crowd for a home game in more than ten years was set four times during the season, with 3,713 watching the 2-0 win over Chester City. Another record was set, with the highest ever league crowd at Adams Park, 9,625 watching the final day 2-1 defeat to Notts County, which saw the club promoted. The seasons average rose back above 5,000. Highest cup - 2,735 v Birmingham City 13th August 2008 League Cup 1st Round Highest league - 9,625 v Notts County 2nd May 2009 Lowest league - 3,713 v Chester City 3rd March 2009 Average league - 5,109 2009/10 Despite the presence of big clubs like Leeds United, Norwich City, Charlton Athletic and Southampton in League One, the club didn't come close to selling out its 10,000 capacity, with the highest attendance of 8,400 recorded for the visit of Leeds. It's also interesting to note the highest cup figure of 2,749 (v Brighton in the FA Cup) is less than half that of the 5,695 that watched the Peterborough United FA Cup tie back in December 1990 - a sad endictment of a once celebrated and much loved competition. Meanwhile, despite relegation, the season's league average rose to close to 5,500. Highest cup - 2,749 v Brighton & Hove Albion 7th November 2009 FA Cup 1st Round Highest league - 8,400 v Leeds United 15th August 2009 Lowest league - 3,899 v Tranmere Rovers 29th September 2009 Average league - 5,445 In the first 17 seasons of League Football (up to and including 2009/10), Wycombe Wanderers' average home league attendance was 5,345. In the first 20 years at Adams Park the average League attendance was 5,093. Adams Park attendances - Part 3 (2010/2011 to 2014/2015) >>>>>> Also see The move to Adams Park in August 1990 - what they said The Adams Park sell-outs

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