It may have been a forgettable season for Bristol City, but ninth place in the Championship table underlines that the club's untapped potential remains.
City's support is impressive. Gates have remained steady amid the apathy of a season that will certainly conclude in the lower mid-table region under Nigel Pearson. They hold a place in the top half of the attendance table despite a campaign that has rarely given fans an opportunity to get excited about the future.
However, there is a lesson in the numbers for City and their rivals, particularly with financial issues being endured at Ashton Gate and across the Championship. There is no correlation between the size of the club and success in the second tier.
Here is how their average home attendances compare to their rivals in the Championship, according to TransferMarkt...
- Sheffield United - 27,443 (Capacity 32,702)
- Nottingham Forest - 26,800 (Capacity 30,602)
- Derby County - 22,719 (Capacity 33,597)
- West Bromwich Albion - 22,222 (Capacity 26,850)
- Middlesbrough - 21,471 (Capacity 33,746)
- Stoke City - 20,837 (Capacity 30,089)
- Birmingham City - 19,674 (Capacity 29,409)
- Coventry City - 19,059 (Capacity 32,609)
- Bristol City - 18,855 (Capacity 27,000)
- Cardiff City - 18,266 (Capacity 33,280)
- Fulham - 17,520 (Capacity 21,088)
- Swansea City - 17,167 (Capacity 21,088)
- Huddersfield Town - 17,126 (Capacity 24,500)
- Queens Park Rangers - 14,185 (Capacity 18,360)
- Barnsley - 13,360 (Capacity 24,009)
- Blackburn Rovers - 12,830 (Capacity 31,367)
- Millwall - 12,596 (Capacity 20,146)
- Hull City - 12,429 (Capacity 24,983)
- Reading - 12,356 (Capacity 24,161)
- Preston North End - 11,970 (Capacity 23,408)
- Blackpool - 11,755 (Capacity 16,220)
- Peterborough United - 9,909 (Capacity 15,314)
- Luton Town - 9,847 (Capacity 10,226)
- AFC Bournemouth - 9,460 (Capacity 11,329)
It is important to note that the attendances announced by clubs are often not a completely accurate reflection of supporters in seats, with season ticket holders regardless of whether they attend.
The table does prove that the Championship is a great leveller with little regard for the size of a club's fanbase. The bottom two places in the attendance table are occupied by second and third in the league table respectively.
Sure, Bournemouth are well backed and powered by parachute payments, but Luton Town are an example to all clubs of what is possible with creative, clever recruitment and having a manager ideally suited to the role.
In fact, all but two of the current top six are in the bottom half of the attendance table, underlining the meritocracy that is the second tier. Parachute payments for clubs relegated from the top flight doubtless help, but several small-budget clubs have reached the Premier League promised land over the years and will continue to do so.
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
