Rangers first to break 10K barrier!

According to the EVO-STIK NPL's official historian Dominic McKenzie, the 710 fans who turned out at Marston Road on Saturday to see Rangers host Grantham Town pushed their total gates so far for the 2016-17 campaign over the milestone five figure barrier.

Stafford's current season average of 667 has been achieved with 15 home fixtures, the magnificent Boxing Day gate of 1826 Neil Kitching's side attracted when they hosted Hednesford Town the highest in the EVO-STIK NPL this season and even eclipsing Accrington Stanley's crowd of 1721 in EFL League Two!

The EVO-STIK NPL's cup kings at Stourbridge look set to beat both the total and average in their next home outing. Only 35 spectators behind after just 12 home games, the Glassboys are sitting on 9966 with an average of 831, hailed by McKenzie as "a magnificent achievement at this level and in this day and age!"

Current top flight leaders Blyth Spartans are going well too on an average of 569 thanks to the 7967 supporters who've attended the 14 games they've played at Croft Park.

In EVO-STIK NPL First Division South, the historian and statistician's latest figures show AFC Rushden and Diamonds are still leading the attendance pack with a total 5340 spectators and an average gate of 445 after 12 home games.

In EVO-STIK NPL First Division North, Scarborough Athletic are setting the pace with an average gate of 353 from 13 home games despite playing in exile at Queensgate.

They are just behind Tadcaster Albion in overall numbers though with figures of 4771 from 14 games beating a total of 4592 for the Seadogs. Ironically, Albion's bumper gate of 721 on Boxing Day for the visit of Athletic has helped them nudge ahead with the second half of the season now well underway.

Image courtesy of Dave McLean/Stafford Rangers

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