We got and an average of 5,500 when Ramsden got us in the 2nd division (now championship).
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It’s what he said and whilst may not have been literally what he meant, it betrayed his bordering contempt for fans who questioned his way. I think what he meant was “why don’t you malcontent, ignorant, ungrateful bastards just rock off and leave me alone”. Which some did and never came back.
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I don’t think the size of the borough is particularly relevant to our gates. There are probably more people who see ManU as their “first” team than us. The West Midlands has 4 other clubs traditionally seen as bigger than us and, in the modern age, are the ones that get most of the publicity. I think most of our support comes from parents taking children and once addicted, they stick. So, I think the financial offer is important, plus getting the word out, plus a winning team.
If there are any still saying away because of perceived betrayal, they should realise that things have changed drastically. Frankly, from when Trivela took over, they have transformed the club.
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It is dangerous to conflate eras and compare us with us.
Those crowds weren’t complete outliers for the second division at that time.
During the 80’s our current crowds would see us easily the best supported side in the fourth tier and one of the best in the third.
So whilst moving forward we have similtanously fell hugely behind. One of the few league clubs who are now getting what we got in the mid 80’s.
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Yes but we have managed higher than that since then. Football was at a real low at that time.
I’m not sure we would get 10k right away though to be fair, I’d guess with the increased away attendances we’d be at least 7000+
2000 to 2004,
2004 Is the top of the list.
The crowds of Charlton, QPR, Luton, Wombles, Oxford and Leicester, all 12,000 or fewer, if we had somehow worked our way to division one we wouldn’t have been completely outgunned attendance-wise at that time, would we?
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That’s not averages, that’s just a single game probably playing Albion or Wolves or something.
It’s 100% the average
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My point still stands, our home support is still averaging about 5,000, any more and it’s a big away following that makes the extra up. It’s our home fans average need a boost. Against Carlisle when we’re on the best run we’ve been on for many years it was below 5,000 and Carlisle brought 3-400.
From my experience of seeing rising attendances when we are doing well, it is the away support that starts to swell, to the point that you can’t get a ticket 
Tuesday night in League 2, which hopefully isn’t our final destination. When it is available to watch on TV, and Vile were on TV in the Champions League ( I know, vomit)
We get better gates now than when we finished 3rd in League 1. We are already breaking the 5k ceiling and are at about 5 and a half right now.
The potential for growth probably isn’t huge but there is definitely some. 7000 + is possible but it won’t happen while we are in league 2.
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I sincerely hope I am wrong and you are right bud, I think analysis of the Bolton attendance will be very telling, the tickets are dirt cheap and we are playing some of the best football I’ve seen in years.
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In the same census that gives the Walsall population as 70,778 the Bloxwich population is given as 51,879, so for the purpose of potential Saddlers home fan base (I.e. including the areas @geordiesaddler lists) I think 250k/300k is closer to the mark as per @SuperGabor & @Poloman have posted
Newport was full of the the 6 fingered buggers until they stalled on 1 point
All disappeared for a while.
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Populations are a total misnoma when talking about support in this context nower days. 50/60/70 plus years ago yeah valid argument
But considering
Each town in the Black Country, Birmingham and Greater Birmingham area bleed in to each other. You could argue Tamworth, Lichfield. Cannock, Kiddy sit independently. Than the likes of Shrews, Telford, Cov, Leics, Stoke further a field . For the main part Greater Brum and the Black County is one big mass nower days.
Plus even back in the day, for someone in Walsall, opting to follow Wolves or Villa or WBA wasn’t going to cause them much hassle transport wise. Buses Trams and Trains have always connected the towns well.
I thought cheslyn hay n great wyrley comes under Walsall also
So youre saying we have a potential fanbase of over 2m?
Marvelous, best get building the bigger stadium now. 
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Is that at Bescot or Essington?
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