A new study of global attendances has illustrated, once again, the huge potential of Newcastle United.
The Swiss-based football think tank the CIES Football Observatory has studied the evolution of attendances across the global game and produced figures that suggest the Bundesliga and the Premier League continue to be the most popular leagues in Europe.
Newcastle are the 13th best supported club in the world in the years between 2013-18 – a period that, incredibly, included a season in the second tier.
Only three clubs in the Premier League have a higher average attendance over that period – Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City (by a measly 143 supporters).
Considering United – unlike many of the teams they are above in the CIES table – have not finished higher than 10th in the period listed, it is a further shot in the arm for those who contend Newcastle should be aiming for more than just top flight survival year in, year out.
With the exception of Hamburg – who also retain huge crowds despite underachievement – the teams ahead of United are high achievers, collecting trophies and top eight finishes to go with their huge crowds. But Newcastle, one of only three clubs on the list who maintainted their crowds despite relegation, have not finished above 10th in that time and have not progressed past the quarter-finals of any domestic Cup competition either.
CIES crunched the numbers for attendances in 51 national football leagues situated in 42 different countries.
Rafa Benitez delivers update on his future as he awaits 'answers' from Newcastle United
The big selection posers Rafa Benitez is weighing up ahead of Friday's trip to Leicester City
