Bolton Wanderers boasted the fourth highest crowd attendance over the weekend in League One as supporters across the country flocked back to grounds.
Restrictions are no longer in place in terms of crowd capacities this season in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the success and effectiveness of the vaccine rollout.
It meant football supporters could return in full to grounds across the Championship, League One and League Two over the weekend.
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The highest attendance of the 2021/22 opening weekend came at the Stadium of Light, where over 31,000 watched Sunderland record a 2-1 victory against Wigan Athletic.
In total, the opening weekend fixtures, League One amounted to a divisional-high over the past six years, as more than 134,000 supporters cheered on their teams, surpassing the benchmark of 116,444 set in 2018/19.
Ipswich Town v Morecambe (21,037), Bolton v MK Dons (16,087) and Charlton Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday (17,639) made it four fixtures out of 12 in League One to welcome more than 16,000 supporters.
It means Wanderers' game at the University of Bolton Stadium - a dramatic 3-3 draw against the Dons - boasted the fourth highest crowd in League One.
Elsewhere, Sheffield United’s return to the Championship attracted a crowd of just over 29,000 at Bramall Lane, with Birmingham City claiming an opening day three points, whilst Coventry’s return to the City was watched on by just under 21,000 against Nottingham Forest.
In League Two, Tranmere Rovers hosted more than 7,700 supporters against Walsall, and both Carlisle United and Mansfield Town surpassed the 6,000 mark against Colchester United and Bristol Rovers, respectively.
In the last season to be completed in full before the pandemic, attendances across the EFL reached their highest levels in 60 years in 2018/19, as 18.3 million people made their way to fixtures.
EFL Chief Executive, Trevor Birch said: “It was great to see full crowds return to EFL stadia across the country this weekend, and we must thank each and every one of those fans for not only their attendance but also their patience and commitment throughout what has been an extremely challenging period over the last eighteen months.
“To see the range of emotions on the faces of supporters and hear the fantastic noise from the stands is something we have all dearly missed and those fans who were not able to travel to the away game, will get the chance to attend a home game and experience the thrill of live football once again this weekend.
“The past few days have demonstrated that fans were ready to return, football was ready to welcome them back and long may that continue.”
