Premiership attendances dwindle

The economy crisis that hit the United Kingdom last year also left its mark on attendances in the Premier League. The average gate of 34,150 was down on the figure of 35,600 for the previous season.

Attendances sometimes tumble or rise according to the capacity of the stadiums of the demoted sides and those promoted from the Championship. In the coming campaign, the gates will be boosted by the return to the Premier League of the popular Newcastle United.

Five clubs have shown an increase on the previous season − Manchester City, Sunderland, Everton, Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers. The top three with the highest average attendance were Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City.

TOP AND BOTTOM

Chelsea were crowned champions on the very last day of the season - May 9. They finished one point ahead of Manchester United.

These two clubs, along with Arsenal, occupied top spot at one stage or another during the season.

Further down the table, Portsmouth were at rock bottom from day three. They were relegated on April 10 after being docked nine points for going into administration.

DOUBLES

Man. United (10): Wigan, Hull, Arsenal, Portsmouth, West Ham, Wolves, Bolton, Manchester City, Tottenham, Stoke.

Chelsea (9): Fulham, Sunderland, Arsenal, Wolves, Portsmouth, Manchester United, Bolton, Stoke, Liverpool.

Arsenal (8): Portsmouth, Bolton, Liverpool, Sunderland, Stoke, Hull, Wolves, Fulham.

Aston Villa (5): Fulham, Bolton, Portsmouth, Hull, Birmingham.

Tottenham (5): West Ham, Wigan, Blackburn, Portsmouth, Manchester City.

Everton (4): Wigan, Manchester City, Blackburn, Portsmouth.

Liverpool (4): Bolton, Everton, West Ham, Burnley.

Manchester City (4): Wolves, Blackburn, Portsmouth, Chelsea.

Blackburn (3): Bolton, Burnley, Aston Villa.

Birmingham (2): Wolves, Wigan.

Bolton (2): West Ham United, Birmingham.

Portsmouth (2): Burnley, Wolves.

Stoke (2): West Ham, Fulham.

Wolves (2): Tottenham, Burnley.

Burnley (1): Hull.

Fulham (1): Portsmouth.

Sunderland (1): Hull.

Wigan (1): Burnley.

HAT-TRICK SCORERS

August 19: Defoe for Tottenham (away) vs Hull 5-1.

September 12: Benayoun for Liverpool (home) vs Burnley 4-0.

September 27: Keane − scored four − for Tottenham (home) vs Burnley 5-0; Torres for Liverpool (home) vs Hull 6-1.

October 31: Dindane for Portsmouth (home) vs Wigan 4-0.

November 22: Defoe − scored five − for Tottenham (home) vs Wigan 9-1.

November 28: Rooney for Manchester United (away) vs Portsmouth 4-1.

January 11: Tevez for Manchester City (home) vs Blackburn 4-1.

January 23: Rooney − scored four − for Manchester United (home) vs Hull 4-0.

March 9: Bent for Sunderland (home) vs Bolton 4-0.

March 27: Lampard − scored four − for Chelsea (home) vs Aston Villa 7-1.

March 29: Tevez for Manchester City (home) vs Wigan 3-0.

April 25: Kalou for Chelsea (home) vs Stoke 7-0.

May 9: Drogba for Chelsea (home) vs Wigan 8-0.

KICK-OFF

The 2010/11 Premiership season will kick off on August 14.

Champions Chelsea will play Premier League runners-up Manchester United at Wembley in the FA Community Shield match on August 8.