Fans flock to SPFL matches

More than a quarter of a million fans have flocked to SPFL grounds across the country on the opening two league weekends of the 2024/25 season.

An impressive 255,850 attended matches across the William Hill Premiership, William Hill Championship, William Hill League 1 and William Hill League 2 at the start of 2024/25.

Crowds have risen steadily since the SPFL was launched in season 2013/14, with this season’s aggregate more than 50,000 higher than the 201,828 who attended the first two rounds of that season.

Celtic have welcomed the largest support of the 2024/25 season so far, as 58,712 fans watched the current champions defeat Kilmarnock 4-0 last weekend at Celtic Park. The next highest crowd was at Hampden as 48,529 saw Rangers defeat Motherwell 2-1 on Saturday.

Other strong supports across the second weekend included the 17,057 who watched Jimmy Thelin’s Aberdeen win 3-1 against St Mirren in his first home league game as manager.

A total of 7,595 fans were inside the KDM Group East End Park to see Falkirk win 2-0 at local rivals Dunfermline on Saturday in the William Hill Championship – the highest attendance outside the top flight so far this season. More than 2,000 supporters attended the Arbroath v Montrose derby at Gayfield in William Hill League 1 on Saturday.

SPFL group chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “It’s really positive to see such significant attendances right across the country on our opening two weekends of the league season. 

“Scottish football fans are renowned for their incredible support, so it’s great to welcome more than a quarter of a million supporters to league games across our four divisions already this season.

“Our game has enjoyed record yearly attendances for two consecutive seasons now in the SPFL, and these strong opening weekend crowds are more good news for Scottish football.”