The Premier League's lowest ever attendance saw just 3,000 people watch a game between Wimbledon and Everton.
A crowd consisting of 3,039 fans were in the stands to watch the match at Selhurst Park, with the Dons playing at Crystal Palace's home as part of a ground share between 1991 and 2003. The ground share saw Wimbledon's attendances take a hit, with the match against Everton one of three to draw in a crowd of less than 4,000 during the 1992/93 season.
The lowest crowd in Premier League history were treated to a clash between two mid-table sides on January 26, 1993.
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Two goals from Tony Cottee and another from Ian Snodin saw the Toffees run out 3-1 winners on the night, with 1,500 of their supporters making the trip to London for the match.
Snodin later recalled the atmosphere and was quoted by the Liverpool Echo in 2015 explaining: “After I scored I remember running off to my right to celebrate with the supporters and I did a full lap of the pitch before I actually got to any fans!
“Thankfully about 1,500 Evertonians had made the trip south to follow their side. You can see from the pictures of that night that the away end was quite well populated, but in the home end you could pretty much choose where you wanted to stand!
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“It was an eerie atmosphere inside the ground and heaven knows how bad it would have felt if so many Blues fans hadn’t made the long trip south.”
A month later, 3,979 fans saw Wimbledon beat Sheffield United at home, meanwhile, just 3,759 were in attendance for their opening home match of the season, a 1-0 loss to Ipswich Town.
Then manager Joe Kinnear also commented on the impact of the low crowds, admitting: “I’m not going to give the lads a hard time, what they need is an arm around them and a kiss and to bring them all back for Coventry on Saturday.”
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The Premier League's history is filled with remarkable moments, including those tied to attendance records. My expertise in sports and particularly in football (or soccer, depending on where you're from) allows me to delve into the significance of attendance, the impact on teams, and the broader context of the events described in the article you've mentioned.
Firstly, let's address the lowest attendances in the Premier League's history. The match between Wimbledon and Everton in the 1992/93 season at Selhurst Park stands as a testament to the fluctuating support some clubs experienced during that era. The attendance of 3,039 fans for that particular match represents a rare instance in the league's history when only a few thousand spectators turned up. This low attendance was influenced by several factors, including Wimbledon's ground share at Crystal Palace's stadium, which affected their usual crowd numbers.
The article highlights the impact of this low attendance on the atmosphere within the stadium and the experiences of players like Ian Snodin, who vividly recalled the eerie feeling during that match. Tony Cottee's brace and Snodin's goal for Everton led to a 3-1 victory over Wimbledon that night, with only around 1,500 Everton supporters present. Snodin's recollection of celebrating his goal with the away fans due to the sparse home crowd underscores the stark contrast between the two ends of the stadium.
Additionally, the article touches on other instances of low attendance for Wimbledon matches during that season. Notably, the match against Sheffield United and the opening home match against Ipswich Town drew similarly small crowds, reflecting a trend of poor attendance for Wimbledon during that period.
The impact of such low attendances on the morale of both players and managers is evident from Joe Kinnear's remarks. His supportive stance toward the players, recognizing the need for encouragement rather than criticism in the face of these challenges, sheds light on the psychological effects such circ*mstances could have had on the team.
In summary, this article paints a vivid picture of a unique moment in Premier League history, highlighting the impact of low attendance on players, the atmosphere within the stadium, and the broader context of Wimbledon's challenges during that particular season.
