• FA Cup

FA Cup third round attendances reach 34-year high

ESPN staff
January 7, 2014
Old Trafford hosted 73,190 fans as Swansea recorded their first ever victory there © PA Photos
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The FA has revealed more than half a million fans watched the FA Cup third round unfold as the average attendances hit a 34-year high.

A total of 548,907 fans watched the 29 ties held on the weekend of January 4, with three games still to be played after they were postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

That total produced an average attendance of 18,297 fans per game, the highest for the third round stage since 1979/80 season.

The highest attendance of the third round so far came at Old Trafford, where 73,190 fans witnessed Swansea record their first ever victory there over Manchester United.

The North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham was watched by 59,476 fans while Derby County held a capacity crowd of 32,110 people during their loss to Chelsea.

Some 44,103 people were present at Anfield as Liverpool laboured past Oldham while 24,038 saw League One strugglers Sheffield United dump Aston Villa out of the competition.

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