Cardiff City have seen attendances rise by seventeen per cent since last season - the fourth highest percentage increase in The Football League Championship.

Average crowds between August and December have been 20,969, compared to 17,886 over the same period last season. The increase is part of a positive trend across the Coca-Cola Football League, with crowds rising by more than 3% on the first half of last season.

More than 8.6m fans have attended Football League matches during the first five months of the 2009/10 league season at an average of 10,441 fans per match. Football League crowds are currently at their highest levels for 50 years and have topped the 16 million mark in each of the last five seasons.

Football League Chairman, Lord Mawhinney, said: "It is very encouraging to see more and more supporters going through the turnstiles at Football League grounds. The dedication they have shown towards their clubs during a challenging economic period further underlines the strength of the domestic game."

The League's two showpiece cup competitions - the Carling Cup and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy - have also witnessed growing popularity this season.In the Carling Cup, crowds have increased by more than 3% during the competition's 50th year, whilst the Johnstone's Paint Trophy has seen attendances rocket by a massive 37%.