Manchester United Tops The Twelfth Man Index for Most Loyal Local Support in Premier League
Manchester United has long boasted about being the world's biggest football club, and fresh data shows their local support in Trafford remains incredibly strong alongside their global commercial success. The Midnite Built Different Index for the 2025-26 season, covering all 92 Premier League and EFL clubs, ranks Manchester United highest in the "Twelfth Man" category. This measures how full a club's stadium is and average attendance as a percentage of the local population.
The Long Road Back for United
Despite dominating much of Premier League history, Manchester United has not been champions for 13 years. Since Sir Alex Ferguson left, the club has faced many challenges. However, finishing third last season and returning to the Champions League has reignited hope under manager Michael Carrick.
The fans have stayed loyal through thick and thin. The Twelfth Man metric reflects this loyalty with United achieving a weighted score of 362, topping all 91 other English football clubs.
What Makes United’s Support So Strong?
The index looks at stadium capacity and attendance rates. Old Trafford is nearly always packed, with ticket demand extremely high, which explains plans for a new 100,000-seat stadium dubbed the "Wembley of the North." The current attendance uses 99.35% of the stadium’s capacity, and the average crowd equals 31.12% of Trafford's entire population, showing just how deeply rooted the support is locally.
Arsenal Dominates London Fanbase Loyalty
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal claimed second place in the Twelfth Man rankings. Their passionate supporters witnessed the club evolve from frequent near-misses to Premier League champions under Mikel Arteta. Given London’s crowded football scene, it’s impressive for Arsenal to outshine all their city rivals in terms of local fan dedication.
Nottingham Forest’s Remarkable Climb
Nottingham Forest made a huge leap, climbing 72 places despite a tough 2025-26 season that saw them narrowly avoid relegation. Even with four managerial changes, fans stayed committed. Their City Ground, with a 30,445 capacity, filled to an average attendance representing 24.79% of Rushcliffe district’s population. They lost only one of their final ten Premier League matches, though the Portuguese manager Vitor Pereira was replaced by Oliver Glasner after the season.
West Ham Fans Stay Loyal Despite Relegation
West Ham United dropped to the Championship after relegation, but their fans remained supportive throughout. They rose 36 places in the Twelfth Man table, ranking third among London clubs behind Arsenal and Chelsea. Their loyal following stood by Nuno Espirito Santo’s team even during tough times.
Tottenham and Bournemouth’s Contrasting Fortunes
Tottenham Hotspur managed to fill their 62,850-capacity stadium weekly despite poor league finishes, placing sixth in the loyalty rankings. Their struggles prompted a major summer investment exceeding £200 million.
Bournemouth fell 34 spots to 41st place, impacted by having the Premier League’s smallest ground, the Vitality Stadium, holding just over 11,000 fans. The seaside town’s size and popularity did not translate into higher attendances.
League Two’s Barnet Faces Challenges
In League Two, Barnet finished just outside playoff contention but ranked dead last in the Twelfth Man standings. Located in north London near Arsenal and Tottenham, their Hive Stadium drew only 1.00% of Harrow’s population, reflecting low attendance figures.
Summary of Twelfth Man Rankings Highlights
- Manchester United: Weighted score 362; 99.35% stadium capacity used; average attendance 31.12% of Trafford population.
- Arsenal: Runners-up in loyalty ranking; dominant London presence.
- Nottingham Forest: Climbed 72 places; 24.79% attendance relative to local population.
- West Ham United: Relegated but climbed 36 places; strong fan support.
- Tottenham Hotspur: Sixth place; consistent near-full attendance despite poor league results.
- Bournemouth: Dropped 34 places; smallest Premier League ground.
- Barnet: League Two side, last place; low attendance due to competition with bigger London clubs.
This data shows that despite ups and downs on the pitch, the loyalty of local fans can remain unshaken. Manchester United especially prove that their foundation in Trafford is still rock solid.
