With the entirely alarming revelations today that Premier League teams might be *gasp* padding their attendance statistics, Pies thought we’d hark back to a time when football stadiums were legitimately filled to bursting point.
Not that we yearn for the halcyon days of routine discomfort and restricted views, but still – you can’t fault this lot for enthusiasm…
Thousands of fans at the Saturday football, 1900
Flat caps galore as Brighton & Hove Albions congregate behind a picket fence at the Goldstone Ground to watch their side play Coventry City, 1911
Tottenham fans brave the January chill at White Hart Lane, 1912
Hats are raised as fans enjoy a spiffingly good game between Swindon Town and Everton, 1912
Hull City fans stand in front of the newspaper booth as they take in an 8-2 victory over Huddersfield, 1913
An ambulanceman give out drinks of water to fans watching Tottenham and Man City play amid sweltering temperatures, 1913
Expectant Southampton fans await the start of their side’s game against Millwall at The Dell, 1914
Brighton fans again, this time watching a game against Chelsea, 1920
Cardiff City fans go to extreme lengths (or heights) to improve their view of a game against Chelsea, 1921
Tottenham fans find a perch to watch the FA Cup semi-final replay against Cardiff at White Hart Lane, 1922
A vastly overcrowded stadium forces droves of fans onto the Wembley pitch during the 1923 FA Cup Final (see more photos of the infamous ‘White Horse’ final)
Droves of Manchester United supporters watch their team play Fulham in London, 1926
Local bobbies keep young Arsenal fans in check during an FA Cup match against Aston Villa at Highbury, 1928
A bustling crowd scene from the 1928 FA Cup final between Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield
A Hull City fan jangles his umbrella before an FA Cup tie against Arsenal, 1930
An absolutely huge turn out is recorded at Highbury for a match between Arsenal and Aston Villa, 1930
West Ham fans have a jolly old time during an FA Cup semi-final match against Everton at The Hawthorns, 1933
St John’s Ambulancemen attend to fan who fainted during the derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, 1934
Chelsea fans cram (some incredibly precariously) into Stamford Bridge to watch the local derby against Fulham, 1935
Determined Chelsea fans peer over the perimeter fencing to watch a match against Arsenal at the Bridge, 1935
Thousands of Tottenham fans watch their team in action at White Hart Lane, 1937
Another truly vast crowd at Highbury, this time for a game against Charlton, 1938
Wembley fills up once again, this time for an international match between England and Scotland, 1942
Young Chelsea fans are passed to the front of the crowd to avoid the crush during a game against Arsenal, 1947
Just a section of the 99,000 fans who travelled to Wembley to watch the 1948 FA Cup final between Manchester United and Blackpool
At this point, we’d forgive you a nostalgic sigh.