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Manchester United Tops Twelfth Man Index for Premier League’s Most Loyal Local Support

Manchester United has long boasted about being the world’s biggest football club, and fresh data shows their connection with Trafford remains incredibly strong alongside their global brand. The Midnite Built Different Index for the 2025-26 season, which ranks all 92 Premier League and EFL teams, placed the Red Devils first in the Twelfth Man category. This metric measures how fully clubs fill their stadiums and the average attendance as a share of the local population.

Old Trafford: A Fortress of Fan Support

Despite going 13 years without a league title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, Manchester United enjoys unwavering backing from its local supporters. Their squad’s recent third-place finish brought them back into the Champions League spotlight, raising optimism under Michael Carrick’s management.

The Twelfth Man score of 362 put them ahead of every other English club, reflecting their near-capacity attendance at Old Trafford and impressive ticket demand. Plans for expanding into a 100,000-seat stadium—the "Wembley of the North"—appear feasible given they fill 99.35% of Old Trafford's capacity, with average attendance equating to 31.12% of Trafford’s population.

Arsenal Dominates London’s Loyalty Race

At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal finished second in the Twelfth Man rankings. Their fanbase’s enthusiasm surged following Mikel Arteta’s guidance to a Premier League title last season. Considering London’s crowded football scene, Arsenal’s ability to maintain the highest local support among the capital’s clubs is impressive.

Nottingham Forest’s Support Persists Through Struggles

Nottingham Forest climbed 72 places in the Twelfth Man ranking during a tough 2025-26 campaign where they barely escaped relegation. Despite managerial changes and pressure, Forest’s fans remained loyal, with 24.79% of Rushcliffe’s population attending matches at the 30,445-capacity City Ground. Their strong finish saw just one defeat in the last ten league games, though a new manager was appointed after the season ended.

West Ham Fans Stay True Despite Relegation

West Ham United faced the drop to the Championship, but their supporters did not waver. The Hammers rose 36 places to fifth in the Twelfth Man index, ranking behind only Arsenal and Chelsea among London clubs. This loyalty contrasts with Tottenham Hotspur’s sixth-place spot, despite Spurs consistently filling their 62,850-seat stadium amid poor league results, prompting a major summer investment exceeding £200 million.

Bournemouth and Barnet Struggle With Attendance

AFC Bournemouth fell 34 spots to 41st, partly due to having the Premier League’s smallest ground, Vitality Stadium, with just over 11,000 seats in a sizable coastal town. Meanwhile, Barnet, competing in League Two, ended the season just outside playoff contention but ranked last in the Twelfth Man table. Located in north London, home to giants like Arsenal and Tottenham, Barnet’s Hive Stadium attracted only 1% of Harrow’s population, reflecting low turnout and limited fan engagement.

Twelfth Man Index Highlights Local Football Fervor

  • Manchester United: Twelfth Man score 362, 99.35% stadium capacity used, attendance equals 31.12% of Trafford’s population.
  • Arsenal: Runners-up with strong London-based fan engagement.
  • Nottingham Forest: Climbed 72 places, 24.79% attendance of Rushcliffe population.
  • West Ham: Fifth place, loyal fanbase despite relegation.
  • Tottenham Hotspur: Sixth place, regular sellouts of 62,850-seat stadium despite poor league finishes.
  • Bournemouth: Dropped 34 places due to small stadium capacity.
  • Barnet: Last in the index, only 1% of local population attendance.

The full Built Different Index by Midnite showcases the varying degrees of local support across English football’s tiers.

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