CHERRIES have released figures highlighting the huge rise in new supporters attending matches this season.

Access to matches has long been an issue due to the limited size of Vitality Stadium in relation to the rest of the division, with many fans already long-standing season ticket holders.

Since the takeover of Bill Foley, the club have been working on various initiatives to bring new people to the stadium, led by president of business Jim Frevola.

That has included upgrades to the ticket exchange system, as well as new hospitality offerings. The hope is to build the fanbase up enough to fill a larger stadium in future, with plans for that in the works.

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Speaking in December 2022, Foley said: “We do need to open up our ticketing to new fans.

“Everyone in the stadium looks like me: old, white guys.

“We want younger people.”

Cherries have confirmed exactly how many fans have come through the turnstiles, in both home and away matches.

They say there are now 21,100 home points holders, a 193 per cent increase on the 7,200 at the end of the 2022-23 season.

That has largely been down to the club offering home points for attending friendlies and women’s matches, to get new fans into the system of then having a chance of competitive men’s fixtures.

A total of 14,199 unique home supporters attended Premier League games, up from 12,000.

Away from Vitality Stadium, 8,184 supporters went in an away end supporting Cherries, up 26 per cent from the previous season.

The club say they took up larger away allocations for five fixtures this campaign compared to the previous year, due to demand.