This paper investigates the relationship between consumer affordability, macroeconomic conditions, and attendance of lower league football matches in the North and South regions of England. It aims to determine whether the impact of changes to unemployment rates and average income on attendance differs significantly between regions, confirming a regional economic divide. Fixed effects regression models were used on a panel dataset covering 18 seasons of “League One” from the 2001/02 season to 2018/19. To capture regional differences, interaction terms were employed. The key findings indicate the existence of a divide, suggesting the North region of England to be more sensitive to unfavourable macroeconomic conditions, though only attendance’s relationship to unemployment is statistically significant at the 5% level. It highlights regional contrasts in consumer behaviour, including differences in income elasticity of demand and non-linear unemployment effects. These findings align with previous literature suggesting negative macroeconomic impacts on football attendance, though regional data methods differ from previous studies and are difficult to compare. Important policy recommendations can be made based on the results, at governmental, organisational, and club level. The Football Association are advised to funnel resources into more vulnerable regions, especially in the North, while clubs can reduce the impact of recessionary conditions by opting for flexible ticket schemes and improving relationships with fans. The scope of the results is limited by the lack of data covering multiple economic cycles, but the conclusions are reliable and important enough to be acted upon by policy makers.
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