THE longer Walsham-le-Willows and Debenham Leisure Centre stay in the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League the more impressive it becomes.

Compared to other clubs in the division they are out and out minnows with Walsham hailing from a small village way off the beaten track and Debenham having made huge strides from junior football in less than a decade and also being based in a bit of a backwater.

Their ability to compete is highlighted by attendance figures released by the league this week showing these two Suffolk clubs are the most impoverished support-wise.

But it makes little difference – both clubs taking this adversity in their stride to fight their corner splendidly.

Walsham’s highest attendance this season is 65 for their FA Cup game against Long Buckby, while Debenham’s highest is 110 for a league match against Dereham.

This is way off the 832 that crammed through the turnstiles at Leiston to watch their FA Cup game against Dartford with both Woodbridge Town and Felixstowe and Walton United showing their potential drawing power with a 337 and 305 attendance figures for games against Haverhill Rovers and North Greenford.

Edited attendance 2010/11 highs: Leiston 832, Dereham 689, Wisbech 663, Woodbridge 337, Felixstowe and Walton United 305, Hadleigh United 241, Brantham Athletic 143, Debenham 110 and Walsham 65.

Whitton United are one of the poor relations in the First Division with the 102 attendance figure for their game against Stowmarket Town their highest crowd this campaign.

Fakenham top the Division One charts with 385 with Long Melford at the bottom with 68. Ipswich Wanderers are sixth best with 138 for the visit of Stowmarket with Stowmarket 10th with 114 when they entertained Diss Town.