A new study into average attendances at football clubs around the World has been released, and among the usual raft of top tier giants occupying the top spots, sit a club that has fallen on less happy times in recent years.

Sunderland may now be battling for promotion from the third tier English football, but it seems support for the Black Cats is as strong as ever, and the numbers from this survey appear to back that assertion up.

According to the research into average attendances in 51 leagues in 42 different countries between 2003 and 2018 carried out by the CIES Football Observatory , Sunderland's average attendance of 39,249 was the 38th highest on record, placing them above Italian giants Juventus; Napoli and Roma, and Premier League Everton in the top 50 clubs on the list.

In the 15 year period for which the list was made, Sunderland spent four campaigns outside the Premier League, suffering relegation from the top tier in three of them, as well relegation from the Championship in the previous campaign.

The verdict

You've got to hand it to Sunderland fans.

There have been some incredibly dark times in that 15 year period yet they've kept coming back.

This is a tremendous show of dedication to their club, and one that could yet prove crucial in the club's battle to secure an immediate return to the Championship.