The bosses of a Glasgow sports team have been blown away by their 'outstanding' fans who broke two records.
Almost 11,000 Glasgow Clan supporters attended their club's recent run of home games at Braehead Arena against Dundee Stars, Belfast Giants and Fife Flyers.
The home fixture against Dundee saw a swarm of 3552 dedicated fans, and the previous record of 3567 was broken when an extra ten came to the Belfast game.
Just four days later, a new record of 3602 Clan fans watched their beloved team take on the Fife side.
These numbers mean that more ice hockey fans watched the Clan than seven of the SPFL Cinch Championship games over the festive period.
Partick Thistle vs. Inverness attracted a crowd of 3326, Airdrie against Morton saw a crowd of 1672 and there were 2072 fans at the Ayr United vs. Dunfermline game.
Clan managing director Gareth Chalmers said: “Football may well be seen as our national game, but The Clan’s attendances are the biggest of all the Scottish Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) teams and we’re attracting bigger crowds than some professional football teams in the SPFL.
“It’s been outstanding to see almost 11,000 people attend our home games during the festive period, a record period for the club in terms of fans joining us at Braehead Arena. It’s no wonder our fans are called the Purple Army.
“Even more positive is that we broke our home attendance record not once, but twice during the festive period."
Ice hockey is fast becoming one of the fastest-growing spectator sports in the UK and the EIHL reported that over Christmas and New Year, 80,745 fans watched their games.
Mr Chalmers added: “EIHL hockey in Scotland continues to grow with ourselves, Dundee and Fife all enjoying bumper festive attendances.
"That’s testament to the work being done by the clubs behind the scenes and the fans playing their part by inviting family, friends and colleagues to join the Purple Army.
“Considering it’s an expensive time of year and the team haven’t been in the best run of form in the run-up to the festive period, we’d like to thank everyone that supported us and turned out in record numbers.
“Attendances have continued to grow and we’re currently benefitting from our best-ever average number of fans attending games at Braehead Arena.
"This undoubtedly provides us with a very solid platform to drive the club to the success we sought on the ice.”
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