The cost of being a football fan has been laid bare by a new league, which reveals that Manchester City fans are getting the worst value for money from their season tickets.
The Blues came bottom of a “goals per pound” league devised by personal finance website Fool.co.uk, which compared the price of a season ticket with the number of goals scored at home last season.
The Manchester side, which charges between £385 and £550 for a season ticket, scored just ten times at home, meaning their fans forked out £46.75 for every goal.
Blackburn Rovers topped the league with a cost per goal of just £11.25, having netted 31 goals at home.
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Arsenal, where season tickets can cost up to £1,825, was the most expensive after City, with fans paying £31.50 for each of the 43 goals scored last season.
London rivals Chelsea were in sixth place with a cost per goal of £24.32. Manchester United, meanwhile, did well in the value stakes with each of their 46 goals costing just £14.24.
The Chairman of Manchester City Supporters Club said: “It’s been one of those seasons, and it’s a disgrace we’ve had to fork out nearly £50 for each goal we scored at home. Hopefully next season, fans’ money will be invested in new players which will see us climb down the league of costly goals”.
Separate research from Virgin Money has found that hardcore football fans will spend nearly £100,000 over a lifetime of following their team – nearly enough to pay off the average mortgage.
An avid fan with a season ticket who follows their team overseas will spend almost £20,000 on season tickets, £11,600 on tickets for away games and £40,000 on travel costs over their supporting lifetime. And that’s before club merchandise, programmes and match day food and drink.
The huge cost explains why one in every eight football fans is considering not renewing their season ticket, up 5 per cent on last year, according to Virgin Money. It said the cost of going to a game has risen nearly 18 per cent since January 2006.
Malcolm Clarke, chair of the Football Supporters’ Federation, said: “This research backs up what we’ve been saying for ages. Fans are being priced out of the game. The live match-going fan is football’s lifeblood. Without them, the millions from broadcasters and sponsors simply won’t materialise. We need a new deal for the match-going supporter.”
Club/Cost per goal
Blackburn: £11.25
Wigan: £13.88
Man Utd: £14.25
Everton: £14.28
Middlesbrough: £15.96
Liverpool: £17.30
Sheffield United: £18.01
Bolton: £18.42
Reading: £19.65
Charlton: £20.07
Aston Villa: £20.75
Newcastle: £20.89
Watford: £21.00
Portsmouth: £23.75
Chelsea: £24.32
Tottenham: £25.42
Fulham: £29.11
West Ham: £30.10
Arsenal: £31.50
Man City: £46.75