Dedicated fan 'spending £100,000'

Costs for fans include season tickets, merchandise and travel

The most dedicated football fans spend nearly £100,000 following their team during a lifetime, a survey suggests.

Season-ticket holders who travel into Europe will spend an average of £97,500 - or £1,875 a season - over 52 years, the study by Virgin Money found.

Some £20,000 will go on season tickets, £11,600 on away tickets and cup matches and £40,000 on travel, it said.

The Football Supporters' Federation said the survey backed its view that fans are being priced out of the game.

Other outlays for the most dedicated fans include club merchandise, match programmes and matchday food and drink.

The live match-going fan is football's lifeblood. Without them the millions from broadcasters and sponsors simply won't materialise Malcolm Clarke Football Supporters' Federation

The cost for fans who buy season tickets and club merchandise but do not travel abroad is £1,310 a season, or £68,120 over 52 years, the survey suggests.

For the "armchair" supporter, who typically has a TV sports package and magazine subscription, the figure is £283 a year, or £14,716 over 52 years, it adds.

Football Supporters' Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke said: "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."

The federation said average British ticket prices are priced at around £30 - way ahead of other European countries, with tickets starting at between £7 and £8 in Germany and between £10 and £12 in Italy and Spain.