A new survey claims Norwich City fans will spend more than £1,500 following the Canaries around the country this season - and travel almost 4,000 miles in the process.
A new survey claims Norwich City fans will spend more than £1,500 following the Canaries around the country this season - and travel almost 4,000 miles in the process.
City fans will travel a whopping 3,865 miles travelling to all 23 away games - but they have a way to go to catch top of the travel league Plymouth fans who will clock up a staggering 6,056 miles over the season.
According to online insurance brokers COMPAREtheMARKET.com - based in Peterborough - the average football fan will spend more than £70 when travelling away to watch their team:
Petrol (average 150 miles per trip) - £25.00
Tickets - £30.00
Programme - £3.00
Refreshments (beers, pies, etc.) - £10.00
Pre-match bet - £5.00
Plus the wear and tear of extra miles on their cars.
It's a subject close to the heart for the company managing director and avid Canaries fan Jeremy Moll.
“It's amazing to see how much money the average football fan spends following their favourite team, not just at home, but also for away trips, but many continue to do so ensuring they support their team regardless of expense,” he said.
“In a similar way to consumers' spending habits when buying motor insurance, many people are aware they are spending vast sums of cash, but simply choose to ignore the fact they could be saving more money.
“There are various ways of reducing some of these travel costs, such as car sharing, avoiding expensive motorway petrol stations, and of course shopping around for the best deals on car insurance to cover any away day mishaps!”
Moll, who lives in Stamford, has followed City home and away for more than 30 years, having originally caught the Carrow Road-bug after going to a game with his father during the Ron Saunders era that saw the team promoted to the top division for the first time.
“I've supported City since I was a kid because they were my local team and my dad used to go to most games,” he said. “I remember the first match I went to, as it was during the Saunders era when we were on the verge of promotion to the First Division.
“It was a fantastic atmosphere and I really caught the bug, so much so, for the past few years I've been travelling to home and away games as much as possible.
“I dread to think how much money I spend and how many miles I clock up each year, but it's something I really enjoy and something my eldest daughter is getting into as well. It also gets me out of shopping on a Saturday afternoon, which is an added bonus.”
For those fans who are regular away day travellers, here's what else they could get for their money:
A Playstation 3 for you and a mate with footy games
One eightieth of Michael Owen's weekly salary
Pair of Predator football boots for two teams and the matchday officials
Twenty tickets to England's games at the World Cup earlier this summer
Full list of Championship Miles
(23 away games each):
Plymouth Argyle 6,056
Sunderland 5,114
Cardiff City 4,272
Southampton 4,027
Norwich City 3,865
Ipswich Town 3,728
Preston North End 3,699
Southend United 3,699
Hull City 3,651
Colchester United 3,619
Burnley 3,565
Crystal Palace 3,398
Leeds United 3,213
QPR 3,188
Barnsley 2,979
Stoke City 2,827
Luton Town 2,825
Sheffield Wednesday 2,825
Wolves 2,578
West Bromwich Albion 2,548
Derby County 2,526
Leicester City 2,438
Coventry City 2,436
Birmingham City 2,406
Total: 81,482
Average: 3,395
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