Premiership Bubble Bursting

[Macy]

From thetimes.co.uk


September 15, 2005

Crowds drift away in their thousands
By Bill Edgar



FOOTBALL fans have long complained that they are taken for granted and large numbers seem to have had enough. Analysis of this season’s attendances by The Times suggests that supporters are deserting the Barclays Premiership in their droves and the situation is worse in the Coca-Cola Championship.



High ticket prices, kick-off times changed for television, increasing numbers of live televised matches and less competition for the top three places in the Premiership have been blamed as attendances drop significantly for the first time in nearly 20 years. With the value of media rights having declined in recent times, a reduction of income at the gate would constitute a second considerable blow.

Top-flight attendances have been rising consistently since the late 1980s, the average having grown about 60 per cent in that period, but there has been a levelling off over the past two seasons. There was a drop in the average Premiership crowd figure from 35,008 in 2003-04 to 33,892 last term, but that can be attributed almost entirely to three well-supported clubs being relegated and replaced by three smaller clubs.

To avoid such considerations, it is worth comparing the attendances at those fixtures played so far this season in the Premiership and Championship that also took place last term, thus ignoring games involving Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and West Ham United in the Premiership and those of the six sides newly promoted or relegated into the Championship. The comparison is therefore direct and fair, and the results make grim reading.

The 34 relevant Premiership matches played this season have attracted an average attendance of 33,415, more than 1,500 down on the corresponding fixtures last term, a drop of 4.5 per cent. Matters are worse in the Championship, where the underlying increase, unlike with the Premiership, had yet to level off last season. Taking the fixtures played in the Championship that also took place last season — 54 — the average attendance was 15,839 last term but only 14,477 in this campaign, a fall of 7 per cent.

Manchester City have suffered the biggest fall in attendances in the Premiership, with an average of 4,800 fewer people having watched their meetings with West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth compared with last season. That is a surprise given the team is resurgent under Stuart Pearce, as is the fact that Middlesbrough have experienced the second largest drop of 3,500.

Given that Bolton Wanderers have endured the sixth greatest drop, one of about 2,000 per match, despite having just qualified for European competition for the first time, it seems that a desire to watch a winning team is far from the only factor in determining how many spectators will turn up. It should be said, though, that Everton, after their recent success, have recorded the greatest increases, with 1,450 extra people watching their home match with Manchester United compared with last season and 1,350 more attending the meeting with Portsmouth.

Leeds United have seen the most dramatic falls in attendance in the Championship after protests from fans about the cost of entering Elland Road. Their matches against Brighton & Hove Albion and Millwall have each attracted about 6,000 fewer people than last term, while their meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers was watched by 21,229, compared with 29,773 last season.

Millwall have also seen huge drops in attendances at the New Den, where more than 6,000 fewer people watched them face Ipswich Town. The Wolves-Millwall fixture suffered a drop of 3,000 people. Bean counters across the country will be worried

As for the liars, what a waste of council tax, they don't even go...

[Dublin12]

But still there were more at the Sheffield Wednesday/Leeds game on Tuesday night than there were at the Chelsea/Anderlecht game.

[Peadar]

But still there were more at the Sheffield Wednesday/Leeds game on Tuesday night than there were at the Chelsea/Anderlecht game.

Chelsea are a joke!
They had thousands of unsold tickets for the Community Shield and everyone said it was because "it's a nothing game." Then they have thousands of empty seats for their opening Champions League game, even after an extensive advertising campaign in the local media.

Arsenal didn't sell out last night either.
Overheard the guy behind me talking about having been down in the new stadium doing some work. He went on to say, "Don't know how we expect to fill that place when we can't even get 35,000 in here for the Champions League."

Dark days for Englands top league indeed.

[anto1208]

yea but teams like chelsea , spurs and utd charge so much for there tickets it hard to go to all the games , i think spurs start at about 40 quid , chelsea dont sell kids tickets so if you wanted to go and bring your 2 sons you would need 3 full price tickets . this is why people are staying away .

hope fully they get it sorted out if the prem goes were screwed what do we watch then , the pansies in europe falling about the place or dare i say it the ****e the EL produces

[wws]

I dismiss your post out of hand - national leagues are history merely prelimary rounds of the champions league nowdays, ironically the irish one is one of the few of genuine interest anymore as its in an embryonic and as recent events shows anarchic state - anything can and DOES happen in the el - the prem is just another predictable sideshow which offers a little minor distraction to the CL

[eirebhoy]

Chelsea are a joke!
They had thousands of unsold tickets for the Community Shield and everyone said it was because "it's a nothing game." Then they have thousands of empty seats for their opening Champions League game, even after an extensive advertising campaign in the local media.
I wouldn't pay €70 to see an average football match.

[drinkfeckarse]

Very interesting article. I noticed myself especially with Middlesboro and Chelsea that the crowds were down.

[Dodge]

Yeah but chelsea get 48,000 for a game v Birmingham and only 28,000 for a Cl game so your point is automatically shot down...

[eirebhoy]

Yeah but chelsea get 48,000 for a game v Birmingham and only 28,000 for a Cl game so your point is automatically shot down...
Season tickets... :)

[Dodge]

My last comment was aimed at wws...

[wws]

oh and you of course know the season ticket arrangements for chelsea :rolleyes:

[Dodge]

I dismiss your post out of hand - national leagues are history merely prelimary rounds of the champions league nowdays, ironically the irish one is one of the few of genuine interest anymore as its in an embryonic and as recent events shows anarchic state - anything can and DOES happen in the el - the prem is just another predictable sideshow which offers a little minor distraction to the CL
The minor distraction being 20% more popular thatn the main event?! Crowds are down due to saturation TV coverage and after the boom of the early to mid 90s they were bound to settle/stabalise. Nothing got to do with CL football

[wws]

and the chelseas stat is to do with specific factors relating to chelsea nothing to do with the arguments above

[drinkfeckarse]

Has Stamford Bridge been increased this season?? I thought it held approx 42-43,000 not 48,000.

[Stuttgart88]

A poll in today's Guardian asked "Are you bored with the Premiership?".

83% replied "Yes".

(Don't know how many responded though).

[anto1208]

A poll in today's Guardian asked "Are you bored with the Premiership?".

83% replied "Yes".

(Don't know how many responded though).

they could have just been grumpy fec kers they asked :D

[Kingdom]

Has Stamford Bridge been increased this season?? I thought it held approx 42-43,000 not 48,000.

42,522.

Someone's telling porkies.

[superfrank]

Dark days for Englands top league indeed.
But of course it'll be the Irish fans that are the last to turn their backs on English football, myself included.

[Dodge]

42,522.

Someone's telling porkies.
nah, @twas just me tyoing the wrong figure....

[drinkfeckarse]

14,000 at 'Boro's home UEFA Cup tie. Pathetic really.

[harry crumb]

People dont have the money to pay £50 to watch a soccer match.

£50 is like €75.

And then you look at a fella like Rio Ferdinand(a centre back) looking for £100,000 + a week. Thats disgusting. :mad:

[holidaysong]

Jose Mourinho was asked about the low attendence in their match against Anderlecht and he said: "We have had two consecutive home matches and our supporters are not that rich. The opera, the theatre, the football are all expensive, but our crowd were fantastic all night."

Can you picture a skinhead Chelsea fan going to the opera?! :eek:

[OwlsFan]

Having seen the boring Arsenal and Chelsea game a few weeks back and yesterday Liverpool vs Man U equally boring game, I fear the bubble may be burst. Both teams played 4-5-1: the stuff of dreams I don't think. You'd think Man U with such talented players could risk 4-4-2 but Fergie loves that 4-5-1 and it was awful and the Keane disaster really made a great ending to it :mad:

Probably would have preferred watching Millwall beat Wednesday at home :(

[wws]

14,000 at 'Boro's home UEFA Cup tie. Pathetic really.

boro always seem to have poor crowds as far as I could tell from the tv....and this was before the current fashion for saying the premiership was in decline.....

[Peadar]

Probably would have preferred watching Millwall beat Wednesday at home :(

Ah no, the Watford 2-3 Sheff Utd. game was far better. :D

Seriously though, I think English teams are even less capable in Europe this season than they have been for a long time. Well organised sides will put them all to the sword.
I'm off down to the Arsenal tonight for the Everton game. Not expecting anything much from this to be honest.

[OwlsFan]

Having scored 14 in their last 3 games against Everton, Arsenal must be confident of a few more although there might be a backlash from Everton after their disaster in Europe.

There has barely been a game worth talking about in the Premership so far this season. The Villa vs Spurs game looked good though from the highlights.

[Peadar]

The Villa vs Spurs game looked good though from the highlights.

I watched part of one Match of the Day show this season and it bored me. Says a lot when even the highlights are boring. I think the top division in England went through something like this in the early 90's but there's so much more at stake now.

[Macy]

People dont have the money to pay £50 to watch a soccer match.

£50 is like €75.

And then you look at a fella like Rio Ferdinand(a centre back) looking for £100,000 + a week. Thats disgusting. :mad:
Problem is, for the one or two match a season bods over here, £50 (€75) or £75 (€110) makes little difference on the overall price of the trip. They'll keep coughing up the money, buying the replica's etc. First mugs to be taken for the ride, they'll be the last ones to notice too.

[wws]

think its goes in phases - until someone beats chelsea in a league game the premiership wont catch fire - but if they did it would be frontpage news and bigger than anything. More worrying stat is that the goals per game average has gone under 2.0 for the first time in decades.....and is now worse than Italian football!

also significant that Barca and Real Madrid lost at the w/e - la liga definitely more interesting from that point of view

[Macy]

think its goes in phases - until someone beats chelsea in a league game the premiership wont catch fire - but if they did it would be frontpage news and bigger than anything. More worrying stat is that the goals per game average has gone under 2.0 for the first time in decades.....and is now worse than Italian football!
Fergie's going senile, but his reputation is such that all the other managers copying the 4-5-1 rubbish he's serving up. The emperor has no clothes, but the rest are too afraid to say it..... It's actually quite sad - think of the breathtaking attacking of the 93-94 team....

[tetsujin1979]

I think there's been a definite shift in mentality among managers from winning more than the opposition to move up the table, to not lost as much as the opposition to stay in the premiership. There's less attacking play on this basis, with more focus on defensive work, getting a point from a draw is seen as more important than risking getting 3 for a win

[thejollyrodger]

someone was having a go at the eircom league either here or on boards.ie earlier this season. They reckoned the English PL was brilliant and no one knows who would win (a statement that is laughable now). THey reckoned it was the best league in the world because of the excitment, the fans, the end to end football.

Personally, I think its all hype by the english media and the English PL isnt all its cracked up to be. The real support has been taken out of games and the atmosphere is pretty dry. There isnt the same amount of fans turning up to the games, and those who do sit in silence most of the time. Man u and Liverpool was meant to be one of the best games of the season and it was a real bore. Who would have said that 10 years ago ??

Then there is the top few clubs who have only got bigger and bigger in the last decade. Chelsea have basically bought the league.

Whats the fun in paying over the odds for a ticket to see chelsea win the league ?

here is what the times makes of the best club games of the season


Beautiful game takes turn for the worse
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=94&si=1470657&issue_id=13012

LIVERPOOL 0

MANCHESTER UTD 0

Matt Dickinson

OVERPRICED tickets, dwindling crowds, lone strikers and the title sewn up by mid-September; the beautiful game, Premiership style, is in trouble.

The hope was that yesterday's High Noon showdown at Anfield might provide a break from the negativity and, perhaps even, the spark to ignite a moribund season.

Oh, dear. There was more fun to be had reading the batting averages in Wisden than watching Manchester United, a club famed for its spirit of adventure, play out a scoreless bore with a Liverpool team whose four games in the Premiership (or six hours of football) have yielded a solitary goal.

Liverpool's predilection for drilling long balls at Peter Crouch drew derision from United fans, who were soon chanting "Wimbledon".

Most Liverpool supporters have taken to their 6ft 7in target-man, serenading Crouch with "He's big, he's red, his feet stick out the bed," but he needs an accomplice.

For all the Anfield faithful's implicit trust in Rafa Benitez, many Kopites must have secretly been wishing he had pushed harder to sign Michael Owen. Crouch's flick-ons would have been meat and drink, Port and large cigars for Owen.

This game encapsulated the 05/06 Premiership: cautious. The new obsession with playing one up, a tactic that brought the modest Greeks such rich reward at Euro 2004, has influenced managerial thinking in England. One manager's 4-5-1 is another's 4-3-3 and the set-up of Alex Ferguson's team was only marginally more adventurous than Benitez's.

It appeared that Roy Keane was banned from crossing the half-way line, while Paul Scholes and Alan Smith must have been told that they would be fined a week's wages for advancing beyond the ball.

Unstoppable in pre-season, Cristiano Ronaldo was comprehensively snuffed out by the eager tackling of Stephen Warnock. Even Wayne Rooney - or Wayniac Roonatic as he is known on many back pages - could not enliven this occasion, taking the instruction to calm down a little too far.

"Liverpool set their stall out to make it very difficult to break them down, but we had enough quality to do something about it," Ferguson said. "We lacked a cutting edge."

Steven Gerrard argued that Liverpool had to beware the breakaway threat contained in the flying feet of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. "You have to be a bit cautious," the England midfielder said.

Little caution coloured the usual spiky backdrop. Liverpool's prolific banner-writers had been hard at work, even starting their exhibition with a tribute to the club's European Cups, five large stars, hanging from the bridge where the M62 melts into Merseyside.

An American flag was waved on the Kop, poking fun at the Glazers' club with the message: "We've only got five stars."

Old Glory met new joy from Istanbul with a long official UEFA banner purloined from the Ataturk stadium. United fans were not to be outdone or outsung. "City of Culture, you're having a laugh," they chorused.

Culture? The closest yesterday came to art was in the paint-drying department. Or still life. Frustratingly for a packed house and tens of millions more watching on television around the world, the usual creative springs ran dry.

Rooney appeared more mindful of watching his Ps, Qs and Fs. Ronaldo was largely well policed by the excellent Stephen Warnock, the young Liverpool left-back who put in two marvellous sliding dispossessions of the United attacker.

Gerrard was typically industrious, almost scoring from a free kick aimed to the far post.

As well as Gerrard and Warnock, watching England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson must have been impressed by United's emergency left-back, Kieran Richardson, who rarely looked over-awed on his first league start for the visitors.

At least Eriksson will have appreciated that Premiership rarity, nine Englishmen starting in the outfield 20.

Jamie Carragher put in one magnificent first-half tackle on Ruud van Nistelrooy, who still created one chance, lifted over Jose Reina but also over the bar.

"Ruud said the 'keeper was so far off his line he bwas tempted to chip him," Ferguson said.

United's manager added that he felt the heavy history of this fixture, the enmity between the supporters, weighed on the players, so fostering negative thoughts. "These games are too intense," Ferguson said.

"Maybe this game is too important. It puts players under pressure. It's early season and the players are very fit. They close each other down early."

In an attempt to engineer a breakthrough, Rooney pushed closer to Van Nistelrooy after the break, and only a great tackle from Gerrard denied the teenager a clear run on goal. Gerrard and then Luis Garcia let fly, but to no avail.

Liverpool were improving, Benitez stressed.

"We lost to United twice last season, whereas this season we drew and controlled the game," the Spaniard said.

"We can't waste time worrying about the gap [with Chelsea]."

Ferguson agreed. "It's far too early," he said. "Games like this will not be easy for Chelsea."

Games like this will not be easy to watch again on the video - or DVD. © The Times, London

[mypost]

the atmosphere is pretty dry.

In fairness, it's hard to get an atmosphere going, when a showpiece game like the one above, kicks off at 12pm on a Sunday. Are Real-Barca, Inter-Milan, Roma-Lazio, Boca-River or Bohs-Rovers games on at 12pm on Sundays?? Of course, there will be no atmosphere at games when they're on at such a stupid time!

[Pat O' Banton]

I see Joe Cole is bemoaning the price of Premiership tickets and saying that this is putting fans off! Oh really Joe, fancy a wage cut, then encouraging your team - mates to do the same, maybe then prices will come down. You have to wonder how stupid footballers think that fans are (or how stupid footballers are)

[anto1208]

is not surprised chelsea are getting low attendences , full price kids tickets full priced disabled tickets .

[OwlsFan]

is not surprised chelsea are getting low attendences , full price kids tickets full priced disabled tickets .

I think Chelsea are trying to become self-financing for the day when the Russian oil money dries up. Their wage bill must be enormous and they're asking the fans to finance that. Don't see it happening.

[Macy]

You have to wonder how stupid footballers think that fans are
Stupid enough to keep paying the increases, up till this season anyway. United are one of the cheapest, but compare a Stretty ticket now compared to when it was standing, even allowing for inflation? 1991-1992 £6 (after going up from a fiver the year before). 2004-2005 £26 for a seat in the same spot.

[anto eile]

its hardly shocking the attendances are dropping.who really expected them to keep goin g up and up forever?i dont think the drop is that startling to be honest.but im glad to see people cop onto the ****e media-fuelled business that is the english premier league

[Lionel Ritchie]

In fairness, it's hard to get an atmosphere going, when a showpiece game like the one above, kicks off at 12pm on a Sunday. Are Real-Barca, Inter-Milan, Roma-Lazio, Boca-River or Bohs-Rovers games on at 12pm on Sundays?? Of course, there will be no atmosphere at games when they're on at such a stupid time!

In fairness mypost, this "showcase" and plenty others besides have a history of badness on the field, in the stands (particularly) and in and around the stadia. They're played at that time of the day in an attempt to prevent people getting tanked before kick-off and making a nuisance of themselves later in the day.

[mypost]

In fairness mypost, this "showcase" and plenty others besides have a history of badness on the field, in the stands (particularly) and in and around the stadia. They're played at that time of the day in an attempt to prevent people getting tanked before kick-off and making a nuisance of themselves later in the day.

Since when?? I can't remember hooliganism inside a English stadium featuring Liverpool. Much worse happens on the continent, but their showcase games never kick-off at 12pm. When was the last time, there was violence inside/outside Anfield or OT, when both sides have met? 18 months ago, the sides met at 3pm on a Saturday. Why was our game moved yesterday?? Because of television, not alcohol.

I hope when the 24-hour drinking regulations come into force in the UK, these ghastly kick-off times will be phased out, as fans will be able to get p'eyed just as much at 9am, as at 9pm.

[wws]

Because of television, not alcohol.


is 12 am on a sunday really primetime tv wise??? :confused:

[Clifford]

My opinion FWIW,

It's not so much the prices as the disdain shown to fans that is driving people to not bother. I'm quite glad the happy clappers and the bandwagon idiots are going to be gone soon, only thing is it will be like Italy with a load of half empty stad, but with roaring atmosphere. Maybe even a tackle will be allowed again and people will stop fawning over the fraud that is dim david et al.

11 o clock kick offs for sky, piped music through tannoys, e-mails telling you the team will be upset if your not there Sunday etc..will all continue til the next round of negotiations for the tv rights, then Chels, MU etc will be forced to go off and work alone. I hope they enjoy the Super lg, let the rest of the
clubs to work away. The Arse would be worse affected cos who's to say if they will even be included in that elite, even with a 60,000 seater.

Added to this, is the lack of local lads plying their trade for the clubs and breaking through into the first team, or even a rival team, has been totally diminished and the foreign lads have no need or desire to build a rapport with the fans, with one or two notable exceptions.

The trend will go full circle until we have 8 or 9 academy players in the clubs first and second teams (see Man City as an early debt ridden example Jordan, Barton, SWP, Ireland, BWP, Croft, Onohua and maybe some others all in or on the brink of making it into 1st team squad). Other teams are developing their academies and will reap the rewards if patience is shown (Boro, Villa and others)

I think the cost of going to most clubs with the exception of Chelski is acceptable. Generally between 23-28 sterling (45 euro for 70 mins seemed to get rid of fans for All Ire semi finals of hurling and football). Brum and others sometimes take the mick for away fans, but the Arsenal, man u and Pool are all decently priced at the end of the day.

It's a complex issue with so many aspects.

Most people I know who are disillusioned with football are Man United fans and Pool fans? Says it all for me really.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Since when?? I can't remember hooliganism inside a English stadium featuring Liverpool. Much worse happens on the continent, but their showcase games never kick-off at 12pm. When was the last time, there was violence inside/outside Anfield or OT, when both sides have met? 18 months ago, the sides met at 3pm on a Saturday. Why was our game moved yesterday?? Because of television, not alcohol.

I hope when the 24-hour drinking regulations come into force in the UK, these ghastly kick-off times will be phased out, as fans will be able to get p'eyed just as much at 9am, as at 9pm.

I'll agree that the dominant force at play is Television and the revenue it generates -but the local police forces take these games deadly seriously.

I'm a Leeds supporter and have been over there when Man U are coming to town. West Yorkshire Police can and do virtually close Leeds down. They "ask" pubs to close and object to the licence renewals of those that don't -hence -everyone closes. Leeds is a ghost town when Man U are due -this despite the fact the ManU supporters don't get into Leeds City Center at all. They're herded like sheep (appropriatley ;) ) onto buses and shuttled to and from Elland Road without so much as a **** stop. If Leeds were playing the West Yorkshire Constabulary Amatuer League side rather than ManU -the away team would have more support on show.

The police have found this approach to big games minimises trouble so they repeat it throughout Britain and the FA's are happy to oblige as they don't want to run the risk of trouble and the bad press it brings either.

As to that actual risk of trouble -though neither Liverpool nor ManU are the worst offenders -these two are known, for example, to chant highly provocative stuff at each other (Munich related crap from the 'pool, Hillsborough referencing "96 more" type bile from the mancs) and it's not hard to imagine this stuff getting out of hand if the police didn't take such a keen interest in making sure these games get on and over as early as possible.

[pete]

I always think its funny the way the media write about the over-hyped Premiership & lack of coverage for the rest of Uk football but then devote almost their entire football section to the Premiership.

:eek:

[tetsujin1979]

I always think its funny the way the media write about the over-hyped Premiership & lack of coverage for the rest of Uk football but then devote almost their entire football section to the Premiership.

:eek:
It's not that odd, how much time and space is given by the big papers to Division 1 in Spain (can't think of it's name off the top of my head) or Serie B in Italy, or Ligue 2 in France, etc?? The top teams have the most fans, so they'll be more likely to buy the paper that has the most stories which affect their team (either match reviews/player interviews/match previews/etc).
It's hardly the journalists fault they can't write more about the lower leagues, if they are ordered to write about Barcelona/AC Milan/Ajax/Chelsea to sell more papers

[mypost]

As to that actual risk of trouble -though neither Liverpool nor ManU are the worst offenders -these two are known, for example, to chant highly provocative stuff at each other (Munich related crap from the 'pool, Hillsborough referencing "96 more" type bile from the mancs) and it's not hard to imagine this stuff getting out of hand if the police didn't take such a keen interest in making sure these games get on and over as early as possible.

Does that mean that chants are now "banned"? Yeah, the ko time is really going to stop fans chanting at each other. :rolleyes: Sure, if they don't want to control crowds, why don't they just go the whole way, and just cancel the games altogether?? Then they could eliminate all risk.

As I said before, having early ko times ruins the atmosphere, and inconveniences people, players, officials, and fans. As for the troublemakers, they should be prevented from going to the games in the first place. You don't see flashpoint games with 12pm ko's in Belgium, Holland, Italy, or Spain, when sometimes the police have to deal with running battles, inside and around the stadium every time, the clubs meet.

Even if that is the case, how do the UKP explain why Merseyside derbies should ko at 12.30pm, when both sets of fans are from the same families, and there is Zero trouble at the games?? :confused:

As usual, the majority law-abiding fans suffer, because of the actions of a few. :(

[Macy]

Why was our game moved yesterday??
Because of the trouble. There's trouble, or attempts to cause trouble at every United v Liverpool game (and remember the "battle bus" before you attempt to pin it all on United).

It's nothing to do with TV, as sky would prefer a 4pm kick off as they get bigger audiences...

[Macy]

From manchesteronline.co.uk


TICKET prices are up and crowds are down.

The Barclays Premiership is under the spotlight for the wrong reasons after a weekend which saw fans stay away from top-flight games in their droves.

It has never been so easy to find a ticket for a Premiership game, but that is not good news for the clubs, particularly the likes of Sunderland, Aston Villa, Wigan and Blackburn whose home matches were notable for seats left unfilled at the weekend.

The Stadium of Light was not even two-thirds full for the visit of West Brom, and attendances on Wearside are markedly down - almost by 10,000 - on the crowds which flocked there the last time Sunderland were in the elite.

Villa have spent big on players recently, shelling out £10million on Milan Baros and Wilfred Bouma, but there were almost 9,000 seats empty for the home game against Tottenham.

Wigan owner Dave Whelan had expressed hope of filling the JJB Stadium in his club's first Premiership season, but 16,641 people in a venue which holds 25,000 for the visit of Middlesbrough suggests otherwise.

Blackburn's position is alarming. The 1995 champions offer some of the cheapest tickets in the division but their crowd of 20,725 for yesterday's visit of Newcastle was made more alarming given the visitors brought a huge following.

The Ewood Park capacity is 31,367, yet their support has fallen away since the heyday of Jack Walker, Kenny Dalglish and Alan Shearer.

Clubs have been criticised for raising prices above the level of inflation, and prices on the continent are far more affordable.

The cheapest ticket at Chelsea is £48, and football in the capital is particularly expensive, but across the country prices have shot up.

In the Championship, it can cost up to £45 to watch Leeds, while League One side Gillingham offer top-priced £37 tickets.

Compare that to mainland Europe and the difference is alarming.

To stand at Bayern Munich costs a bargain £8, as do limited places at Ajax, while seats at French champions Lyon go for as little as £14.

The roaming fan can watch Juventus for £25 or Barcelona for £30, less than it costs for a good view and comfortable seat at the Priestfield Stadium.

[Macy]

Most people I know who are disillusioned with football are Man United fans and Pool fans? Says it all for me really.
Most of my mates aren't dissillusioned anymore - they're watching FC, no jesters hats or sky TV.... :)

[Clifford]

Most of my mates aren't dissillusioned anymore - they're watching FC, no jesters hats or sky TV.... :)

Good for them, they'll enjoy the craic there I imagine. Good crowds and banter.