Survey reveals the most travelled supporters in football are Plymouth Argyle’s

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Survey reveals the most travelled supporters in football are Plymouth Argyle's

Survey reveals the most travelled supporters in football are Plymouth Argyle’s

The latest research from Capital One, the credit card company who are now the sponsors of the Capital One Cup, reveals that the team whose supporters will cover the most mules this season is Plymouth Argyle.

The league 2 side will take their fans on a journey that will total 11,068 miles, meaning that they will travel for approximately 200 miles and spend over £2000 on fuel.

At the other end of the scale in Aston Villa, whose fans will do the least amount of travelling. Villa fans will travel a mere 4397.4 miles, with supporters spending around 79 hours on the road and spending £822.94 on fuel.

Across all the divisions that make up the football league, the average fan will travel 6540 miles, spend 120 hours travelling and spend £1230 on fuel, if they go to all of their teams away matches.

The Capital One Cup Football Travel Index reveals fans in League 2 journeying to all away league games will travel on average 25% further during the season than fans of Premier League clubs.  Fans of League 2 sides will drive 7,238 miles this season supporting their clubs at away games, travelling 131 hours to watch their side in action and spending £1,360 on fuel.  Premier League fans on average will cover 5,806 miles of road to away matches, clocking up 106 hours and spending £1,084.

Michael Woodburn, Chief Marketing Officer, Capital One said:  “The passion and dedication of football fans never ceases to inspire.  Be it the Toon Army, Gooners or Pirates, supporters travel the length and breadth of the country and spend thousands of pounds on travel and tickets journeying to away matches.  Clubs can count on the rousing support of their own fans whether they are playing league or Capital One Cup matches in the most northerly league ground at Carlisle United’s Brunton Park, or the most easterly at Norwich City’s Carrow Road.

Dedicated fans will clock up the miles in cars and coaches this season to support their team in the Capital One Cup as their club strives to secure a vital spot in the UEFA Europa League.”

Fans of the Pilgrims (Plymouth), the Cumbrians (Carlisle) and the Gulls (Torquay United) will travel the furthest this season to away games.

More comparisons made between the Olympics and professional football

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Critics say that football, with its millionaire players and age restrictions, does not sit well with the ideals of the Olympic Games. Also being criticised is the fact that the World Cup was so much bigger than the Olympic tournament.

However FIFA, the governing body of world football, have issued positive figures claiming that after the men’s quarter finals had been played, 1,230,818 spectators would have watched the 28 matches.

The average attendance at the matches has been 43,958, which is higher than at Beijing’s Olympics and only slightly behind Los Angeles’ average of 44,488. Huge crowds are expected at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Old Trafford in Manchester and Wembley Stadium in London which will increase the average – also the funds which go to the organisers of the London Games

The women’s tournament has so far attracted an attendance of 480,206, with four more matches (Coventry, Old Trafford and two at Wembley) to go. Tuesday’s Wembley match between Team GB and Brazil enjoyed an attendance of 70,584 – a new high for a women’s match in Britain.

Sepp Blatter, FIFA president and member of the IOC is said to be delighted Britain’s response to football’s relationship with the Games. He added that the stadiums are wonderful and he feels privileged to be here.

Brazil’s 1994 manager, Carlos Alberto Parreira, (manager when Brazil won the 1994 World Cup final) who is on FIFA’S Technical Delegation for the Olympics, concurs with the view. He says that there has been a fantastic spirit of fair play and fabulous stadiums. He went on to say that all the facilities have been tremendous; with players enjoying them they will never forget their visit.

Mr Parreira says that football should definitely remain an Olympic sport, when 81,000 spectators watched Mexico v Senegal.

 

Norton United get to try out their new changing rooms

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Whilst debuting in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League Norton United were able to use for the first time their new changing facilities. The new rooms have been donated by Stoke City after  the completion of their Trent Vale Michelin complex. The training ground cost £6m.

Terry Robinson, director of youth at the club, cut the ribbon at Community Drive. Steve Beaumont, Norton chairman was pleased with the way the day went. A development team from Stoke played Norton’s under-14s before the opening ceremony was performed.

The Community Drive headquarters used by the club are receiving a major revamp of which the changing rooms are a part. The club has also installed new floodlights with the help of a grant. In all the club received £88,622, including, from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, £23,000; £51,000 from the Football Foundation and £14,622 was granted by the Football Stadium Improvement Fund.

Peter McNestry of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust and MP for Stoke-on-Trent, Joan Walley were among the guests at the celebration. The Chairman revealed that the club now has a three-year sponsorship deal in place with Autonet Insurance from Stoke. The ground is to be renamed Autonet Insurance Community Sports Ground.

Their Premier Division debut, however, started badly when they were beaten by AFC Blackpool. AFC Blackpool’s Marco Cobb scored in the 67th-minute to take the lead, leaving Norton unable to respond. Elsewhere Alsager Town and Stone Dominoes both drew, while Congleton, Eccleshall and Leek CSOB all lost.

 

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Rio Ferdinand the latest star in trouble over comments on Twitter

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There have been quite a few instances of footballers getting into trouble because of comments that they have made on the social networking site, Twitter. The latest is Rio Ferdinand, the Manchester United and England defender. He has been charged by the FA after he allegedly endorsed the term ‘choc-ice’ on the site.

This comes at the same time as former England captain, John Terry, is defending a charge of racism after allegedly abusing Anton Ferdinand, Rio’s brother. Now FA chairman, David Bernstein, has spoken at a meeting of guests from FIFA and ‘Kick it Out’, the anti-racism group within football.

At the meeting, at Wembley, Mr. Bernstein said that there will be ‘tough’ consequences for anyone found guilty of discriminatory abuse. He said that the regulatory bodies must continue to take a hard stance on this and that it also included sites such as Twitter as well as on the pitch and in the stands.

Beckham speaks of expectations of his sons where football is concerned

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If you are a top footballer of the class and calibre of David Beckham and your children have aspirations of following in your footsteps, then it is obvious that you are going to worry. David Beckham has been talking about this to Esquire magazine. David and his wife, Victoria, have three sons and a daughter together and he says that sometimes expectations are high when it comes to the boys playing football.

Thirty-seven-year old David thinks that there is a lot of pressure on the boys, thirteen-year-old Brooklyn, Romeo, nine, and Cruz, seven. He says that if they go for a trial, then people think that they should be able to play just like their dad. He adds, however, that he doesn’t think that they feel the pressure and are confident enough to take it in their stride.

David was also talking about stripping off for advertising campaigns. He says that it is not as difficult for him now as it once was and that it has become easier for him over the years. He remembers that it was quite daunting, at first, seeing big posters of himself on the sides of buildings in places like New York.