No substitute for fanatical football fans

Kelly Dalglish kicks off search for UK's biggest football fan
New research unveils the lengths fans will go to watch the beautiful game

With the new football season kicking off this week, forget home is where the heart is. Figures released today show more than half (51 per cent) of football fans are prepared to risk everything to put their club top of the league.

New research from more than 5,100 footie fans by Virgin Media, reveals one in five will forgo getting their foot on the property ladder and stay with Mum and Dad to fund their love affair with the beautiful game.

And it's not just the risk of homelessness fans are prepared to face. A staggering eight in ten admit they would even chance divorce and show the red card to their closest friends rather than miss their match-day outings.

What's more, 80 per cent spend up to £2,500 each year – nearly twice that of the average family holiday* - and a further one in twenty lay out more than £12,000, the same price as a typical new family car**, to follow their team.

But their purchases aren't just on the stereotypical half time pie and pint. One in twenty admit to keeping up with the Beckhams, spending thousands on designer clothes, accessories and grooming. While, for a loyal few, following the star-studded lifestyle even means taking out extra loans and credit cards (9 per cent).

It seems Britain's football fans are already in a league of their own when it comes to showing their support. Almost two thirds (59 per cent) confess to wearing nothing but their club colours even when doing the housework.

Other top shocking admissions from batty Brits include:

Missing grandparents funerals to catch the match
Slipping off to a game in between the wedding and the reception
Forgoing holidays so as not to miss any matches
Naming children after football legends
Kitting out family in the whole strip even though kids support rival teams
Making the home an entire shrine to the side
Dressing pets in mini football kits


Preparing for promotion is the North East, with almost half of fans confessing they would go to any lengths for their team (40 per cent) while hovering in the relegation zone is Northern Ireland, with only one in three fans prepared to go to the same lengths.

The survey marks the launch of a new search to find Britain's biggest football fan at www.virginmedia.com/sport/biggestfan. Hosted on Virgin Media's brand new online sports website which is set to be one of the UK's most comprehensive and original internet sports services, where fans can get instant updates on their teams and watch match highlights.

Despite the stereotype, it appears it's not just men who go to such lengths to follow their team. Twice as many women (28 per cent) demand to get married at the club's ground so they can share the big day with their beloved team.

James Kydd, managing director of marketing at Virgin Media, said: “When it comes to football, Brits are very passionate about their team.

“This year Virgin Media is giving football back to the fans. The combination of great content and unbeatable value will allow fans to follow their teams without it costing their relationship or putting too much pressure on their pockets.

“We're hoping the search will uncover some great stories and we look forward to unveiling Britain's biggest football fan soon.”

Britain's biggest football fan will receive the ultimate footie viewing kit a state-of-the-art plasma TV, laptop, Virgin mobile, Virgin Media services free for a year and the chance to be the next John Motson, as they present on Virgin Media's brand new sports website alongside Kelly Dalglish.