30 Apr 2009Football survey states fans to cut back on club merchandise purchasing

Football Finance News | Football Supporters News | Other Football News

The recession is to cause a number of fans to cut back on buying the replica shirts of their supported clubs, a new football survey has indicated.

Virgin Money's Football Fans' Inflation Index has found in its research that costs for fans have risen five per cent year-on-year since April 2008, despite inflation falling over the same period.

Thus, after surveying 4,000 fans at 125 clubs, it was determined that 19 per cent are to go without a match-day programme next season, while only 34 per cent revealed that their merchandise spending would not drop.

Chelsea could be among the worst to witness a fall in the number of replica shirts sold, with 35 per cent of the London club's supporters saying that they would be cutting back.

Grant Bather of Virgin Money said: "Buying a new replica shirt every time the club brings out a new design or changes sponsor is a habit that's easy to break when your finances are being squeezed.

"The days when clubs just had to stick a badge on an item of merchandise and then sit back and wait for the tills to ring in the club shop are on their way out."

Chelsea will fancy their chances of qualifying for the final of the UEFA Champions League after drawing 0-0 in the away leg of their semi-final with Barcelona.

© Copyright