FanFinance: Where Premiership supporters spend their money

According to a new survey of the spending habits of Premiership football fans, today's average supporter in England wears Next…

According to a new survey of the spending habits of Premiership football fans, today's average supporter in England wears Next clothes, holidays in the USA and drives a Ford.

Typical supporters keep themselves looking good by paying €1,000 per year for health and beauty products, gym membership and haircuts.

They spend more money on books than cinema tickets and buy €94 worth of flowers each year, according to the Barclays Fans' Spending Report.

The spending patterns of more than 275,000 football fans were analysed for the survey. More than 1,000 Premiership fans took part in additional interviews about their lifestyle choices.

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On average, each fan spends €985 per year on clothes, preferring high street brands to designer labels. Next was the most popular clothes store for male and female fans, with 43 per cent claiming to have shopped there more than anywhere else in 2004.

In their free time, football supporters spend an average £167 per year on DVDs and CDs. The Lord of the Rings trilogy were their favourite films of 2004, while Keane's debut album Hopes and Fears was the most popular CD.

Eating out costs the average fan €663 per year compared to €2,597 spent at the supermarket. Chinese food has replaced curry as their takeaway of choice.

Their favourite holiday destination is the USA, closely followed by Spain and France.

DIY costs the average fan €580 per year, with a further €220 being spent on gardening. Pets cost their owners an average €234 per year.

Each year, fans spend an average €93 each on flowers.

English grammar best-seller Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss was the most popular book, bought by 12 per cent of fans. David Beckham's My Side was the fourth most popular book - the only one in the top five on a football theme.

New technology is popular with football fans, two thirds of whom have broadband at home.

Nic Gault, Barclay's group sponsorship director, said: "Fans are as style conscious as their favourite Premiership players. Football shapes everyday lifestyle choices, whether it is what you wear, where you go on holiday or what book you read." It is unclear whether he was joking or not.

Arsenal fans spend an average €102 per year at the florists - the highest of all the Premiership supporters. France is their favourite European holiday destination.

Manchester United fans chose David Beckham's My Side as their favourite book of 2004.

Bolton fans spend the most money on caravans and camping at an average €591 per year.

Fulham supporters pay out nearly €1,079 per year each on clothes - more than any other set of fans.

Norwich City fans are the second highest spenders at the supermarket at €2,795 per year on average. They are among the lowest spenders at restaurants.

Fans of Crystal Palace spend more than any other club on CDs and DVDs, shelling out an average €181 each per year on music and films.

Southampton supporters spend the most on cinema visits, paying an average 98 per year. They spend more on petrol than any other set of fans, averaging 1,263 each per year.

Portsmouth fans are the highest supermarket spenders in the Premiership at €2,830 per year.

Chelsea fans enjoy spending money on their homes, forking out an average €646 per year on DIY and €246 for gardening. They spend the most on mobile phones.