HE IS a white European (98.9 per cent), aged between 31 and 40, married or with a partner, in full-time employment and born within 20 miles of the club he supports.

He did not attend university or polytechnic, goes to all home matches but only between one and five away, travelling to games in a car (64 per cent). And, yes, the average fan is male - 88.2 per cent.

He owns a season-ticket (60 per cent) for which he pays an average £261 (non season ticket holders pay an average £15.11 a game). He has been going to games for over 11 years, supported one club for over 30 years and saw his club's first game aged 10 or under with his parents.

He started supporting his team because, most importantly, it was his local club and then, second, because he was influenced by family. (In London and the north-west these are ranked the other way round). And he rates his club as "very important" in his life.

He feels that the atmosphere in grounds is either as lively as ever, or not as lively but okay. He wants an area of non-reserved seating set aside in his ground especially for fans who want to sing and chant.

He is happy with the level of comfort at home games, feeling safer in seats than on terraces. He has not once felt unsafe inside or outside a Premier League ground this season.

Mr Average is sure that hooliganism has decreased over the past five years (81.5 per cent, felt this for home games; 54.9 per cent for away games) and generally feels that hooliganism is "no real problem" at home games and "no real problem" or "a problem, but not serious" at away games.

His major gripe with other fans is when they stand on seats, obstructing his view. Bad language is also an irritant. He is "generally satisfied" with the standard of policing at matches (92 per cent felt this for home games; 50.3 per cent away) and with the stewarding (88.5 per cent home; 50.3 per cent away).

He is likely to hear the most racist chants at Bolton and West Ham. If he is a Manchester United season-ticket holder he will think there is too much emphasis on business activities at his club.

He does not think that the quality of British football is low compared to Europe and believes the best way the sport can improve the general quality of play is, to focus more on developing skills and then, in descending order, reorganise junior coaching/playing, change the style of play in England, and reduce the number of matches.

He is in favour of playing as many EU players as a club wants but would like to see a minimum number of British players per team. He supports a winter break if it helps out clubs.

He is against the plan for a second club from one country to compete in the European Cup but backs the proposed increase in the size of European competition generally so 10-12 English clubs can compete.

He is against a European League being run alongside the Premier League while his favourite foreign club is Ajax, and his favourite Scottish team is Rangers.

He or his household subscribe to Sky (50.1 per cent yes, 49.9 per cent no). He thinks TV coverage of football is better than five years ago and would be interested in subscribing to a channel that showed his club's away games live.

He wants the authorities to experiment with video aids for referees, thinks there are two many red and yellow cards issued (75.3 per cent feel this), and does not believe that the increase in cards has protected fair players (66.9 per cent).

. The "FA Premier League Fans' Survey 1995-96" canvassed the views of some 23,000 fans about the season 1995-96. The survey, carried out by the Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research at the University of Leicester, largely concentrated on the views of season-ticket holders.