World Cup 2010
Some might say he’s the ultimate football fan, others might have a slightly less kind view of Steve Wright, revealed by a new book “England ‘Til I Die” as England’s biggest fan, after it emerged he has spent more than £100,00 following his national side.
So how do you blow this sort of cash, and how much are you spending? But yesterday while l was traveling from England to Scotland l have seen many American lfags on trees near Carlisle and Scotland Border, look like some already spend their money on some flags and left on threes so everyone can see it from motorway.
Steve has built his bill with travelling to see games, and has seen almost every international match since 1973. His first match cost him £1 to get in, but things have got somewhat pricier since he started. Now, if he was to see all the matches in South Africa, and if the team went all the way to the final (I know it’s a bit of a stretch) he would have to fork out £1,000. And that’s by paying the face value for the ticket. If a fan took the far more risky approach of buying a second-hand ticket from a tout, this could easily double for the more popular matches.
Add in the travel and accommodation and Virgin Money reckons this tournament alone could set the most dedicated fans back almost £6,500.Naturally, this is an approach for the seriously obsessed.
There are few of us that would seriously consider spending the cost of a one bedroom flat on watching a bunch of grown men kick a ball around a field – however talented they are proported to be.
But even an armchair fan can spend a shocking sum on this tournament alone. Even if you take a more jaded view of England’s chances, and assume they make it through five matches, the costs can be staggering. If you go to the pub for each match, make an evening of it, follow it with a curry and a cab home, you can easily be looking at £250 for the tournament.
If you opt for the sofa, there’s a real danger you’ll be lured into a new TV for the tournament, flags for the car, replica kit, the odd new football for the kids, and a mascot or two, putting the overall cost closer to £800.
Either way, you’ll then have to add in the odd gift for your other half to make up for a summer spent agonising over the fate of a few footballers, which should add £50 – or £100 if you’ve really destroyed their summer.
Sure it’s not £100,000, but it’s the price of holiday away – possibly a very swanky one.
So what do you think? Is it worth it for a national celebration? Or should we be re-thinking our spending plans for something that is only a game? Let us know in the comments.
