So is any of this true? Does Ben Blaney really spend £695 on West Ham shampoo and shower gel? [URL]http://www.barclaysfootball.co.uk/newscontent_200105.htm[/URL] "The typical 21st Century football fan spends more on books than cinema tickets, wears clothes from Next, holidays in the USA, drives a Ford and pays out £65 a year on flowers. These are some of the fascinating findings in the Barclays Fans' Spending Report, the most comprehensive piece of research into football fans expenditure ever. Looking and feeling good is a priority for today's Barclays Premiership fan perhaps taking their lead from players like Rio Ferdinand, Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry. Supporters spend £695 a year on health and beauty products, gym memberships and haircuts - more than is spent on clothes (£685) or eating out (£461). The spending habits of over 275,000 football fans were analysed for the inaugural Barclays Fans' Spending Report which paints a picture of house-proud, style conscious people who enjoy meals out, holidays and the great outdoors. As well as profiling today's average fan, the report also reveals the varied lifestyle choices of fans of the 20 Barclays Premiership clubs. Barclays Fans' Spending Report key findings: Fans of Manchester United chose ex-star David Beckham's My Side as their favourite book in 2004. It was also the top read for fans of Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. Arsenal fans are the most romantic fans in the Barclays Premiership spending the most amount on flowers (£71) and choose France as their favourite European holiday destination. Perhaps the Gallic influence has rubbed off a little romance on Gunners' fans. Bolton fans are the highest spenders on caravans and camping with £411, revealing the true wandering nature of the Wanderers' supporters. Fulham fans are the most style conscious supporters, paying out almost £750 a year on clothes, from labels as diverse as Gap, Next and M&S. Fans of Delia Smith's Norwich City are the second highest spenders at the supermarket and among the lowest spenders at restaurants. Fans of Crystal Palace prefer to treat themselves to CDs and DVDs, spending more than any other club - £126 a year - buying music and films. Fans on the South coast spend the most on visits to the cinema with Southampton ranked first on £68 and Portsmouth third highest on £57. Chinese food has replaced the curry as the takeaway of choice for football fans. Away from the game the average fan substitutes the real life drama of the match for the fantasy of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King. Total spending on CDs and DVDs for the average fan is £116 per year. The top CD, perhaps an anthem for the start of any season, was Hopes & Fears by indie favourites Keane. The analysis was carried out as part of ongoing research by Premiership sponsor Barclays to better understand fans' lifestyles, attitudes and what makes them tick. Nic Gault, Barclays Group Sponsorship Director said, "Fans are as style conscious as their favourite Barclays Premiership players. Football shapes everyday lifestyle choices, whether it is what you wear, where you go on holiday or what book you read."
