Fan Surveys:
Football League Fans Survey 2000

The research undertaken involved the use of small supporter panels from 12 selected Football League clubs and supporter surveys conducted at 24 Football League clubs during the 1999/2000 season.

The supporter panels are designed to generate more qualitative data from supporters about issues covered only briefly in the questionnaire survey.

In total 15,022 Football League supporters returned questionnaires complete and in time for analysis. A response rate of 28.9%. 10,421 questionnaires were from season ticket holders and 4,701 were from non-season ticket holders.

The 1999/2000 fan surveys examined a number of new issues. These include: the views of supporters on the importance of club and other football competitions; the use of players as role models; the behaviour of players and the performance of referees; views of supporters on match venues and on relegation and promotion and play-off issues; as well as the usual data collected on demographics and football match spending.

The 1999/2000 findings are introduced with a breakdown of respondents by age, sex, ethnicity, employment status, income, and education. Club-by-Club comparisons are made throughout this section.

The 1999/2000 findings were divided into the following areas:

1. Supporter Traditions

Consideration is given here to whether fans have supported another club before the one they follow now. Also analysed is family tradition and supporting a football team, and the age of respondents when they first attended a football match.

The supporter panels confirm the importance of football clubs as an importance source of stability and local identity for many Football League fans.

2. Patterns of Support

The number of matches attended and if fans prefer to sit or stand is focussed upon here. New and returned fans, matchday companions, and fans taking their children to watch football matches are all looked at in this section.

3. Travel and Transport

How far fans live from the ground, the form of transport they use to travel to the match, and how long it takes, is looked at here.

4. Supporter Commitment and Preferences

This section considers what is important for fans for an attractive football day out, such as comfort, safety, having a drink, etc. Also covered is how important fans view their clubs in their lives. The section is complete with a look at the importance of different football competitions from the viewpoint of supporters.

5. Matchdays and Club Services at Football League Clubs

The focus of this section is what is on offer to supporters in terms of basic facilities and services at their club. Home match value for money is considered at he end of this section.

6. Television and the Internet

The number of respondents who subscribe to live football coverage is focussed upon first. Fans who use the Internet for football purposes are looked at, as are respondents' views on whether the Internet will be used more for information on football issues in the future.

7. Spending and Football Consumption

The cost of attending a football match in the football League is considered. The amount of money fans spend on club merchandise per season finishes this section.

8. Hooliganism and Spectator Behaviour

Respondents' experiences of hooliganism and other forms of spectator incivility at their club's matches are analysed. Racism within football grounds is focussed upon in greater depth.

9. Referees and Players

The standard of refereeing and the use of video technology are issues covered here. Also focussed upon are the views of respondents on player behaviour on the pitch. The supporter panels discuss whether the behaviour of players on the pitch can affect children.

10. General Questions

Respondents' opinions on having stronger ties with larger clubs, e.g. receiving financial help and player loans, are analysed. This section is complete with a look at the views of fans with regards to the Worthington Cup, the Football League Play-Offs, and the number of clubs that should be promoted between the Football League and the Nationwide Conference.

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