Arsenal's expensive match-day experience

Fans of England's leading clubs are now paying more than £34 for a typical Saturday afternoon's entertainment, according to new figures released yesterday.

Fans of England's leading clubs are now paying more than £34 for a typical Saturday afternoon's entertainment, according to new figures released yesterday.

That is the average cost of buying a ticket, having a pre-match pint at the ground, tucking into a burger at half-time and browsing the match-day programme and fanzine, according to Nationwide, sponsors of the Football League and England national team.

Arsenal topped the list as most expensive match-day club in England, with fans paying a staggering £40.80 on a typical outing. Nationwide researchers said the average price of a ticket at Highbury is £32 - compared with £30 at the reigning Premiership champions, Manchester United - while beer cost £2.50 and a burger £2.20.

Leicester offered the cheapest day out in the Premiership, with tickets £22 and the whole "match-day experience" setting fans back £30.70.

Prices were found to fall dramatically in the Nationwide leagues, with no fans of First Division clubs having to pay more than £30 for a typical outing, and the average costing £23.34.

The priciest First Division club were Blackburn, whose tickets cost an average of £19 and where typical costs would take the day's outlay to £29.35.

Second Division fans paid an average of £21.82 per outing - but the biggest bargain in professional football was found at Darlington. A total trip to watch the Third Division outfit cost just £13.45, almost £6 cheaper than the average match-day cost across the division.