Conti Clocks Up Fan Miles

Newcastle United’s Toon Army and Sunderland’s Mackems have been named as the nation’s most committed football fans for miles covered per season, in a survey conducted by Continental.

The Toon Army claim number one spot, travelling 22.8 million miles, according to the results of Conti’s study of 92 English and Welsh clubs.

As well as looking at how far fans travel each season to all away matches, the new report gives the average number that travel, creating a ‘fan miles’ figure. In the 2005/6 season Newcastle United’s 3,000 travelling fans will cover a total of almost 23 million miles by attending all away matches in the premiership. Rival fans from Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United came in 9th, 13th and 21st respectively in the table, even being beaten by League One teams Oldham and Rotherham.

Sunderland came in second place with fans travelling 22.3 million miles during the football season. Right at the other end of the UK, Pompey fans come in third place, proving their commitment by clocking up 21.8 million miles following their team around the UK. Propping up the fan miles league are Macclesfield Town fans with just 913,600 miles.

As official partner of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Continental carried out the research to find out about the lengths loyal football fans will go to, to support their teams each weekend around the UK. The data collected revealed that in total this season, football fans of teams in the top four divisions will travel an astonishing 830,363,404 miles.

Guy Frobisher, marketing director of Continental Tyres said: “As an official partner of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany we are well aware of the commitment of football fans. With supporters driving such a high number of miles each year following their teams around the country, they need to know that the tyres they fit on their car will perform and last the distance, just like their team. Continental tyres are of the highest German engineering quality to ensure that you’ll never be let down, even if your team’s performance proves a disappointment!”