Toon tops expense league

WHILE their team may not be setting the Premiership alight, Newcastle United tops the league of the most expensive team to support.

Newcastle fans have to dish out over £1,000 a season to travel to away games, more than any other club in the country.

Fans that attend all of the club's away games will travel 8,482 miles, spending £1,163 if they travel by rail, £957 by car or £782 by coach.

North East rivals Middlesborough come second in the list, paying out just under £1,000 for travelling by rail.

Those supporting Midlands teams Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City pay the least due to their central position.

Co-operative Financial Services, which carried out the research, said the longest single trip for a fan to make was between Newcastle and Portsmouth.

CFS media relations manager Duncan Bowker said: 'The results show the great financial lengths fans go to support their club on the road.

'When you consider added costs such as match tickets and sustenance it becomes clear that the cost of being a true football fan can be considerable.'