Survey Results: 81% of fans would back a GB team

81% of fans would back a GB team

Nationwide, the sponsors of the England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland football teams, have announced the findings from a survey among football fans from each country run by the Football Fans Census.

The new survey looked at how they felt about a single GB team being formed from the four home unions to represent the country at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Generally there was support for the idea with 81% of fans giving their backing, as long as it didn't affect a home nation having their own team at the World Cup.The English fans were most in favour - 84% were in support. 73% of Northern Ireland fans and 69% of Welsh fans were in favour. The Scots supporters were the least enthusiastic with 63% being in favour of a GB team representing the country at the 2012 Olympics.

In addition 55% of all the fans surveyed thought that a combined team would have a better chance of winning future tournaments.

Commenting on the findings of the survey, Nationwide's Sponsorship Controller, Chris Hull said:

"As sponsors of each of the home nations, we are extremely interested in this debate. It is an issue which will need to be addressed in the run up to the London Games and it is important that the views of the real fans are taken into consideration. Nationwide's 'Sponsored by you' initiative is all about involving our customers and the fans and their views should be an important part of this debate".

www.sponsoredbyyou.com

Survey Results: West Midlands Football Report Part 3

Part 3 of the West Midlands Football Report is published in the Express and Star today

West Midlands fans reckon the football’s getting better and can’t wait for the new season to begin. That’s up-beat conclusion from today’s final instalment of the West Midlands Football Report.

A year after gloom and doom were the dominant tones of the 2006 survey, the outlook has been transformed by the revival in fortunes at Villa, Wolves and Walsall and the prospect of a new-look force emerging at Albion under the direction of their go-for-goals manager Tony Mowbray.

The one club missing from that summary, in one of the more intriguing exposures from the survey results, is Birmingham City whose fans are a little less enthralled about another season in the Premiership than they were on first gaining promotion under Steve Bruce five years ago….

Click here to read the full Express and Star Report

Survey Results: West Midlands Football Report Part 2

Part 2 of the West Midlands Football Report is published in the Express and Star today

It’s been a tough year for the region’s clubs (Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Walsall, West Brom and Wolves) in their fight to get disillusioned fans back through the turnstiles.

But the latest findings from the West Midlands Football Report suggest they are at least making some progress in the battle to fill their grounds again.

Last year’s survey warned clubs to brace themselves for a major drop in season-ticket sales and attendances after relegation and under-achievement blighted the region’s football.

And with high matchday costs singled out as another big culprit, that’s how it panned out. In the Championship, Wolves could only boast the 10th best average attendance (20,968) with Albion one place behind at 20,472.

Birmingham’s average of 22,274 placed them eighth but it meant that more than a quarter of Molineux, The Hawthorns and St Andrew’s was empty each home game – and this from clubs which like to consider themselves of natural Premiership status.

The latest poll results suggest, however, that the message from a fed-up public has got through and clubs are responding by keeping prices in check and improving their customer service.

Click here for the rest of the Express and Star report

Survey Results: West Midlands Football Report Part 1

The first set of results from the recent West Midlands Football Report survey are published in the Express and Star today, covering views of fans from Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Walsall, West Brom and Wolves.

Widespread grumbling and discontent that was felt about the region's football at the end of the 2006-2007 season has been replaced by a positive glow for what has just gone and real excitement for things to come......

Click here to for the report.

FFC Survey: Closure of Plymouth Argyle Terracing

Reports out today say that Plymouth Argyle have been told to close the Mayflower Terrace in front of the main grandstand at Home Park.

The club were given three years grace after winning promotion to the Championship in 2003-2004, but that has now elapsed.

Regulations insist that all Championship clubs must have all-seater stadia unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The club say that the closure comes despite strong representations to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport that the terracing should remain open, stating:

“Secretary of State Tessa Jowell pointed out that, even without the terracing, we would still have had sufficient seating to accommodate more than our average home gate. This, ultimately, appears to have been a persuasive influence on their decision.”

George Michael and Elton John are playing concerts at Home Park this summer and tickets are available to concert goers to stand on the pitch.

We are running a short survey to find out fans reaction across the country, whether you are for, or against the closure, we would like to hear from as many people as possible.

Click here to Have Your Say

FFC Survey: West Midlands Football Report

For the second year running we've teamed up with the Express and Star to produce the annual West Midlands Football Report. Fans of the Baggies, Blues, Sky Blues, Villa, Wolves and Walsall - this is your chance to have your say on your club and the state of football in the West Midlands:

• How optimistic are you about next season?
• How do you rate the levels of customer service at your club?
• What percentage of games you have seen would you describe as boring?
• How do you rate the performance of your Chairman and Board of Directors this season?

Click here to take part in the West Midlands Football Report 2007.

The survey is just 15 questions long and the results will be published in the Express and Star.

FFC Survey: GB Olympic Team?

We're running a snap-survey mainly on the creation of a GB team for the Olympics. It's just three questions long and will only take a few seconds to complete and as ever your help is much appreciated.

Please click here to take part: GB Olympic Team?