100,000 footie fans to take off for Premiership thrills

UP to 100,000 Irish supporters are expected to travel to English Premiership games this season.

The big four teams Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea account for most of the demand, but there are also sizeable numbers of Newcastle, Leeds, Tottenham and Aston Villa fans.

Football travel agent McInerney Sports said several of the biggest fixtures were selling out quickly.

"We don't have to do anything because the Premiership advertises itself every Saturday with all the hype," managing director Gerry McInerney said. Packages from travel agents generally cost about €350-€400 for two nights' hotel accommodation, flight and tickets. And with the growth of budget airlines, fast-ferry services and match hotels, there are more travel options than ever before.

However, McInerney Sports warns that supporters who rely on touts for match tickets are putting their weekend trip at risk.

"We call them Wednesday calls, which we get when people have been let down by other operators. Everything is organised, but Harry in the West End can't supply the tickets," said Mr McInerney.

Supporters clubs have grown rapidly with branches for the major teams nationwide. There are more than 60 branches of the Manchester United Supporters' Club.

One club member saw the Red Devils 23 times last season while club chairman David Greegan, 60, went 12 times.

He is recovering in his Artane home from a heart operation but managed to attend Manchester United's victory over Bolton last week.

"Manchester United is part of my blood now. Our next match is against Wolves on a Wednesday, so it'd be a bit stressful getting to that. But please God, I'll be at the next one," he said. This devotion to the Premiership may not be good news for the Eircom League, which has always lived in the shadow of its English counterpart. But its transition to a summer season has given it valuable breathing space.