You can only call yourself a true football fan if you're able to name the starting XI of England's World Cup winning team, and go to at least five games a season, a study has found.
A study asked 2,000 self-declared football fans the top signs of what it takes to be a real fan – with owning multiple shirts, and playing the game yourself, even Sunday league, named among the top 30.
And a third of those polled said that being able to easily explain the offside rule is a requirement of being a fully-fledged supporter.
Knowing where all the stadiums are in different cities, collecting merchandise for a favourite team, and predicting the substitutions about to be made in a game are also signs of a true fan.
However, nearly half (47%) said you can only be classed as a full fan if you support both the men's and women's teams.
The research was commissioned by the England Teams' partner Snickers, whose spokeswoman Chloe Smith said: “From missing or being late to the birth of a child or a flight abroad as a result of watching football, we know that England is a nation of passionate football fans.
“However, we know you can’t call yourself a “full fan” if you don’t support both the women and men’s football teams.”
The love for female football is clearly rife, as 46% have an interest in it – with men more so than women.
And 43% think the growing interest in the women’s game is great for the sport as a whole.
When comparing genders, 54% don’t think female footballers are given the same level of recognition as their male counterparts.
As a result, half (49%) of those with kids would encourage their daughter to follow or play the game as much as they would encourage their son.
Three in ten said their daughter plays, compared to a quarter who has a son who takes part in the sport – and a further 39% has a little girl who already supports a particular team.
It also emerged three in five (59%) of those polled have been in love with the game since they were a child, with 58% encouraging their little one to support their favourite team.
The study, carried out via OnePoll, found Fran Kirby, Lucy Bronze, and Steph Houghton are the most familiar names within the game.
And Alex Scott, Sam Kerr, and Fran Kirby are the top three players those polled would most like to see play.
Chloe Smith added: “As a proud partner of the Lionesses, we’re playing our part this summer to roar them on to success.
“Through our #SupportHer campaign, we’re inspiring the nation to go full England fan – because you’re not you if you’re only half supporting England.”
TOP 30 SIGNS YOU’RE A TRUE FOOTBALL FAN:
- Being able to name the starting XI of England's World Cup winning team
- Playing the game yourself – even Sunday league
- Going to at least five games in a season
- Owning multiple football shirts
- Being able to easily explain the offside rule
- Owning a full kit
- Supporting your local side
- Knowing where all the stadiums are in different cities
- Knowing what substitutions a manager will make shortly before they make them
- Watching games other than the ones your team is playing in
- Knowing the ins and outs of players from different teams from 30 years ago
- Knowing the name of ends/stands at different stadiums
- Planning your weekends around the football schedule
- Cancelling all plans to watch an important game
- Going to away games and not just home games
- Keeping track of scores across the board on your phone if you're not watching it at home
- Happily watching a match on Sky or BT Sport that doesn't even involve your team
- Collecting souvenirs/merch for your club
- Being a season ticket holder every year
- Having pictures/prints/framed shirts up in your home
- Being just as interested in the women's game as the men's version
- Taking a day off work to watch a match
- Knowing all the football chants/songs for each club
- Refusing to even wear a colour that your team's rival plays in
- Being inconsolable all weekend if your team loses
- Knowing the number of trophies each team has won
- Arguing with friends/partner over favourite teams
- Having a house full of your team's merch – mugs, scarves etc.
- Getting up in the middle of the night while abroad to watch a game
- Complaining about VAR
