Travelling Liverpool FC fans are amongst the hardest hit by far flung games at evening kick-off times picked for television broadcast.
An evening kick-off under the floodlights can be a fantastic experience for match-going fans; well, for the home fans anyway.
For away supporters, evening kick-offs can be a completely different experience, defined by mad dashes for last trains - if they’re even still running - or long coach journeys that don’t get you home until the early hours of the morning.
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Evening kick-offs are sometimes a necessity - such as matches being rearranged due to Covid-19 cancellations - but more often than not, the inconveniences doled out on travelling supporters is for the benefit of TV audiences.
A total of 184 Premier League matches have been picked to be shown live on TV in the UK up to May 2, the latest date for which the schedules have been decided.
Just over half of those, 93, have an evening kick-off time (after 17:00), 54 of which took place on a school-night (Sunday to Thursday).
Liverpool have had six away matches picked for live broadcast in the evening so far this season.
One of those was the away trip to Norwich City on Saturday August 14 at 17:30.
Carrow Road is a 372-mile round trip from Anfield, making it one of the furthest distances travelled by away supporters to an evening kick-off.
Travelling Reds fans also had an evening kick off televised against Arsenal on March 16 at 20:15.
The away trip to north London was a 353-mile round trip for fans, a tough journey for a Wednesday night.
The 350-mile round trip to Brentford on Saturday September 25 is Liverpool’s next furthest away evening kick-off, followed by the 188-mile round trip to Leicester on a Tuesday, the 156-mile round trip to Aston Villa on a Saturday, and the short walk to Everton on a Wednesday evening.
'Whole issue of treatment of supporters needs to be addressed'
Joe Blott, Chair of the Liverpool FC fans trust Spirit Of Shankly, said the whole issue of treatment of supporters needs to be addressed and the Fan Led Review is key to this.
Mr Blott said: "Travel to away games is hard enough for fans but the TV changes make it incredibly difficult. The Premier League always promises to give due notice of TV schedules but they've failed to hit their communication targets every time this season.
"Fans have families and work and changes to travel plans can significantly harm those arrangements. Changes to midweek scheduling especially, as it means days off plus younger fans being unable to attend due to school.
"Recent matches have been kicking off at 20.15, meaning matches don't finish until close to 22.30, more often than not meaning there are no return trains after games.
"Fans also like to take advantage of cheap rail fares but paying six weeks in advance for a 3pm kick off usually results in wasted and, or, more expensive tickets when that match changes.
"Also, there remain some uncertainty about when games will be played even though the next round of televised games have been announced, especially for those involved in or playing against teams in European competitions.
"This is the problem with there being too much football. And of course it is getting worse as it looks likely that a big increase in the European group stages will be approved. And then there is the supposed rule on not clashing with Uefa fixtures.
"All in all, the '12th man' and most important person, is too often left to be the last to know, to suffer the long journey and to suffer and bear the cost, all because the broadcasters and their advertisers call the shots."
Mr Blott added: "The whole issue of treatment of supporters needs to be addressed and the Fan Led Review is key to this. From overall football to individual club governance, fans need to be at the very centre of engagement and not seen as small part players. And football leadership which is committed to working with train operating companies, broadcasters and clubs to develop a new 'Flexible Football Ticket' so that fans experience minimal disruption when games are switched."
Premier League fans tra veling long distances
Newcastle fans have had to travel the furthest for an evening game.
Their trip to Brighton on Saturday November 6 at 17:30 was a 583-mile round trip between the two clubs’ stadiums.
That’s followed by the 422-mile round trip Leeds fans had to Brighton on Saturday November 27, and Manchester City’s 405-mile round trip to the same stadium on October 23.
The longest distance travelled for a midweek evening game is jointly held by Southampton and Norwich City fans.
Saints’ 404-mile round trip to Burnley was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday March 19 at 17:30.
However, it’s been rearranged to take place on Thursday May 21 at 19:45.
Norwich City, meanwhile, had to make a 404-mile round trip to Newcastle on Tuesday November 30 for a game which kicked off at 19:30.
There are 14 evening school-night kick-offs that involve fans making a round trip of over 300 miles.
Fixtures: Time, Mile round trip
Burnley-Southampton: Wednesday, 19:45, 404 miles
Newcastle United-Norwich City: Monday, 19:30, 404 miles
Chelsea-Everton: Wednesday, 19:45, 358 miles
Everton-Arsenal: Sunday, 20:00, 354 miles
Arsenal-Liverpool: Tuesday, 20:15, 353 miles
Tottenham Hotspur-Everton: Sunday, 20:00, 352 miles
Leeds United-Crystal Palace: Monday, 20:15, 352 miles
Crystal Palace-Manchester City: Sunday, 20:00, 339 miles
Burnley-Watford: Monday, 19:30, 333 miles
Manchester United-Arsenal: Wednesday, 20:15, 321 miles
Brentford-Manchester United: Tuesday, 20:00, 320 miles
Manchester United-Brentford: Sunday, 20:00, 320 miles
Brentford-Manchester City: Tuesday, 20:15, 319 miles
Manchester City-Brentford: Tuesday, 19:45, 319 miles
Brighton & Hove Albion-Wolverhampton Wanderers: Tuesday, 19:30, 296 miles
Norwich City-Aston Villa: Monday, 19:45, 269 miles
Liverpool-Newcastle United: Wednesday, 20:00, 239 miles
Everton-Newcastle United: Wednesday, 19:45, 238 miles
Newcastle United-Everton: Monday, 19:45, 238 miles
Southampton-Leicester City: Tuesday, 19:30, 238 miles
Wolverhampton Wanderers-Arsenal: Wednesday, 19:45, 223 miles
Newcastle United-Manchester United: Sunday, 20:00, 216 miles
'It's getting worse'
Some clubs are affected by televised evening games more than others.
Arsenal and Manchester City have both had nine away games picked for evening broadcast so far this season.
City’s games, however, would see the fans travel a combined total of 2,302 miles getting to and from them, compared to 1,420 miles for the Gunners.
Manchester United have had seven away games broadcast in the evening, Liverpool have had six, while Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Leeds United, and Tottenham Hotspur have had five each.
Matches being moved for TV can be a huge inconvenience for away fans, particularly if they’ve already made travel arrangements.
"Supporters feel that broadcasters call the shots, as match-going fans are all too familiar with games being moved at short notice. And it's getting worse,” a spokesperson for the Football Supporters Association has said.
"It's a nightmare for travelling fans who see plans go up in flames and rail tickets wasted as games are moved to times when public transport isn't even available.
"Clubs have to get a grip on this as they're the ultimate rights holders and allow the leagues to give so much power to broadcasters. It's their own fans who are suffering."
'Fixtures are always advertised as being subject to change' - say Premier League
When asked about fixture changes the Premier League said: “Fixtures are amended throughout the season for several reasons, including live TV broadcast selections and to accommodate domestic and European cup competitions.
“For this reason, Premier League fixtures are always advertised as being subject to change."
