Liverpool FC fans travelling to Wembley to watch the FA Cup final versus Chelsea are expected to pay nearly half their weekly wage to afford to go.
Inflation-hit football fans are having to work nearly twice as long as previous generations to afford a day out at the FA Cup final. A typical supporter off to Wembley would have spent the equivalent of 1.25 days' take-home pay to watch Arsenal v Newcastle in 1952 - the year the Queen came to the throne.
But this year the average Liverpool fan will need to work almost 2.5 days to be at the Wembley showpiece against Chelsea FC according to new data by cost of living researcher Nous.co.
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70 years ago the cost - including match tickets, train fare, food, drink, programme and scarf - added up to £2.66 of an average weekly wage of £10. But all this will now cost fans £292 - 48 percent of the average UK weekly wage of £611.
Ticket prices alone have risen a whopping 750 percent from 15p for most fans in 1952 to £115 for a mid-range seat on Saturday. Return rail fares from the north to London have also risen by an inconceivable amount, from £1.80 70 years ago to £104 this year.
Inflation has even seen beer prices rise, with a beer costing 9p a pint 70 years ago compared to £33 for five pints at Wembley on Saturday.
Nous.co CEO and founder Greg Marsh said: “Inflation and cost-of-living squeezes hit everyone. But not everyone or every sector is hit to the same extent, as different prices actually rise at different rates.
“As our study shows, football fans have been hit harder than most over the decades. It used to be known as the working man’s game, but now you need twice as much money in real terms to enjoy a day out at the Cup Final.
“It shows just how important it is for everyone to keep track of their finances and know exactly what the current cost-of-living crisis means and could mean for the money in their pockets."
