Fans give their view about the 39th Game

The proposed “39th game” suggested by The Premier League, which has been sent back to the drawing board for a period of consultation with --amongst others -- fans, has received a big thumbs down in a study conducted this week by retail consultancy him!.

Nearly 1,000 football fans were polled across GB via a YouGov omnibus* to find out their reactions to The Premier League's plan. The results suggest The Premier League has its work cut out to convince fans of its merits.

Only 12% of football fans think the proposal is “interesting and feasible” and fewer still – only 9% - broadly agree with the rationale behind the proposal. If The Premier League believes proposals like these have to be considered to maintain and build The League's global appeal, it is not a view shared by fans. Fewer than 1-in-6 think the premiership needs to be “temporarily exported”.

So is that it? Have football fans across GB rejected the idea? Strangely, no. Only 62% think fans will reject the idea. Half of those polled don't think their teams will be disadvantaged by the long-distance travel or subsequent jet-lag – odd when cities widely touted to host the games include Beijing, Sydney, New York or Chicago (sounds like a fun “away trip” to me) – particularly when as many middle and upper class Brits claim to watch or play football as working-class Brits.

So is there a slight glimmer of hope for The Premier League? Are the fans reacting in an understandable knee-jerk way (most people don't like change – and this is quite a big proposed change) but still recognising some positives in the idea?

The Premier League will take some comfort from learning that 18% of fans believe the 39th game is a good opportunity for fans around the world to experience an English Premier League game in their country.

Something which might surprise both fans and opponents of the proposal is that it is younger fans -- those between 25 and 34 years old -- rather than older fans who are more supportive of the 39th game idea. This could be because younger fans have grown up used to travelling around the world more than generations past.

For more information, contact Tom Fender (Sales and Marketing Director) on 07802 336 333 or Tom.Fender@him.uk.com

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,951 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 26th and 28th February 2008. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).