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The cost of following football has fallen to a two-year low as clubs across all divisions cut ticket prices and replica shirt costs in a bid to keep fans onside, according to Virgin Money’s Football Fans’ Inflation Index.

In sharp contrast to rising prices in the wider economy, where the Consumer Price Index is 3.4 per cent, inflation for football fans has fallen 5.2 per cent in the past year, Virgin Money’s research shows. That means the cost of attending a game is now at its lowest level since April 2008.

Virgin’s index puts the average price of going to a live game at £84.89 – down on the highpoint of October 2008 when it hit £106.21. The ‘real matchday cost’ is calculated by totalling up the price of a pint of lager, a match ticket, a replica shirt, and a match programme, as well as some travel expenses.

The index shows average ticket prices across all divisions are now £22.56 and replica shirt costs have fallen to £23.75. However, other parts of the basket of goods used to calculate the inflation index have risen, including petrol prices and pay-per-view costs.

Grant Bather, a spokesman for Virgin Money, said: “Football is often accused of being divorced from reality and for once that is something to celebrate. Inflation in the economy as a whole is heading up but costs are going down in football.

“It appears that clubs have got the message that fans cannot keep on paying more and more for football and are giving something back. That said, the cost of going to a game is still a major chunk out of anyone’s disposable income.”

Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation, added: “This reduction in the very high cost of watching football in this country is very welcome, particularly at a time when unemployment is rising.

“But we have to remember that these costs are still very high compared with many of our European counterparts and with other forms of entertainment. Football still has a very long way to go before it once again becomes accessible to all sections of the community – particularly at the top end of the game.”