FOOTBALL: PIES

(Taken from http://www.goal.com)
Article Title: Who Ate All The Pies? (All Two Hundred Million Of Them)

More than 2,500 English football fans have taken part in the first ever ‘Barclays Premiership Pie Survey’ and given a unique insight into their favourite matchday snack. The results will influence the menu on offer at the ‘Barclays Pie Van’, which will distribute free gourmet pies at Barclays Premiership grounds in March and April.

The survey of Barclays Premiership fans reveals that approximately 225 million pies were eaten inside and outside grounds across England last season.

The average Barclays Premiership fan eats 17.5 pies every season and has visited the same pie vendor for 3.3 years. 20% of fans admitted to buying their half-time pie as part of a superstitious ritual.

This is the first time that Barclays have surveyed fans on their pie preferences and looked at how they differ from club to club.

Summary Of The Survey's Findings:
· Pies are the number-one matchday snack for Premiership fans (40%)
· The average fan eats 17.5 pies every season
· Wigan Athletic’s famous pies are the most popular in the league, followed by Newcastle United’s and Manchester United’s
· Charlton and Sunderland fans are the most ‘pie loyal’ - visiting the same pie vendor for an average of 10 years
· Steak pies are the most popular (29%)
· Thai Chicken is the pie that fans would most like to see on the menu (36%)
· Nearly a third of fans (32%) agreed on the following order of importance for the perfect football-match pie: Filling - Crust - Size - Temperature - Gravy - Weight

The Barclays Premiership Pie Van dished up free gourmet pies to fans at saturday's West Ham v Portsmouth match, and will be doing the same at Aston Villa v Fulham (25 March), Portsmouth v Blackburn (8 April) and Manchester Utd v Sunderland (14 April). Several other dates are to be added to the tour.

Barclays Premiership fans are nothing if not loyal. The overwhelming majority (96%) said their own ground has the best pies.

The only southern clubs to feature in the ‘Barclays Pie Premiership’ Top 10 - the away ground fans voted as having the best pies - were Tottenham, Arsenal and Fulham. Aston Villa fans were generous enough to concede that their local rivals West Bromwich Albion had the best pies.

More details from the Pie Survey:
Preferred matchday snack
1. Pie 40%
2. Burger 12%
3. Chips 11%
4. Hot Dog 7%
5. Sausage Roll 3%

Fans' Favourite Pies - ‘The Barclays Pie Premiership’ Top Ten (away grounds)
1. Wigan
2. Newcastle
3. Man Utd
4. Liverpool
5. Tottenham
6. Blackburn
7. Arsenal
8. Bolton
9. Aston Villa
10. Fulham

Fan’s Favourite Pies - Fillings
1. Steak 29%
2. Meat & Potato 24%
3. Chicken & Mushroom 15%
4. Cheese & Onion 4%
5. Vegetable 3%

Time of purchase
1. Half time 42%
2. Before kick-off 32%
3. After the game 2%

Dream Pie (the pie that fans would most like to see on sale at their club)
1. Thai Chicken 36%
2. Steak & Guinness 17%
3. Chicken Balti 16%
4. Fish Pie 5%
5. Lamb and Mint 2%

Pie Loyalty (on average how often do fans visit the same pie van)
2-5 years 15%
1-2 years 24%
5 years + 8%
10 years + 14%
Less than a year 9%
No regular visits 30%

Club survey results
ARSENAL
· Best pies: Newcastle
· Favourite pie: Chicken & Mushroom

ASTON VILLA
· Best pies: West Brom
· Favourite pie: Steak

BIRMINGHAM CITY
· Best pies: Man Utd
· Fav pie: Chicken & Mushroom

BLACKBURN ROVERS
· Best pies: Wigan
· Fav pie: Meat & potato

BOLTON WANDERERS
· Best pies: Wigan
· Fav pie: Meat & potato

CHARLTON ATHLETIC
· Best pies: Aston Villa
· Fav pie: Chicken & Mushroom

CHELSEA
· Best pies: Newcastle
· Fav pie: Chicken & Mushroom

EVERTON
· Best pies: Wigan
· Fav pie: Steak

FULHAM
· Best pies:
Liverpool· Fav pie: Steak

LIVERPOOL
· Best pies: Man City
· Fav pie: Steak

MANCHESTER CITY
· Best pies: Newcastle
· Fav pie: Meat & Potato

MANCHESTER UTD
· Best pies: Tottenham
· Fav pie: Chicken & Mushroom

MIDDLESBROUGH
· Best pies: Arsenal
· Fav pie: Meat & Potato

NEWCASTLE UNITED
· Best pies: Man Utd
· Fav pie: Steak

PORTSMOUTH
· Best pies: Man Utd
· Fav pie: Steak

SUNDERLAND
· Best pies: Chelsea
· Fav pie: Steak

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
· Best pies: Liverpool
· Fav pie: Meat & Potato

WEST BROMWICH ALBION
· Best pies: Portsmouth
· Fav pie: Steak

WEST HAM UNITED
· Best pies: Newcastle
· Fav pie: Chicken & Mushroom

WIGAN ATHLETIC
· Best pies: Man Utd
· Fav pie: Meat & Potato