MORE than half of female football fans are now more likely to head to a pub to cheer on their team.
That is down to the Lionesses’ roaring success in recent years.
A poll of 1,350 women who follow the beautiful game revealed 79 per cent believe a successful tournament for England at the Women’s World Cup will encourage even more fans to head out to the pub to watch a match.
They get their campaign underway against Haiti tomorrow.
However, 36 per cent admitted they have avoided supporting their team – because they are worried about their safety heading home at full time.
More than half (51 per cent) have avoided watching evening games so they don’t have to walk home in the dark.
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And 59 per cent are concerned about the large crowds that congregate at the full-time whistle.
The research was commissioned by Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, which has partnered with personal safety app WalkSafe, to empower more than 500,000 users to map a safe route home leveraging police data and safety information.
Emma Kay, founder of WalkSafe, said: “An exciting summer of sport is already well underway.
“And with the incredible achievements of the Lionesses, and a raft of other inspirational sportswomen, it’s no surprise more and more want to support these stars in pubs and stadiums.
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“But as many have unfortunately discovered, getting back following the events isn’t always the most hospitable environment.
“That’s why it is important we continue our partnership with Budweiser Brewing Group, to help support our mission to make the world a safer place, giving our users the tools to put their personal safety first.”
However, 63 per cent will not let safety concerns diminish their love of football.
And 62 per cent have managed to make new friends because of their shared passion for the sport, the study conducted via OnePoll.com found.
Brian Perkins, president of Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I said: “Everyone should be able to enjoy a football match and not worry about getting home safely at the final whistle.
“But as the research shows, it is still a major concern for a significant number of female fans who simply want to cheer on their team.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
