A HOT pie and a tea or Bovril are fan favourites at most football grounds up and down the country.

But if you are a Swindon Town fan, you are forking out more for a pie than any other fans in League One.

In fact, at £3.40, pies served at the County Ground are more expensive than those at a host of teams, including ones in the Premier League, with Manchester United’s at £3.30, Liverpool, £3.20 and West Ham, £3.20.

But the club has defended its meat treats and said the figures, released by the BBC, are not a fair reflection of the average fan’s buying pattern, as they run deals to include a drink. Last season for example, Town supporters could get their hands on a free pie if they purchased a cup of tea 30 minutes before kick off.

The study, which examined the cost of football, showed the overall price of tickets across the country had fallen by 2.4 per cent.

And in terms of the overall cost, Swindon came out reasonably well. It concluded an average day out, which includes an adult ticket in the Town end, a programme, a pie and a cup of tea, costs fans £27.40, putting the Robins 15th out of 24. The most expensive club in the division is Leyton Orient at £29.90 and the cheapest is Sheffield at £17.70.

Since 2009, the club has outsourced the operation of kiosks on matchdays to the Lindley Venue Catering.

The club signed an extension to the contract in June, which will see them get £4m over the next 10 years.

Mark Issacs, the stadium manager, said: “I don’t think it is fair to just look at the price of an individual pie.

“We offer lots of meal deals which allows fans to buy a pie with either a hot or cold drink.

“The ticket prices is a better reflection but even they would be lower if you took into account the meal deals we put on. Throughout the season we put on special ticket offers.

“As a club we are always looking at ways to improve things so our supporters get the best possible deal.”

While the club may have the priciest pie in the league, the honour of most expensive in the country is shared between Crystal Palace and Kidderminster, who each charge a whopping £4.

Nigel Bennett, a spokesperson for the Swindon Supporters Club, said: “It is a bit of a surprise to see that we have come out top of the league for our pie offerings.

“However, I am sure fans would prefer to be top of the league when it comes to playing performance.”

The cheapest season ticket available for Swindon Town fans is £320 while the most expensive is £390.

“With regards to ticketing at the County Ground, it is always something which will be debated by fans but those fans that have taken the season ticket option have a deal which is very fair,” said Nigel. “The recent introduction of the new ticketing facility is receiving many plaudits, especially from fans that live away from the town.”

OUR PIE CHART

Other pie prices in Swindon:

  • Sainsbury’s Uncooked: 70p
  • Super Fry (Bridge Street): £2.20
  • Country Fayre (York Road): £1.80
  • The Frying Fish (Drove Road): £1.80

Selected Clubs:

  • Bristol City: £3.00
  • Oxford: £3.00
  • Reading: £3.20
  • Bristol Rovers: £2.90