A survey has revealed that Bradford City supporters were the most loyal in the land when the team competed in the nation's top division.

The survey of Premiership fans was carried out for the 1999-2000 season by the Sir Norman Chester Centre for football research at Leicester University. It involved 26,000 season ticket and non-season ticket holders from all 20 Premiership clubs .

Eighty-four per cent of City's season ticket holders who were interviewed were born in the district, while only North East giants Newcastle United and Middlesbrough - who had the same per centage - could match City in that category. Bottom of the table were champions Manchester United with only 46 per cent of season ticket holders being born locally.

Even though City spent the majority of their first season in the Premiership league hovering in and around the relegation zone, the average City season ticket holder only had to fork out £666 a year to watch the side.

Compare this with the £1,746 the average Chelsea fan spends in a season, then City's fans experienced a season of high drama - culminating in that dramatic last day victory over Liverpool - for a bargain price.

Overall, the average season ticket holder spent £1,100 last year and the average cost of a season ticket has soared from £293 in 1997 to £380 last year.

Mike Harrison, editor of The City Gent fanzine's website, feels that season tickets at Valley Parade are a snip.

"The prices are superb at City," he said. "I have just renewed for next season and it is only £510 for my two children and myself in the family stand.

"The value is superb compared to Premiership clubs and chairman Geoffrey Richmond has really done his bit for the club over the last six-and-a-half years."

"It's good to see a large per centage of home-based fans featuring on the list. City has some great supporters and it is remarkable that so many people have already bought the 25-year season ticket on offer at the moment."

The survey also shows that more women are attending games. Overall, 14 per cent of Premiership fans are women and at Derby County and Middlesbrough they make up 20 per cent of season ticket holders.

The statistics showed that wealthy fans are becoming a regular feature of the Premiership. On average 11 per cent of those surveyed earned more than £50,000 a year. However, only six per cent of Bradford City fans earned that amount last year.

Fans were further questioned on what they want most out of football.

The majority stated that the priority for them is reasonably priced tickets. A reasonable level of comfort, a loud and partisan crowd atmosphere and adequate parking facilities were also rated high on the list.