Brits don't have any reservations in backing the home nations at the Euros
Brits aren’t on the ball when it comes to making plans for this summer’s EUROs, according to new research by Churchill Insurance.
For the first time in sixteen years, the UEFA European Championship is on Britain’s doorstep, with not one, but three UK teams competing. Thousands of football fans are due to make the short journey across the channel to cheer on their home nation.
However with only weeks left until kick off, one in four (27 per cent) football fans are yet to make their travel arrangements and only half have booked their accommodation, many with the intention of booking last minute or finding somewhere to stay when they arrive.
A quarter (24 per cent) of supporters are even planning to travel to France without a ticket, 15 per cent of those with the hope of buying a ticket at the stadium and 32 per cent planning to soak up the atmosphere in a local pub or area designated for fans.
Worryingly, one in four football fans travelling to France this summer are yet to book their travel insurance, with one in ten (nine per cent) not planning to buy travel insurance at all.
Tom Bishop, head of travel insurance at Churchill, commented:“It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of watching your team compete in Championship like the EUROs. Not covering yourself from the moment you book your trip could leave you thousands of pounds out of pocket, as you never know when something unexpected might happen.”
“We have seen supporters pick-pocketed for their precious match tickets and even injured during impromptu kick-abouts, so it’s always better to be safe, than sorry.”
Martin Redmond, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Consular Communications Team, commented: “It’s going to be an exciting tournament and the fact that we have three home nations participating means that we are likely to see an unprecedented number of fans travelling to France this summer. We encourage anyone heading over to show their support to book accommodation in advance to help avoid disappointment on arrival. It’s also worth remembering that the selling of tickets outside stadiums is illegal in France, so if you haven’t been fortunate enough to secure tickets for the tournament we recommend reading up on the local fan zones, as these will provide a great atmosphere for watching the games.” The Foreign and Commonwealth Office are helping fans plan for travel to the games as part of their ‘Be On The Ball’ campaign.
For football fans staying at home this summer, 41 per cent plan to watch the game with family and friends, 13 per cent of those are planning a party and 23 per cent will have a BBQ, as long as the great British weather holds out. Some devoted fans are even planning to move their TV into the garden so they don’t miss a minute of the match (11 per cent).
Bishop continues “When having friends or family over to watch the EUROs this summer, supporters should double check that their home insurance covers them for accidental damage, as they don’t want to be caught short should someone spill a drink on the carpet or stumble into the TV.”
Churchill’s top tips for the EUROs
Be prepared
Secure your TV, whether on the wall, on a stand or repositioned in the garden. You don’t want it falling over amidst your football celebrations
Check out the latest travel advice for France and information on the different regions, laws and customs
Don’t drive while listening to the game, previous studies have shown driving while distracted can cause accidents
If you are traveling to France
Book somewhere to stay before you arrive
Get your tickets from a credible source;selling tickets outside the stadium is illegal in France
Ensure you have a valid European Health Insurance Card, more information can be found at gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
Take out comprehensive travel insurance
Sign up to travel alerts for France, and follow @FCOtravel on Twitter
If you are watching at home
Be careful moving or repositioning your TV
Keep an eye on your guests to avoid any unnecessary spillages or damage
If you buy a new TV don’t leave the packaging outside. You don’t want to tempt potential burglars
Check that your home insurance covers accidental damage
More information, travel alerts, hints and tips for fans travelling to the Euros can be found at gov.uk/euro2016