- Fans of the Manchester club have often been accused of being far from local
- But the old joke may not appear to be grounded in reality, according to new data
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Fans of Manchester United have often been accused of coming from nowhere near Manchester. However, the old joke about London being the club’s heartland does not appear to be grounded in reality – according to figures from a ‘departure lounge league table’.
Mail Sport has been given access to shirt sales numbers from sports stores in airports across the country, and they make for surprising results.
At Manchester, United jerseys beat City into first place. However, at London Stansted in Essex – often referred to by rivals as United heartland – more City tops have been snapped up by holidaymakers than those of their old foes. And the four-in-a-row champions take first place when sales from all three airports – owned by MAG – are totted up.
The figures, from JD Sports outlets in the summer, also suggest that fans from the Midlands appear to be the most patriotic, with more England shirts sold at East Midlands Airport than those of any club as Euros fever gripped the nation.
Liverpool shirts are in third place at Manchester, while more Arsenal shirts are sold at Stansted – despite Tottenham‘s home being the nearest club to the terminal. Aston Villa are the most-selling club side at East Midlands.
Manchester Airport retail director Richard Jackson said: ‘The league table for Manchester in many ways reflects the cities we serve, with both United and City, Liverpool and Everton featuring prominently. Given the excitement of the Euros, it’s perhaps no surprise to see England creep into the top five this year, while we know the airport is popular with a lot of Scottish passengers, which explains Celtic taking fifth spot.’
Manchester United fans have long been targeted for not being from the region – but it’s Man City shirts which sell better in London
| Manchester Airport | London Stansted Airport | East Midlands Airport | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| 1. Man United | 1. Man United | 1. Man United | 1. Arsenal | 1. Arsenal | 1. Arsenal | 1. Liverpool | 1. Man United | 1. England |
| 2. Man City | 2. Man City | 2. Man City | 2. Liverpool | 2. Man City | 2. Man City | 2. Man United | 2. Arsenal | 2. Liverpool |
| 3. Liverpool | 3. Liverpool | 3. England | 3. Man United | 3. Liverpool | 3. Man United | 3. Arsenal | 3. Leicester | 3. Arsenal |
| 4. Everton | 4. Arsenal | 4. Liverpool | 4. Man City | 4. Man United | 4. England | 4. Leicester | 4. Liverpool | 4. Man United |
| 5. Celtic | 5. Celtic | 5. Arsenal | 5. Spurs | 5. Spurs | 5. West Ham | 5. N/A | 5. N/A | 5. Aston Villa |
Stephen Martin, from London Stansted, added: ‘In many ways, the London Stansted league table reflects the changing fortunes of Premier League clubs and what that does to their global popularity.
‘It might surprise many to see so many Manchester City shirts sold in the south of the country but, with nearly 40% of all Stansted passengers being foreign visitors to the UK, it makes sense that they are drawn to the kit of the league champions. It’s also great to see that West Ham made the top five this year with London Stansted being a partner sponsor of their home, the London Stadium.’