Being a loyal Oxford United supporter can cost the same as following a high-flying team three divisions above them in the Coca-Cola Championship, according to a survey of fans.

It found that supporters could spend £2,500 this season if they follow the U's home and away and buy a pie, pint, matchday programme and shirt.

But the good news for devoted fans of the Nationwide Conference leaders is that more than 90 per cent spend less than £20 to watch a home match.

The survey carried out for the backyourclub.com website tested fan loyalty at 20 Football League and Conference clubs.

Results showed the £2,500 needed to follow United in action all season is the same as supporters would spend to follow some teams in the Championship.

One in eight U's fans spends more than £100 on every away game.

A third of fans attend more than 10 away matches a season. And 40 per cent spend more than £40 even before they get a match ticket.

Among those buying tickets at the Kassam Stadium yesterday for today's FA Cup tie at Dagenham & Redbridge was Gerald Pritchard, 34, from Headington.

He said that after buying season tickets for him and his seven-year-old son Jake, he rarely spent more than £15 per game.

He added: "It's good value for money but there wouldn't be a limit to how much I would spend following Oxford. It's well worth the money this season for the entertainment.

"I suppose by the time I have bought a pint and a programme, or something to eat, it would probably cost about £15 a game.

"But for some fans, if they go home and away and go for a beer beforehand, they would spend more than me."

The survey showed Conference sides have the most loyal fans, with more than 50 per cent of them claiming to attend more than 20 home games every season.

Trevor Lambert, chairman of Ox Vox, said: "It's good value for live entertainment, compared with concerts. But the £2,500 cost seems like a very over-the-top figure."

United's communications manager Chris Williams said: "It's probably cheaper for our fans in the Conference, because the amount of travel is less and there are offers for children."

The club hope to notch up one of the best attendances at a Conference ground for next Saturday's home game against Aldershot Town. The away following has also beaten all comers and the U's took more supporters to Stafford Rangers and Forest Green than the home sides could muster.

United's adult season tickets range in price from £235 to £600 while under-16s prices are £115 to £425.

Adult season tickets to see Chelsea play in the Premier League cost from £530 to £1,150, while child prices range from £265 to £430. Adult tickets at Manchester United cost £551 to £703, with children paying £190 for a seat in the family stand.