Watching football makes you more intelligent, research shows

Football fans are celebrating this week following fascinating new research – revealing that watching the beautiful game might actually make you more intelligent.

The study from Greene King Sport found more than 4 in 5 football fans (84%) say watching the sport has improved their knowledge of geography.

As a result, the average football fan can name a total of 40 European cities, the data shows, compared to non-football fans who can name just 28.

The footballing figures come as Greene King Sport marks the next round of Champions League matches – plus this week’s Premier League matches – with a special 20% off drinks offer for fans.

To claim, simply download the Greene King Sport app, register your details and visit your nearest Greene King, Flaming Grill or Hungry Horse Sport pub, with guests receiving 20% off drinks from the Greene King Sport app drinks range from 4 – 10 November.

What’s more, new customers who download the app will receive a free drink on sign up and continue to enjoy 10% off selected drinks during every sports event listed in the fixtures section of the app.

This 20% off offer is available one hour before, during and one hour after every live televised fixture in the Offers section of the Greene King Sport app when purchasing a drink from the Greene King Sport app drinks range.

This includes mid-week Champions League game Liverpool v Bayer Leverkusen, plus England’s rugby international clash against Australia on Saturday and London derby Chelsea v Arsenal on Sunday.

With hundreds of Greene King Sport pubs nationwide screening the action this week, fans can find their nearest participating site using the pub finder here. Or, for a full list of drinks participating in the 20% off offer, see here: https://www.greeneking.co.uk/live-sport/app/drinks

According to the pub company and brewer’s new study, European club competitions like the Champions League are football fans’ favourite thing to watch (70%), with Real Madrid (24%) named the non-British club fans would most like to see play live, followed by Barcelona (23%) and Bayern Munich (7%).

Considering fans’ love of the European game, it’s no surprise more than three quarters of football fans (76%) only know the names of some foreign countries and cities because they’ve heard of a football team from there.

Michelle West, Head of Sport at Greene King, said: “It’s a huge week for football in Greene King Sport pubs this week, with massive Champions League ties like Liverpool v Bayer Leverkusen, plus incredible domestic action as Chelsea face Arsenal. But there’s lots of great other sport happening as well, including England v Australia in the Autumn Internationals, which will definitely be a cracker!

“We’re excited to make this big week of sport extra special by giving guests 20% off drinks. What more could a sports fan want?

“Just register for the Greene King Sport app, head to your nearest Greene King, Flaming Grill or Hungry Horse Sport pub, and get ready for what should be an exciting week of sport.”