One of the main reasons for having a child is surely the opportunity it presents you to see them lead your favourite football team out onto the pitch. Sure, you have to get through a few years of screaming and nappy-changing, but it will all be worth it once you see them, holding hands with Hugo Lloris or Vincent Kompany as they enter the fray, before the team marches on to certain victory. Afterwards, naturally, they would thank your offspring for bringing them sporting luck and then inevitably invite you to a permanent position on the coaching staff.
But it transpires that being a mascot these days can be a pricy affair - but it all depends which club you support.
Consumer groups are up in arms after research by BBC Wales found that Swansea were charging up to £478 for a matchday mascot “package”.
Despite being relegated from the Premier League into the Championship last season, this amount is more than all but two Premier League teams charge.
The club have defended themselves saying that prices have been reduced since relegation, but it does seem a lot for a cold day out in South Wales - especially when half of the teams in the Premier League do not charge for the privilege at all.
The club said the “truly once in a lifetime experience” includes four hospitality places, a meal and half-time penalty competition on the pitch.
A spokesman added: “We’ve reduced prices this year following relegation, from £450 plus VAT to £399 plus VAT for weekend, and £349 plus VAT for weekday matches.
“We also give one space free to charity every match and this was brought in this season.”
“You’ve let me down, you’ve let the club down…”
Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea, Fulham, Huddersfield, Liverpool, Man City, Man United, Newcastle United and Southampton are the ten clubs who offer children the chance to be mascots free of charge, with children often being picked at random from their junior fan clubs, a policy which should be commended.
However, we have bad news for West Ham fans (above and beyond having to support West Ham for the rest of their lives): they charge the most of any club in the country, at a whopping £700.
Leicester City are next worst, at £600, with Spurs just below Swansea at £405.
The full list of charging Premier League clubs is below:
West Ham United £700
Leicester City £600
Tottenham Hotspur £405
Wolves £395
Crystal Palace £375
Brighton £350
Burnley £300
Cardiff City £255
Watford £250
Bournemouth £185 (does not include match ticket)
Free: Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea, Fulham, Huddersfield, Liverpool, Man City, Man United, Newcastle United and Southampton
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(Images: Getty)