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A Sunderland psychologist has discovered that size does matter – for football fans

A Sunderland psychologist has discovered that size does matter, at least in terms of football match atmosphere. Football supporters rate the match-day atmosphere at grounds which they deem ‘too small’ as the best.The study, conducted by the School of BLP's Dr Stephanie Charleston, is being presented to the British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference in Dublin today (Thursday April, 3).Dr Charleston surveyed 443 supporters of 26 football clubs and asked them to rate the atmosphere and the size of the stadium at which their team play. She found that supporters who felt that their football club’s stadium was too small judged the match-day atmosphere as better than supporters of teams who felt their stadium was ‘just right’ in terms of size.Additionally, supporters of teams who had recently moved to a new stadium noticed differences in the atmosphere, with opinion divided on whether the move had a positive or negative impact on it. Football fans found that relocating to a new ground was an emotional experience. Those who had supported their club for longest rated the experience of moving to a new ground as most emotional.Dr Charleston said: “Larger stadiums don’t automatically result in a better atmosphere. Club directors might want to bear this in mind when considering a move to a new ground, especially as the process of moving can be an upsetting experience for longstanding fans, who provide key financial support to the club. When relocating a team, fan involvement is crucial. Understanding of what specific sets of supporters look for in terms of atmosphere should be incorporated into the planning process.”