Clubs may be Premier League but neighbours head for relegation; Properties cost under pounds 18,000 in Anfield area.

Byline: Ashley Gray

ANFIELD has long been a mecca for football fans around the world since the days when Liverpool ruled European football.

Now a new survey has found that purchasing a house near the hallowed turf could be the deal of the season for Reds fans.

The average property price in Anfield is just pounds 17,705the lowest in the premier league -and pounds 5,000 cheaper than at city rivals Everton. The prices appear in the npower Sports Fans' Property Guide, published to give an idea of how much it would cost to relocate next to famous venues.

Followers of Chelsea face the largest cost with the average property valued at pounds 317,759,but even that is cheaper than dwellings around the All England Tennis Club, Wimbledon, worth pounds 380,967.

Prices in Liverpool are tiny in comparison, but Geraldine Dunne from npower belie ves the Anfield properties could be just as desirable .

She said: ``As any estate agent will tell you, the three most important things ab out finding a property are location,location,location and that's no less for sports fans looking for their ideal des res.''

Priory Property Services,based in Anfield, sell property in the area but Julie Waters says most people don't choose the area specifically to live near the stadium.

She said: ``Most people who relocate within Liverpool don't choose Anfield because of football, but some people coming from further away might consider it.''

The football ground is surrounded by terraced housing, with many properties standing empty and boarded up.

Some residents complain ab out intimidating gangs of children and general neglect in the streets.

Prices around Anfield and Goodison Park have declined in the last year, despite the national upward trend. This compares to rises at their Manchester rivals.

The average value rose 51pcaround Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium and 30pc near to Manchester City's new home on the Commonwealth Games site. Va lues there were pounds 114,089and pounds 25,000 respectively.

Liverpool's football fans are not the only ones to benefit from cheap property near their favourite venues. Aintree racecourse - the home of the Grand National -has average values of pounds 41,887.This compares to pounds 369,139in the area around Royal Ascot.

The prices in the survey were calculated from Land Registry figures and represent the average price of sales of properties within each post code area.

CAPTION(S):

HEMMED IN: Anfield,foreground,and Goodison surrounded by terraces