For many lads in the UK, football is key to their upbringing. More than half a billion people watched the FA Cup final in 2013 – sports fans are a formidable group. But are rampant misogyny, hooliganism, and heavy drinking really the hallmarks of a modern footy fan?

College sport is big business in America, with 2.6 million people regularly watching NCAA college matches on TV. Looking to tap into that market, FanAngel is crowdfunded platform which allows users to incentivise their favourite players and teams.

The fantasy football market is worth an estimated $1.66 billion. FanDuel is an app that turns every day of the week into ‘game day’ for fantasy footballers. But can it prove popular amongst 30-something men and feed their need for instant gratification and daily competition?

The average smartphone owner reaches for their device over 150 times a day, so it’s no surprise that people can’t switch off when watching sport in stadiums or at home. With a breadth of stats and analysis available at the touch of a button, how has technology changed the fan experience?