Many football fans don’t get to go to as many away games that they would like to- either because of the cost (who wants to spend that much money on a day trip when they can watch their club lose from the comfort of their tv lounge?), or simply because finding accommodation in and around the area is a pain. Now however, with the inception of MATCHHotels.com, football fans will have these troubles no longer.

MatchHotels.com director Ben Jackson tells the story:

“Fans want to support their teams but escalating ticket prices and travel expenses do not add up financially for 90 short minutes of action. When fans can combine an away game with a weekend away the economics make more sense and teams get more travelling support.”

So I guess the first question here is (for all you UK-based fans): would you visit more away games if you could turn it into a weekend away?

MatchHotels.com heps you find affordable travel packages, including accommodation details, availability on match days as well as distances from their place of stay to the stadium where their match is being held. MH aims to cater all football fans, so whether you’re a Championship team supporter or a Bayern Munich fan, MatchHotels.com will serve your travel needs.

I have to admit, it’s a neat idea - especially if you’re traveling away for European games. What MH are doing is not exactly new - providing a high-level search facility for finding accommodation - but by mapping it exclusively to football, they’ve created a valuable new service.

One thing I’d like to see MatchHotels.com do (or more appropriately, the people behind MH) is to add a ticket-selling service to their stadium hotels offer - I’m sure it will do well. Another thing they could do is partner with such a company, although I’m sure Ben has already thought of that.

Oh, and while you’re at it, make sure to check out their Foosball game - simple and addictive, plus there’s a prize draw for free accommodation for a match of your choice too. For non-Europeans like me, the game is probably the most useful part of the site