If ever there was an incentive for Wycombe’s newly promoted League One team to work their socks off each week they only have to look at the average earnings of the Premiership players down the road in Watford.

A survey by the Halifax to mark the start of the new season revealed that, on average, Premier League players earn almost £70,000 a game (£69,540). Big stars earn a lot more, newcomers to that level in the game maybe less but the average is still a dizzying amount. Bonuses for good performances, appearance fees and advertising income all help to boost the weekly earnings for those in the top league.

With the average price of a house near the Hornets’ Vicarage Road ground currently valued at £374,980, a Watford star could afford to snap one up every five games.

That’s something for the new signings at the Wycombe club to dream about as they kip down in the rooming house they stay in until they’ve found their feet in a new area.

Having a Premiership football team for neighbours is good news for local homeowners even if the roads leading to the ground are crowded on the days when the team’s playing at home.

House prices in the postal district of the Hornets’ ground have shot up 59 per cent in the past five years since their present run of success. Over the past 10 years property values have moved up 64 per cent. You could buy a house in the Vicarage Road area for £229,104 in 2008 before the Hornets were headline news like they were last weekend after winning their first three games of the season and beating Crystal Palace 2-1.

In terms of house price growth Tottenham Hotspur are once again the run-away champions. Since 2008 average local house prices have rocketed by 94 per cent to £481,609. In the last five years property values near the team’s White Hart Lane ground have accelerated 74 per cent.

A Liverpool or Everton player earns almost enough after just one game to stump up the average £78,093 for a pad near Anfield or Goodison Park.

At the other end of the spectrum players would need to save up for almost half the season to scrape together the £1,111,986 to buy near Stamford Bridge (Chelsea) or Craven Cottage (Fulham).

However with an annual salary of £4,451,200, the average Chelsea player could move next door to the stadium in just 13 weeks. Compare that with the current average salary of locals in the area (£63,361).

At that rate, fans living near the Chelsea stand would need to work for 18 years to buy the average priced house on their doorstep.

While 2017/18 may have been a season to forget for supporters of Manchester United, those living in the shadow of Old Trafford saw the value of their homes increase 13 per cent over the past year. That may be some consolation to local residents following the team’s most recent debacle, losing three-nil (ouch) to Spurs last weekend.

Russell Galle, managing director of the Halifax Bank says the average house price near Premier League clubs has risen by £127,451 (47 per cent) in the past ten years from the norm of £273,917 in 2008 to £401,457 now.

He points out: “This figure is well ahead of the rest of the UK where house prices have increased by £66,194 on average – an increase of 30 per cent over the ten years. No clubs outside London and the south have seen house prices increase ahead of the national average.”

He confirms: “Many players looking to buy a house near their team’s stadium need just a few games to earn the equivalent of the average price for a home near the club.”

He says a Premiership team’s success has a knock-on bonus for the neighbourhood. “Locals living nearby some grounds such as the Emirates have benefitted from the associated infrastructure improvements as clubs upgrade or move stadiums.”

Defending the sky-high wages earned by stars in the beautiful game, officials at Wycombe Wanderers have told the BFP property reporter over the years to remember the good times for players at the top can be short lived. The earning power of the present headline makers can fall swiftly once they’re deemed to be past their best unless they go into management or earn the big salaries paid to match commentators on TV.

Talking to the property reporter earlier this month, an official said the Wycombe club was very aware of its responsibilities to nurture young players on and off the field. He pointed out: “Coming here is often the first time they’ve left home. Up until now their parents have probably done everything for them, looked after their meals, washed their kit, made sure they get to training on time.

“Some of the 19 and 20 year olds who’ve joined us haven’t had a clue how to load a dishwasher or where to put the powder and switch on a washing machine. They’ve never had to do it before.

“That’s why we deliberately have someone a bit older from the club living in the house where young players from other parts of the country or abroad are offered a room when they arrive. He’s there to give them a helping hand and a bit of advice if they need it.

“We do everything we can to assure young players and their parents they’ll receive a warm welcome to help them settle in quickly. It’s in everyone’s interest – the club’s and the players’ – that they’re happy. This evening I believe a chef is calling in to cook a meal for them.”