OVER the next few months even the most avid football fans — and increasingly many are women — will surely get their fill of the World Cup. But though we love to see them play, would we want footballers as neighbours? Recently, when John Terry, the Chelsea captain, held a party for his team-mates at his home near the club’s training ground in Cobham, Surrey, the congestion created by the cars parked along the narrow roadside did not go down well with some residents.

Cobham householders can find some consolation, however, in the impressive 28 per cent rise in the price of a detached property in the area since Terry moved there in 2004. According to research from Oakhall, a buying agency specialising in finding homes for sports celebrities, towns and villages in which footballers have bought properties have had bigger price increases than in similar areas.

Residents of Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire might have had to suffer an invasion of paparazzi and fans since David and Victoria Beckham became their neighbours in 1999, but property values have risen by 84 per cent. Similarly, since the Arsenal defender Sol Campbell bought his home in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, five years ago, prices have gone up by nearly a third. “Football players will very often improve an area because they spend money on their homes and bring in investment,” says Jeremy Lambourne, director of Oakhall.

Stuart Flint, who covers the smartest parts of Cheshire for Knight Frank, agrees. “Footballers are well advised these days and they understand the importance of maintaining their properties,” he says.

Prices in Cheshire, which is close to Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton and Blackburn, have also soared, particularly in “Gold Trafford”, the triangle that runs from Wilmslow to Alderley Edge and Hale. Hotspots include Alderley Road in Wilmslow, where Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United’s young Portuguese winger, owns a flat.

But footballers can still be subject to cold shoulders when they move into an area, says Lee Dixon, Lambourne’s business partner and a former Arsenal defender. “Some people would perhaps rather have a doctor for a neighbour; but they soon realise that footballers are probably going to be good, quiet neighbours who are working on their fitness and their game,” he says. Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler are among stars with sizeable property holdings in the UK and abroad. Dixon adds: “More and more are building property portfolios as an investment for when they retire.”

If Cheshire is home to the North West’s finest, Surrey now belongs to Chelsea FC, but the county has attractions for other footballers, too, not just because of the wide availability of large country houses but also for its proximity to the capital and to Heathrow.

Tim Ross, of Savills in Esher, says: “A few footballers bought two years ago when the market was struggling and now they have seen big gains, because prices have bounced back.”

A survey by Country Life last summer suggests that rather than always going for Dallas-style new-builds, footballers are increasingly buying country houses. The magazine says that 20 prime country homes costing more than £2 million each have been snapped up by premiership footballers over the past three years. Mark Hedges, editor of Country Life, says: “

Country homes in places such as Surrey, near Chelsea’s training ground, or Cheshire, because of its proximity to Manchester United’s ground, are most sought after. Like most people who buy these properties, footballers — despite what you may see on TV — are looking for somewhere with character that also has peace and quiet.”

Vinnie Jones might have made an unconvincing country squire when he first donned tweeds a few years ago, but Hedges is enthusiastic about the trend. “Footballers have the money to look after these places,” he says. “And they certainly seem to want to do so.”

Suzi Walker, married to Ian Walker, a former England goalie, rejects the idea that footballers crave property with a home cinema and a whirlpool bath in every room. “Our life is nothing like Footballers’ Wives,” she says. “I cringe whenever I see that show.”

The Walkers moved into their six-bedroom home in Cobham, built by Allos, two months ago. Mrs Walker says: “We just want to take the dogs for a walk in the park, feed the ducks and pop into the local for a salad and glass of wine, and basically be good neighbours.”

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