FA Cup sponsor E.ON has revealed that football grounds are a favourite place for parents to bond with their children.

The Families & Football Report found that 77 per cent of parents — from a representative sample of 2,955 adults questioned by the energy company in December — consider watching football to be a good opportunity to enjoy quality family time.

According to the study, the relaxed environment of a sporting occasion often provides parents with an opportunity to discuss more awkward issues, with almost half of those surveyed initiating conversations about school performance, attitude to life and even values and ethics.

Generation gaps between grandparents and grandchildren could also be bridged during matches.

Sixty-five per cent of the parents admitted to attending weekend football matches with their children, with 85 per cent considering football grounds as safe places for children.

Martin Perry, a sports psychologist involved in the report, said: “Supporting the same football team is an excellent way to bring families together – both in triumph and defeat.

“It creates bonds that hold for years; talking points; and a focus for family activity. It would be a shame if the economic climate and high ticket prices started to erode this very positive tradition.”

The majority of those interviewed also welcomed moves by top clubs to reduce ticket prices for early rounds of the country’s main knockout competitions.