Support is eternal for far off Corinthians

Brazilian football club Corinthians, founded by locals after being inspired by Ryman South Corinthian-Casuals, are opening a cemetery for supporters who want to be buried close to their favourite players.

The BBC reported on Friday that fans will be able to choose from up to 70,000 plots at the 'Corinthians Forever' cemetery near Sao Paulo. It will also function as the final resting place of some of the team's legendary players.

Corinthians-Paulista have around 25 million supporters across Brazil and were founded after three legendary tours to South America by the Surrey club in 1910, 1913 and 1914, the latter cut short by the outbreak of World War One.

The clubs have enjoyed strong links ever since and in August Corinthian-Casuals unveiled their new kit for the 2014-15 campaign in Brazil at the headquarters of their Brazilian brothers. In January, Corinthian-Casuals are heading to South America again to pay tribute to their touring sides from the last century, many of whom died in the global conflict, in a match at the Brazilian club's 46,000 seat stadium.

At the end of last season, Corinthian-Casuals midfielder Jamie Byatt even made national headlines in South America when he was caught on camera lifting his shirt to reveal the Brazilian club's emblem emblazoned across a t-shirt after scoring a vital goal at King George's Field, pictured.

In their report, the BBC say the cemetery will have function rooms, landscaped gardens, a restaurant, a lake and a nature reserve. Plots will cost between 4,500 and 7,800 reais (between $1,870 and $3,240) depending on the area of the cemetery that is selected and its closeness to club idols who will also be buried at the site.

Corinthians will join a small group of other football clubs that offer exclusive cemeteries, including Boca Juniors from Argentina and Spanish giants Barcelona.

Image courtesy of Stuart Tree

Follow us: @rymanleaguenews on Twitter | Ryman League group on Facebook