Every year, many of the top European teams jet off to Asia on pre-season tours on what is becoming a well-established pre cursor to a packed schedule of league fixtures. Fans across Asia are fascinated by football and this is indicative of a growing interest in the sport.

It seems likely that new global leagues will start to challenge the predominance of the traditional European powerhouses. Money talks and former Premier league luminaries such as Didier Drogba, Robert Pires and Nicolas Anelka have already been allured by the riches of the East. Nowhere, is this more true than in the world's economic powerhouse; China.

China's performance in their solitary appearance in the World Cup hardly inspired confidence but this is not reflected in the nation's appetite for the beautiful game. Football, somewhat surprisingly, is China's most popular spectator sport and Premier League players are regarded as superstars. Recently, a restaurant owner impressed upon me his high regard for Emile Heskey- which was even more shocking than the pig's ear I was having to eat.

The Dragon Trip-a pioneering travel company that specialises in youth travel to China-has recently launched a football tour that enables groups of students or backpackers to go on their own football tour of China. It involves a series of matches against local teams, watching the Chinese super league alongside recuperation at Chinese spas and a mountain retreat. Bookings can be at www.thedragontrip.com and prices start at £760 for a 10 day trip.