Avid Walsall FC fans have jumped to the defence of the club’s pies after a footie-mad foodie rated them among the worst in the country.

Tom Dickinson toured 89 of the country’s 92 league clubs, giving his views on the best and worst half time treats.

The 22-year-old, of Hertfordshire, is writing a book about his experiences and reckons he will have shelled out more than £3,000 by the end of his football stadium tour.

But while smaller clubs like Morecambe have fared well in the pie stakes, Walsall’s effort is currently bottom of the pile.

Mr Dickinson claims they are among the worst he has tasted, lacking “heat or meat in the middle.”

But shocked Saddlers’ fans have found the accolade difficult to swallow and have rushed to defend their pies, which have previously scooped scores of awards.

Among them is die-hard Saddler fan Daniel O’Connor, aged 26, of Willenhall, who looks forward to his half-time treat at every game. He said he was outraged.

“Our chicken balti pie is a taste sensation and our meat and potato pie is just as good, if not better than most lower league grounds offer,” he said.

“In my 12 years of pie-eating at away grounds I reckon 70 per cent of them have got to be worse than ours.”

He added: “For me, a good pie requires the correct ratio in its filling. Walsall pies do have a fluffy pastry texture and I can’t stress the importance of that enough. Soggy, poorly filled pies distress me deeply.”

Club spokesman Dan Mole said the pies had scooped numerous awards in the past.

“We were the first football club to introduce the balti pie which is now synonymous with football and football supporters up and down the country,” he said.

“We’re quite surprised to hear that Mr Dickinson has put our pies at the bottom of the pile. I suppose there’s no accounting for taste.”

Mr Dickinson, a Bolton fan, said: “The pie I had at Walsall wasn’t the best because it wasn’t cooked very well and was barely hot in the middle.

“I know the good people of Walsall are very proud of their pies, particularly given the fact that they are the originators of the famous chicken balti pie. I would love to take a trip back and sample a delicious hot one that reflects what a Walsall pie should taste like.”