IN THE cigarette fug of The White Lion in Stockport last night there were only slightly fewer hats on display than at Royal Ascot’s Ladies’ Day, but they were certainly cheaper.
England’s loyal northern army sported home or away three lions shirts with St George flags worn as cloaks.
Phil Arch, 40, the pub’s landlord, handed out top hats with a red cross against white felt to “those ladies I believe are looking the most gorgeous”.
The cocktail of the day was lager and the mood, like any nervous punter at the races, was febrile. Many fans had slipped away early from work, some with permission, others without, to book their spot in front of the pub’s giant screen.
Several teenagers at the front boasted of having been deported from Lisbon after England’s opening defeat.
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All were palpably nervous until Wayne Rooney headed past the Swiss goalkeeper in the 23rd minute in England’s first serious attack.
The strike was greeted with a strangled cry of euphoria accompanied by horns. The team walked off at half-time to grateful chants of “Rooney, Rooney . . . ”
Few in the bar took any notice of Des Lynam’s pre-match advice to stay cool and not to drink too much. Even the National Anthem was sung with a slur.
On the hour, the sending off of Bernt Haas, the Swiss defender, was greeted with joyous waves, but it was only when Rooney’s shot that deflected off the goalkeeper, phizzed into the net that the fans began to relax.
The third goal in the 81st minute was the signal to start the party. The supporters launched into a medley of their favourite chants.
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On the final whistle Mr Arch took over the DJ’s platform to put Three Lions on the turntable and turned the volume to full blast.
The revellers joined in the chorus as they danced around the floor, hugging each other, waving bottles of beer and spilling pints. By now the formerly nervous fans were confidently predicting further victories.
Lee Bartlett, 40, a forklift truck driver, said: “We are in with a chance now. It is Croatia next. I was nervous before but I am really happy now. The second goal was the reassuring one. You could not really relax until then.”
John Whitelegg, 36, distinctively decorated with four studs dotted around his face, simply said: “Bring on the Croatians.”
Vicky Leonard, 21, a Manchester City supporter and a banking clerk, said: “We are going to win. We were just fantastic. The next time we meet France we will be ready for them.”
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Dave Booth, 37, a self-employed salesman, was more cuatious. “Switzerland did not play well,” he said. “England, frankly, were allowed to run circles around them. They will have harder opposition than that to come.”
Meanwhile, the party continued with the strains of “Football’s coming home” wafting out across Stockport shopping centre. Cars sporting six or more flags of St George paraded around the town.
Stockport, its distinctive railway viaduct captured on canvas by L. S. Lowry, is a football-mad town with loyalties split roughly between United, City and County.
The dark side is football hooliganism. This month one suspected troublemaker, Peter Blanchard, 38, who lives in the town and has convictions for violent behaviour, was arrested at Manchester Airport on his way to Portugal.