LOCAL FOOTBALL FANS were out in force this week as Euro 2024 fever gripped Southern California. As expected the King’s Head and Britannia pubs in Santa Monica were jammed to the rafters for England’s quarter-final and semi-final matches on Saturday and Wednesday. Early arrival was the order of the day with fans queuing at least two hours before opening for both games. Drinks flowed and songs were belted out as the crowd digested the usual English football diet of near misses, high anxiety, rising tension and, miraculously, a penalty shoot-out win against Switzerland on Saturday and a last-gasp winner from Ollie Watkins in normal time on Wednesday as the team booked their final berth against the mighty Spain in Sunday’s final.
As the final whistle sounded in Dortmund on Wednesday, an almighty roar broke out from both pubs on this side of the pond, leaving clueless passers-by more than a little bemused. But the mood inside was euphoric, with joy and relief in equal measure as Gareth Southgate’s heroes went where no England team have gone before…the final of a major tournament on foreign soil.
We will have to go through it all again of course, starting at Noon on Sunday, with both pubs planning to show the game to sold-out, standing-room-only, packed to the rafters crowds. Better start queuing early…
(images courtesy of Caroline Beddie)
