England’s oldest ever band of travelling fans prepare for World Cup opener in Russia
Many younger supporters have been put off travelling to Russia by high costs and hooliganism fears - leaving veteran fans to keep the flag flying
ENGLAND’S dad’s army took on Vlad’s army as our oldest-ever travelling band of fans prepared for the team’s World Cup opener.
Many younger supporters were put off Vladimir Putin’s Russia by high costs and hooliganism fears.
But in Volgograd yesterday hundreds of older fans in retro shirts gathered in bars before England play Tunisia in the city tomorrow.
They were in fine voice — just as Russian fans such as Cameroon-born Rigobert Youmbi had been after their opening match victory.
Retired Doug Bishop, 66, said “We might be old but we can still make a lot of noise.”
The Birmingham fan, of Redditch, Worcs, fled Russian hooligans in Marseille at Euro 2016.
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He said: “A lot of the youngsters didn’t fancy it because of the aggro.”
Leeds fan Ian Garnett, 52, a council worker from Surrey, said: “Hooligans will realise straight away we’re not here to make trouble — we’re here for the footie and the beer.”
Mark Cross, 64, of Croydon, South London, said: “There is an older crowd but that doesn’t surprise me. It’s difficult to get to and not cheap.”
Just 2,000 England fans are expected at the match tomorrow.
