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This Pub Landlord Has Really Gone The Extra Mile For The World Cup

This Pub Landlord Has Really Gone The Extra Mile For The World Cup

He's set up this impressive 500-seater grandstand for his regulars to enjoy

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A wise man once said, 'it's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming, football's coming home', and that journey home continues this very evening, when England face Belgium at 7pm.

World Cup fever has properly gripped England, one man even got himself a 'England 2018 World Cup Winners' tattoo. Tonight, many football fans will be totally ignoring the fact they've got work in the morning and will be making tracks to their local to enjoy the match with a pint in hand, surrounded by grown-men in replica football shirts and creased flags hanging about the place. What more could you possibly ask for, eh?

How about this?

SWNS

Yup, believe it or not that is sat outside a pub thanks to landlord Paul Sandford who has really put some effort into his World Cup festivities with a fucking grandstand, four big screens, DJ booth and a marque offering food and drink.

Paul, who runs the Railway Tavern in Dereham, says the grandstand can seat 150 people with room for another 500 around it. The stand, which took two weeks to build, set Paul back £5,000, so I think the very least England can do is win the World Cup.

The Railway Tavern's regulars have already been making the most of the new stand as the UK is hit with a mini-heatwave combined with the World Cup.

"It is just a big party," Paul said. "The atmosphere is great.

SWNS

"When the Portugal match was playing we had a load of Portuguese people coming to support.

"It was really good, we have a really big Portuguese community here so it was nice - the stand brought everyone together."

Speaking shortly before England's first game earlier this month, he said: "We are expecting to get around a thousand supporters for Monday's match.

"We did a similar thing four years ago, we had around 500 people turn up but this year we are expecting it to be much bigger.

"I think England could surprise us this time."

SWNS

And Paul and his pub-goers were rewarded with a win from England...and then another. We'll keep our fingers crossed for tonight's game, but Paul is hopeful, saying he sees 'no reason' why they couldn't go the whole way.

As well as being a class way to watch the match, Paul is also raising cash for two local charities.

"Supporters are more than welcome to give a donation to our two charities," he added.

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"We will have pots at the front of the grandstand which people can donate to Nelsons Journey and Scotty's Little Soldiers."

Now all we need is for England to win.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: World Cup