England fans hit the Big Apple - and the bars - ahead of Three Lions' World Cup clash with Panama, while supporters back home are expected to knock back 4.5million extra pints
England fans are hitting the bars both in the Big Apple and back home ahead of the Three Lions' World Cup clash with Panama.Supporters have been flooding into New York over the past couple of days as Thomas Tuchel's men aim to bounce back from a dispiriting goalless draw with Ghana on Tuesday.And World Cup fever is just as strong at home with pubgoers tipped to knock back an extra 4.5million pints as England play their first weekend match at this year's tournament.The Three Lions' group stage culminates against the Central American side at the New York New Jersey Stadium at 10pm on Saturday night, UK time.On the back of party atmospheres in Dallas and Boston, Three Lions fans have marched into the city that never sleeps - and got started on its beers.But the experience has not come cheap, with news of eye-watering prices at bars and venues in both Texas and Massachusetts filtering back home and causing general consternation. One England fan, 30-year-old Bradley Littlechild, said he has spent around £4,500 on his World Cup trip.'Well I'm supposed to be buying a house this year and my missus isn't too happy, but I'm here,' he said. England fans pictured at Carragher's bar in New York's Financial District on Friday night. Supporters have been flooding into the Big Apple over the past couple of days On the back of party atmospheres in Dallas and Boston, Three Lions fans have marched into the city that never sleeps - and got started on its beers England fans pictured in New York. Supporters are also expected to get on the beers back home, with an extra 4.5million pints tipped to be sold'I don't know if that's counting spending money, because… we bought three beers at the Gillette Stadium (in Boston) and it was about 45 to 50 bucks.'Peter Harding, 74, from Whitley Bay, said his 14-year-old grandson Len Pyle had been allowed out of school to travel to the US for the World Cup.He said: 'The teacher's been great. He's let him go. But I don't think he'd let him go for any more.'It's just a pity it wasn't in the school holidays, but then again, if it was in the school holidays, prices would be even higher wouldn't they.'Len added: 'When you get let out of school you're meant to be charged £400 and he's let me out for free, so can't complain.'The pair are yet to secure tickets for the game in New Jersey, citing high prices as to why they are yet to purchase any.'I think it's obscene the amount of money they're charging to get into a football game,' Mr Harding said.'We could have had two tickets for the last game, but it was £4,000 for two tickets.'If we get a chance we'll get them (tickets). We can afford a few hundred quid, but I'm not paying thousands of pounds.'We're going to win anyway, aren't we. So we're going to the fan zone, and they're good. Love the atmosphere, it's brilliant.'England supporters have flooded into New York in predictably high numbers after tens of thousands followed the team to Dallas and Boston for the opening group games. The experience has not come cheap, with news of eye-watering prices at bars and venues filtering back home An England fan gets a haircut in the style of David Beckham's 2001 mohawkThey have been spotted hanging their flags in Manhattan bars typically frequented by Wall Street bankers, but now humming with the sound of Three Lions chants. Blackpool fan Tom Wilson, 32, who lives in Buckinghamshire, said he booked his trip last Monday and spent 'hundreds of pounds' on tickets after getting 'excited' when the tournament started.He said: 'I got excited when the World Cup started and booked a last-minute trip and noticed you could do it over the weekend. So yeah – as simple as that.'Asked what made him book the trip with his wife, he said: 'Because I'm a little bit of a child and when the World Cup started, I got excited and saw that I could come and the price of the travel and stuff wasn't too bad.'Other supporters said they had been saving for much longer in order to afford the trip.'When we were booking everything, the hotels and things like that, everything has been expensive,' Richie Slaughter from Hexham in Northumberland said.The 35-year-old, who said he paid £700 for tickets to the Panama game, added: 'Luckily, when the tournament got announced eight years ago we actually started putting money away.'So we've been putting away for years, so it hasn't hit me in the pocket as much as most people.'One England fan said he booked the 'expensive' trip for his family so they could experience their first tournament.Kevin Green, 48, from Inkberrow in Worcestershire, speaking with his two sons Jacob, 16, and Josh, 14, said: 'It's the boys' first tournament.'It's not my first tournament. I usually like to go and see a few other games with other countries involved, but that hasn't really been possible geography-wise and cost-wise.'It's different because I'm with the family on this one, so it's a very different experience.'But it's really enjoyable – people have been very welcoming. It's been great, we've really had a great time.'Explaining why he brought the family on this trip, he said: 'So they can experience a tournament, really.'I think they've heard me talk about it enough to want to come and try it out for themselves.'There's no getting away from the fact that it's been an expensive trip.'Jacob finished his GCSEs a couple of weeks ago, so it's a bit of a treat for him after that.'What it's done is it's cut it down to about 10 days, where usually I'd like a little bit longer.'And things are expected to be just as lively back home with the average pub expected to serve an additional 100 pints on Saturday, according to British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA's) forecast.This will bring a total revenue boost of £22.5million with further surges expected if England go deep in the tournament. Emma McClarkin, CEO of the BBPA, said: 'To mark the end of the heatwave, what could be better than heading down the local to cheer on England. Three Lions supporters knock back the booze at Carragher's bar in New York on Friday Supporters have been spotted hanging their flags in Manhattan bars typically frequented by Wall Street bankers, but now humming with the sound of Three Lions chants'Even with the slightly later kick off time, we're predicting that pubs across the UK will sell an extra 4.5 million pints, with fans thirsty for a quality match.'We're calling on the Government to keep supporting our brilliant pubs, which are the home of live sport, by cutting beer duty to keep pints affordable for all.'Pubs look like they will be blessed by good weather this weekend which is likely to bring even more customers through the door. While temperatures have soared above 37C this week - breaking the UK's June record - things are about to get a touch more mild at around 30C in London on Saturday.
