The roars from Ripon’s Hornblower Tavern will be heard across Market Square if the men with three lions on their shirts beat Denmark tonight.
According to legend, Alfred the Great gave Riponians a ceremonial horn In 886 AD as thanks for seeing off a Viking foe.
Since then the Ripon hornblower’s nightly blasts have reassured generations of citizens that they are as safe and secure as the England defence.
Now, it’s up to Gareth Southgate’s well-marshalled team to defeat modern day Scandinavian invaders on Wembley’s hallowed turf .
Regular football fans at Ripon’s sports-mad pub will be behind England all the way as they battle to join Italy in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final.
For Shelly Burrell, who runs the pub with husband John, that would be a special birthday present, though she pointed out:
“I was going to take the day off, but there’s no way I could do that if we are in the final.”
Hornblower Tavern regulars Ian Dewsnap (left) and Steve Ambrose, predict the score in England’s favour.
But will England fall at the penultimate hurdle?
Mr Burrell points out:
“Denmark are a good side, they will be playing to win this for Christian Eriksen.
“It’s going to be a close game, but I think we’ll do it.”
Tonight’s attendance at Wembley will be 60,000, while the Hornblower Tavern’s will be limited to 70 to meet social distancing requirements.
To ensure regulars can find the space to safely watch, Mr and Ms Burrell have five televisions, plus two large projector screens strategically located throughout the premises.
Adding to the pre-match build-up, they will be playing Baddiel and Skinner’s Three Lions, along with Fat Les’s Vindaloo.
So far, for the white and red flag bearers, it has been a happy and glorious unbeaten route to the semi-finals.
The question is, can the winning run continue?
‘Yes’, say two Hornblower Tavern regulars.
Ian Dewsnap predicts England will repeat the 1966 World Cup winning score that saw Sir Alf Ramsey’s team beat West Germany.
He said:
“I think we will win 4-2, but Denmark will be playing for Eriksen, after what happened to him in their opening match of the tournament.”
Steve Ambrose believes there will be fewer goals and England will win 2-1.
He added:
“After that, all will be to play for in the final.”
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One thing can be predicted without the assistance of Freddie the Ferret or Mystic Meg. For regulars of the Hornblower Tavern, it’s going to be a game of more than two halves, as they cheer on their heroes.
