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23
Jun
How the Harrogate district has backed the Three Lions over the years
From giant St George’s flags to packed out pubs, the Harrogate district has always turned up for the Three Lions at a major tournament.
We've raided the archives to see how the area has got behind England at major tournaments over the last 20 years.
For all the hurt — including painful penalty shootouts — the World Cup and Euros have often brought the best out of people in the district.
As far back as 2006, when Wayne Rooney saw red and the England WAGS took over the small German town of Baden-Baden, local fans were celebrating the festival of football in their own joyful way.
The 2006 World Cup in Germany seems like a different time now — Prime Minister Tony Blair had recently won a third General Election and a pint of beer set you back just £2.45.
For Knaresborough, it was a unique year when the Great Knaresborough Bed Race coincided with England’s opening group match of the World Cup against Paraguay..
Naturally, police were on high alert for any disorder at both events.
Inspector Andy Chapman told the Harrogate Advertiser that, thankfully, the day ran smoothly with very few incidents reported.
Eugene O'Flynn, chairman of Pub Watch and manager of the Market Tavern pub in Knaresborough market place, said:
On the whole, notwithstanding a few incidents, licensees had a very busy and successful bed race day which combined with England's World Cup football match.
There were a lot of people out and the pubs were packed.
It was not just the pubs in Knaresborough fighting for punters — Harrogate’s pubs were also doing their bit to get into World Cup fever.
The Rat and Parrot, now know as The Alexandra, hosted a giant flag and put on a brass band to belt out England anthems during matches.
Sadly, football didn’t come home in the end as Portugal knocked the Three Lions out on penalties in the quarter final.
It would be a while before hopes of England getting their hands on a trophy swept the Harrogate district.
‘He could put his sheep on the Stray’
The 2010 World Cup saw another glorious failure at the hands of Germany and the Three Lions faired no better at the 2012 Euros, 2014 World Cup in Brazil or the infamous European campaign in 2016 — which saw an embarrassing defeat to Iceland.
But, a surprising march to the 2018 World Cup semi final set in motion the prospect of a trophy at the Euros in 2020.
While it was delayed by a year due to the covid pandemic, Harrogate was swept up in football fever in the summer of 2021.
Fans got in touch with the Stray Ferret with all kinds of stories, from St Peter’s Primary School giving their rendition of the Three Lions song to one man being licked by Gareth Southgate’s dog at Swinsty Reservoir.
Gareth Southgate
Fans across the district donned their St George's flag as England marched on through the tournament.
Houses were covered in red and white, “it’s coming home” slogans and one household even singled out Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips, dubbed the “Yorkshire Pirlo” by the club’s supporters.
Having led England to their first major championships final in 55 years after defeating Denmark 2-1, some councillors called for Mr Southgate to be given freedom of the Borough of Harrogate.
Cllr Paul Haslam, who represented Harrogate Old Bilton on the former borough council, said:
I would be very happy to support it. He could even put his sheep on the Stray if that's what it entitles him to.
The Harrogate Bus Company even went as far as naming its flagship 36 bus after the England manager in build-up to Euros final.
Ahead of the final, football fever spread to Ripon — where one pub landlady had to cancel her day off because of England's success.
John and Shelly Burnell, of the Hornblower Tavern, pictured ahead of the Euro 2020 semi final.
Shelly Burrell, who ran the Hornblower Tavern the pub with husband John, was planning a well earned break before Southgate’s men did the unthinkable and reached a major final for the first time in five decades.
She told the Stray Ferret:
I was going to take the day off, but there's no way I could do that if we are in the final.
But, it was not meant to be for the Three Lions though as heartbreak in a penalty shootout struck again against Italy.
Despite the lows of a loss in a first major final in two generations, some fans remained upbeat and spoke to the Stray Ferret after the game, which you can watch below.
It would be another four years for the Harrogate district to celebrate England reaching another Euros final.
However, the 2024 edition turned out the same way — defeat.
This World Cup could be different. A different England side led by a different manager.
Pubs are open late in the Harrogate district, with eight taking advantage of the government’s relaxed licensing laws to help cheer on the Three Lions.
Will football finally come home? Or will it be 60 years of hurt?
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