Euro 2021 fans watching England v Croatia at the Barge and Bottle EMN-210614-095111001Euro 2021 fans watching England v Croatia at the Barge and Bottle EMN-210614-095111001
Euro 2021 fans watching England v Croatia at the Barge and Bottle EMN-210614-095111001

Sleaford fans celebrate Euro 2020 kick-off with a win

It was smiles all round as Sleaford area pubs welcomed England football fans to cheer on their team in their opening Euro 2020 match on Sunday.

The generally good-natured revellers enjoyed a drink in front of big screens set up in bars dotted around the town and villages decked out in national flags, including the Barge and Bottle, The Grapes and Marquis of Granby in Sleaford, as well as The Shoulder of Mutton in Ruskington and Waggon and Horses in Caythorpe.

Mick Wells of the Barge and Bottle commented: “Everyone behaved brilliantly, all tables were booked out. It went well and was busy but well controlled with a safe environment for staff and customers.”

His wife Donna explained that they had drafted in the town’s Covid Marshals to act as door staff on the day to make sure fans stuck to the social distancing rules. She explained: “They knew the rules inside and out, so who better to do it and they were wonderful, explaining them to everyone in a really nice, gentle way, telling customers they would only be warned once and they would be out, so everybody behaved very well.

“At the end of the day, I don’t want to put myself or my staff at risk, it is about everyone being safe.”

They watched a one-nil win over Croatia thanks to a Raheem Stirling 57-minute strike set up by man-of-the-match Kalvin Phillips.

Now they look forward to Friday’s epic match-up against old rivals Scotland.

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