Landlord forks out £5k to build ‘terracing’ for World Cup fans

ENGLAND fans in Volgograd for their first game tonight would be wise to carry shades and suncream as temperatures are set to soar to 28C. Kick-off is 7pm. A PUB landlord has spent £5000 building his own grandstand for football fans to watch the World Cup. Paul Sandford placed four big screens facing the stand as well as a DJ booth and marquee where food and drinks are served. He says the “terracing” can hold about 150 supporters and it has proved a hit since the start of the tournament in Russia. Paul – who runs the Railway Tavern in Dereham, Norfolk – said: “It is just a big party, the atmosphere is great. We used it first time last week and it was really good. “For the Portugal match on Friday, we had a load of Portuguese people coming to support. It was really good. We have a big Portuguese community here so it was nice – the stand brought everyone together.” Staff at the pub are braced for a busy BY YASMIN HARISHA evening as England play their first match against Tunisia tonight. Paul – who has run the pub for eight years – added: “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. I cannot see any reason why we cannot get to the semi-finals and then it’s just 90 minutes.” Paul hopes the grandstand will help to raise money for two charities the pub are backing. He said: “Supporters are more than welcome to give a donation to our two charities. “We will have pots at the front of the grandstand which people can donate to Nelson’s Journey and Scotty’s Little Soldiers.”