Beers, cheers and tears at Boxpark

Fans at the nation’s most boisterous venue were on song again last night, reports Molly Mcelwee

Acacophony of noise can be heard as you get off the train at East Croydon station, the sort of atmosphere you might expect around a stadium, an arena. “Football’s coming home …” “Please don’t take me home …” “Southgate you’re the one …”

Instead, next door is Boxpark Croydon, the warehouse venue which has served as a conduit of the national mood during this unexpectedly buoyant summer of football courtesy of some smart social media clips and some very exuberant fans.

There were 1,200 of them last night, all gathered to watch England’s first World Cup semifinal appearance in 28 years. There was not a Croatian in sight – not a hand without a pint, either (unless