How Southgate became an online saint

AFTER congratulating his players on winning their first ever World Cup penalty shootout Gareth Southgate turned his attentions to the Colombian side.

The England manager was pictured comforting distraught Colombian midfielder Mateus Uribe whose missed penalty was crucial to sending his team crashing out of the tournament.

And it was a gesture of goodwill that did not go unnoticed by thousands of fans watching at home.

The act has spurred an outpouring of affection for Southgate on social media, leading one fan to start the Twitter hashtag #GarethSouthgateWould predicting all the marvellous things the manager would do for others.

Here are some of the best examples ...

Richard Peach: #GarethSouthgateWould

pay an equal share of the restaurant bill, even though he didn’t have a starter and only drank the tap water.

Sharon Edwards: #GarethSouthgateWould

reschedule Saturday’s match for all those stressed ‘brides to be’ out there who booked their weddings 18 months ago for 2pm on Saturday. Nick Ling: #GarethSouthgateWould pipette feed an injured baby bird, day and night, until it was strong enough to fly back into the wild. Then leave seeds out in winter and gaze through the window smiling, sipping on hot chocolate, as the same bird returns to collect food for its family. Tom Logan: #GarethSouthgate Would

let you go in front at the checkout with a full trolley when he’s only got a pint of milk.

Selina J: #GarethSouthgateWould

send a group email saying he didn’t mind who ate his yoghurt in the fridge and accept he probably didn’t write his name clearly enough on it. He would then enquire how many yoghurts he should bring in for everyone tomorrow.

Jane James: #GarethSouthgate Would

run out and get your washing off the line if it started raining and you hadn’t noticed.

Mick Cooper #GarethSouthgateWould

stop a conversation about Game of Thrones half way through and say ‘Has everyone seen it? Dave? No? Right then....let’s talk about something else so we don’t spoil it for Dave.

Iron Lion: #GarethSouthgateWould

know what day to put the bins out after a Bank Holiday. And would let all his neighbours know just in case.