RAISING THE BAR

Ramsdale watched the last World Cup opener in an Ayia Napa pub... now the Arsenal keeper is living the dream and his family are in Qatar supporting him every step of the way

FOUR years ago, Aaron Ramsdale watched England’s opening game in the World Cup at Linekers Bar in Ayia Napa.

Now the Arsenal goalkeeper is living the dream after forcing his way into Gareth Southgate’s squad and his proud family – including his fezwearing dad Nick – are out in force to support him.

Ramsdale’s is a Boys’ Own story of the mad football fan who used to support England, and now is at his first World Cup.

When asked where he watched England’s first game against Tunisia in 2018, Ramsdale said: “So it was the summer – oh God – I was in Ayia Napa watching the first game at Linekers bar with my friends.

“That was crazy because Harry Kane scored the last-minute header, that was an eventful night!

“I watched another at a fan zone in

Weymouth and then the Colombia game I watched the day before pre-season, so I was with my group of friends, who me and Ben White know, round their house.

“As you can imagine, there was a lot of cheering in the front room and I still get goosebumps now thinking about it, and I wasn’t even there but it was a special night.”

There is a certain irony about Ramsdale watching with a beer in a bar in

Aiya Napa and now the

England fans will not be able to touch a drop in the stadiums in Qatar.

But nothing would stop his family from supporting him, just as they have done throughout his career, his mum and dad ferrying the keeper up and down the country for games.

His parents were a big hit in Arsenal’s All Or Nothing documentary, cheering and supporting him every step of the way. Ramsdale revealed his dad (with

Aaron, below) broke down in tears when he was called up for the World Cup squad and will be in Doha with his selection of hats, which he wears for good luck. And Ramsdale reckons his dad is angling to be a TV star in his own right.

The 24-year-old said: “I couldn’t imagine really what they must be feeling like, it’s a lot of emotion. They sacrificed a lot for me to even be in with a chance of being here now. They’re just excited to come out here and support me and the team.

“There was definitely a few tears shed from him. If I make it on the pitch, he might not return home. He might have a heart attack. He won’t have any nails left, let’s put it that way.

“My mum and dad are proud English people anyway and they’ll want to see the team do well. They’ll be really excited and my dad will be wearing his hat out here, which will bring a bit of luck.

“He’s got the same hairline as me so we both cover our heads. He’s got a collection of hats. The fez is his favourite and he’s getting a little bit recognisable now.

“I think he’s waiting on a Goggle Box-type TV show to go on with me. He’s an entertainer and a big character. He’s a massive part of who I am.”

Ramsdale is enjoying a brilliant season with Arsenal as they sit top of the league, but is arguably behind Nick Pope with Jordan Pickford (the trio, right) established as first choice.

But Ramsdale is ready to fight to be top dog. He added: “I am not going to sit here and say I don’t want to play. It will be difficult to flip the switch from being the No.1 to two or three.

“But I have done it before, so it is nothing new to me. That’s professional football, that’s goalkeeping. We don’t know yet, which is a good thing, and will have to wait and see.

“We all think we can play, we all think we deserve to play.”