Fans refuse to let US spoil football party
Reporter: Beatriz Ayala
Date published: 14 June 2010
Lily Longden (3), Aaron James (10) and Jessica Rathmill (5) have their faces painted with the St George’s flag at Spindles Town Square shopping centre. Pictures: CHRIS SUNDERLAND
FOOTBALL fans came out in force on Saturday during England’s first match of the 2010 World Cup tournament.
Waving flags and wearing football shirts and face paint, supporters of all ages got behind the national team in the build up to the evening game.
Oldham ground to a halt as fans huddled round television screens in homes and pubs to cheer on the players as they took on rivals USA.
Celebrations were in order after team captain Steven Gerrard scored just minutes into the first half.
But jubilation turned into frustration when goalkeeper Robert Green’s 40th minute slip up saw the match end in a one all draw.
England’s first World Cup match also caused increased pressure on the North-West Ambulance Service (NWAS). There was a 21 per cent increase in calls from 7pm on Saturday evening to 7am the following day, a total of 1,983 emergency calls throughout the North-West.
Despite campaigns by both the Police and Ambulance Service to the public to drink sensibly and enjoy the matches in good spirit, there was a high number of calls received relating to assaults and injuries, up 34 per cent on the previous weekend.
Derek Cartwright, director of paramedic emergency service at NWAS, said: “During an event like the World Cup, activity is always increased.
“However we anticipated this surge in demand and managed it appropriately by increasing resources.
“All our staff worked hard both in control rooms managing emergency calls and deploying vehicles, and on frontline vehicles tending to patients.
“It is their dedication and commitment that enables us to continue to deliver excellent service to the people of the North West – a fact that I am sure the general public will recognise.
“I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and commitment.
“We will continue to push the message about acting responsibly and the importance of keeping ambulances free to attend to those patients with a genuine medical need.”
