World Cup lift-off!

Photo: Picture: DARREN ROBINSON

CUP of cheer . . . Lavinia Whitehead and Callum Whitworth with fellow St Joseph’s pupils

3 More Image(s) In Gallery

WORLD CUP FEVER’s... BACK: Oldham roared on the Three Lions yesterday as England secured their place in the World Cup’s last 16 — and a Sunday afternoon showdown with Germany.

Knockout football came early for fans across the borough, who knew only a win against Slovenia would realistically be good enough for Fabio Capello’s men to progress to the second round. And so it proved . . . just.

Supporters packed bars and pubs, enduring nail-biting tension as England held on to Jermain Defoe’s first-half strike to secure a 1-0 victory.

After the doom and gloom of England’s opening two matches — bore draws with football minnows the USA and Algeria — not to mention a Budget full of cuts and tax rises, it brought joy to the nation.

Businesses will now be cashing in on England’s progression. Pubs and shops would have missed out on a bonanza if England had crashed out.

There was a large police presence in the town centre but it appeared good-natured and the game passed without incident.

Yorkshire Street bar Wahoo (formerly Walkabout) had 300 revellers packed across two floors.

Manager Mark Sawbridge was overjoyed at the win and looking forward to packing the pub when England play the old enemy on Sunday.

Fans jostled for prime position as the thrilling action unfolded on 20 TV screens.

Marie and Lindsey Maloney, who nipped out of work to watch, said: “It was absolutely fantastic! A bit tense, but absolutely brilliant — they did us proud.”

Paresh Mistry, who took the day off from his job at Primark, said: “It was brilliant, I loved it. They played better than in the previous two games. In fact they could have easily scored a few more goals.”

Millie Birch and Lisa Sale used flexi-time to catch the action.

Millie said: “It was brilliant. It was the most heart-stopping 60 minutes of my life after they scored. It was a different team than we saw on Friday.”

Jay Malik said: “It was a great match. England were much better than in the last two games. They had a lot of opportunities.”

Sam Trelfa, took the day off from work as an undertaker at Barlows.

He said: “It was very tense, there was a lot of pressure and I was a bit nervous.

“It’s about time we won a match. England should have won 4-0 with the chances that they had, but I’m ecstatic that they won. It’s absolutely fantastic.”

Elsewhere, NatWest Bank hosted a fund-raising football afternoon at Uppermill Cricket Club.

Businessmen and women and customers from across the borough joined in the fun, which raised £1,000 for Saddleworth Special Needs Playgroup, a figure matched by the bank.

Dave Taylor, from Interface Contracts, Chadderton, said: “It was an absolutely fantastic afternoon.”

Ian Hilton, from Ryder and Dutton, said: “It’s been a really good day. It was very tense.

“I am relieved and I’ll absolutely be watching the match on Sunday.”

Steve Lowe, from NatWest, said: “It has been a super day. It’s been a good way to get customers together, to raise money for charity and to enjoy the football.”

Children watched the games from several schools, including some fabulous supporters at Limeside Primary School who waved flags and roared our boys to victory.

At Shaw’s St Joseph’s primary they held their own World Cup to get in the mood.

More old foes lurk for England even if they see off the Germans on Sunday (3pm). Argentina, managed by Diego Maradona, look likely quarter-final opponents.




...even a pub team is forced to change tactics



FROM zeroes to heroes — England’s footballers went from not being able to get in an Oldham pub team to being celebrated . . . what a difference a match makes.



After two disappointing draws in the group stage they wouldn’t have even been selected for Higginshaw’s Flowerpot Inn.

But after securing their place in the second round, landlord Tony Turner decided he would consider them after all, though he still appears to have a problem with Joe Cole.

The publican likes to amuse and bemuse his customers by writing quirky messages on the blackboard outside the Higginshaw Lane pub he has run for nine years.

He came up with the sign “Football players wanted for the Pot team — England players need not apply.”

He had written underneath “Bill and Ben could play better”, but on reflection scrubbed that out.

But after England’s victory yesterday, the sign now reads: “England players will be considered.”

Landlady Carol Turner said: “Unfortunately it’s my husband with his sense of humour. I can’t tell you what was going through his head. He puts all different kinds of things on that board. I don’t know where he gets it from.

“He’s not that much of a football fan to be honest, but he likes to wind the lads up in the pub. It’s his silly sense of humour.

“We don’t have a football team, it’s just a joke.”