Teario, teario...
Reporter: KAREN DOHERTY
Date published: 28 June 2010
End of the World for England fans
THOUSANDS of football fans held their heads in despair as England’s Three Lions were sent packing with their tails between their legs.
Fans packed into pubs, bars and clubs to watch the country’s worst World Cup finals defeat — a humiliating 4-1 drubbing by Germany.
Joy turned to despair as Frank Lampard’s 2-2 equaliser was not given despite clearly being over the line.
And the afternoon got even worse for supporters as England crashed out in the last 16 to their old foes.
But despite the disappointment, the town centre was trouble free and the game passed without incident.
At Crompton Cricket Clubs all eyes were on the big screen despite the derby with Royton in the Central Lancashire League going on outside.
Bernie Wenman threw a party in Moorcroft Street, Hollins, complete with an England cake and said: “I just want to cry. I do not want them to come home.
“We needed a bit more defence — and the goal that we did not get!”
The street was decked out in England flags and bunting for the World Cup but the 37-year-old added after the game: “People are taking the flags down now in the street and I think that’s wrong. My flags will still be up, we have still got the England spirit. I will support England all the way, win or lose.”
Disappointed Otis Masters (31) was fuming about the disallowed goal and said: “As soon as that happened I think the team got a bit disheartened and it went down hill from there.”
Patrick Finnigan (42) agreed and said: “That goal would have changed the whole game. I am very disappointed.
But Val Barratt added: “If you want it you will play for it and Germany wanted it.”
Leap threat, before the match
THOUSANDS of motorists missed the match on TV when they were stranded on the M62 yesterday when a man threatened to jump from a bridge. The motorway was closed between Junction 21 at Milnrow and J24 (Ainley top) in West Yorkshire from around 1pm to 4pm as specially-trained officers talked the man down from Scammonden Bridge.
