World Cup fan with 300 England flags on house: 'I hate racism and the BNP'

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/13/england-flags-fans-world-cup

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While your average England fan may have prepared for the team's first World Cup match by ensuring fridges are stocked with chilled beverages and keeping expectations firmly in check, some have gone that little bit further.

Tony Baddams, for one, has spent several weeks – and several hundred pounds – festooning his house in Southampton with more than 300 flags, hats, teddies and fluffy dice. "I think everyone should be doing it, and getting behind the team," said the 46-year-old. "England fans just don't seem to have any heart in the team anymore, people say they are worried about being racist – but it isn't racist, it's just our flag."

It is a moot point – with St George's cross widely appropriated by far-right groups such as the English Defence League and the BNP, Baddams believes it is time for English fans to claim back the flag.

"I hate racists, I hate the BNP and I hate the EDL," he said. "Where I live in St Mary's we have people from all cultures and we've all got each other's backs. It doesn't matter where you are from around here, we are a close unit. All this EDL and BNP stuff is not good for the English flag and it is not good for English people."

Norman Scott, landlord of the Robin Hood in Jarrow, has gone even further. His pub has each of the 32 flags of the nations taking part in the World Cup on giant flagpoles and at least 300 England flags on the outside of the pub.

"When it comes to the flag, I don't let any thoughts of racism into my head. We are all in this together," he said. "It's a very small minority who use it the wrong way – and if [Daniel] Sturridge scores a hat-trick, what are they going to do – stay sitting down?"

Scott, it can safely be said, is getting into the spirit of the tournament. For the opening game he served shots the colour of the Brazil jersey, and before the England match fans can expect a samba DJ, a firework display and live music to get the party started. On the door is a sign: "If football is your religion, you can worship here." Of England's chances, he said: "They are young, keen and hungry – I must believe in them, I've got 25 quid on them to win."

In Leicester, Ben Rogers recruited his wife, eight-year-old son and four-year-old daughter to transform his house – building a mini pitch in his garden, goalposts around his television and a mock-up press area for post-match punditry.

"The pitch in the garden was fun to build, but I couldn't get my hands on any AstroTurf paint so I had to use gloss," he told the Leicester Mercury. People passing the house will have no doubt who Rogers will be supporting when the whistle blows on Saturday – as well as England flags, bunting and banners, Rogers has put up a life-size model of Roy Hodgson.

"The World Cup only comes around every four years so I just thought I'd take it to the extreme," he said.