Gripped by football fever

Thousands are set to file into pubs to tuck into a beer and a breakfast ready for the 7.30am kick off.

Unions are urging bosses to give employees time off to watch it, but those who will be in work are sure to be on the ball as companies lay on big screens.

And one family will be watching the game with a certain amount of split loyalties.

Father and son George and Jotham Kittos are part of a 25-strong Brazil-type Samba band called Zambura.

Accountant George, of Manchester Road, Haslingden, said: "Of course we want England to go all the way, but we love listening to the Samba music that Brazil fans play on the terraces. It's split loyalties really."

Schools will also be joining in with many of them setting up televisions so staff and pupils can watch the game. One Darwen school is even allowing pupils to come in late so they can watch the game at home.

One youngster who is already in the World Cup spirit is 10-year-old Nathan Davis.

The Longshaw Junior School pupil, of Lynthorpe Road, Blackburn, has had his hair shaped Mohican-style, like England skipper David Beckham.

Carol said: "He went off to the shop and bought some hair gel without telling us, and when he showed us his hair we thought he looked just like a young David Beckham."

Pensioner Bill Burton was so taken aback by the new silver pyramids in Blackburn town centre he got on his knees to pray for an England World Cup win.

The 77-year-old grandfather of Greenside Avenue, Blackburn, donned his red fez and fell to his knees in worship in Church Street.

Richard Bridges, headteacher at Darwen Moorland High School, is letting his pupils start late tomorrow.

He said: "There are a few televisions in the school which will show the match, but because of exams and a parents' evening tonight we are not able to use the hall to put the game on.

"Instead of registering at 8.55am we are allowing the pupils to start at 10am and if it goes to extra-time and penalties, they will start at 10.15am."

Companies right across East Lancashire are making sure staff can watch the match - provided they are not too busy.

Bosses at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, have installed a television in the dining room.

A spokesman said: "Obviously our priority is the patients, but the management will use their discretion to let staff watch the game."

Customers at the Rising Bridge Little Chef, Blackburn Road, Accrington, will also be able to watch the game while tucking into their breakfasts.

And the television is ideally located so staff and the cook can watch too.

Paul Rigby, assistant manager at the Blues Bar at Ewood Park, Blackburn - where punters packed out the place for England's previous games - said: "This is England's biggest game for 12 years and if we win the place will just go nuts. We had 350 people in for both the Argentina and Denmark games, which is our capacity, and even though this is an early kick-off, we are expecting the same again."

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce expects the World Cup to provide a long term boost.

And the performances of Blackburn Rovers' stars such as Damien Duff, Alan Kelly, Brad Friedel, Tugay and Hakan Unsal have thrown the spotlight on the area.

Chamber chief executive Mike Damms said: "England's performance in the World Cup has helped cement the image of the UK as a whole and because of the area's footballers there will be a renewed confidence in East Lancashire.

"The chamber believes that England's popularity in Korea and Japan really bodes well for future business relations between the markets."

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