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Two Tribes
Jul. 19th, 2025 05:40 pmIn St. Gallen last Friday the FSA, spearheaded by the amazing Deb and Rachel and their Welsh counterparts, organised a joint group photo in the grounds of the cathedral for the travelling England and Wales fans. After hellos with Leanne and Lindsay I wandered around talking to some of the Welsh supporters. The ones I met were a friendly and jolly lot. Many of us mingled for the photo as asked by the photographers - I stood among a cluster of Wales fans - before we divided into our national groups for separate pics. Before we dispersed we remained in place in our groups for a while, the England fans chanting “Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that” and the Welsh responding with “They’re going home, they’re going, England’s going home”. Meeting the FSA lady from Wales, I complimented her on Wales’ excellent support and told her that if they did progress at our expense I’d be wholeheartedly cheering Wales in the quarter-final with Sweden. She reciprocated my praise and wishes.
There was again a Lionesses HQ set up in a pub in St. Gallen’s picturesque Abbey Quarter, though there was no big screen or beer tokens here. I tried the local abbey beer, Schutzengarten - not a bad drop. The England Band joined us again and much of the afternoon passed with them leading sing-alongs out front of the pub in the glorious sun.
Some Wales fans came and gathered just along the road from us. They were having a sing-song of their own while one young lad tried to kick a football to a man standing on a fourth-storey balcony - he caught and kept the ball in the end to a round of cheering. Another ball was produced but the youth ended up chipping that one onto the roof terrace of an office building where there was no-one to return it. QPR Ash was standing among them - he usually attends England games but also has an affinity with Wales, so was sitting with their fans that day and wearing a Wales goalkeeper’s shirt with Safia Middleton-Patel’s name and number on. As she’s an openly autistic footballer I told Ash I’m a fan of Safia, and he said he gets on with her parents.
After a visit to a packed McDonald’s just down the road, got the bus to Winkeln station for the fan walk. The street outside the station was alive with England supporters with Deb and a couple of others at the front keeping us behind a cordon. Finally 7 pm arrived, someone put on a recording of Neil Diamond singing Sweet Caroline and we set off on the 20 minute march to the stadium chanting. After all the ballyhoo over seats in Zürich, I got a bottle of water and an ice cream as soon as we reached the ground then headed straight for my seat bright and early.
The Lionesses needed a win to be certain of progression to the quarter-finals, and raced into a 4-0 lead by half-time. During the break I got talking to the lively group of ladies behind me. One of them asked which club I support.
“Portsmouth.”
That delighted them, one said “Put it there” and I ended up shaking hands with them all. The lady with long dark hair right behind me asked if I was from Pompey.
“Gosport.”
“Do you know Stacy and Michele Niven?”
“I know them quite well.”
The lady broke into a broad smile and asked “Are you [my name]?” I confirmed I was and she said she’d heard so much about me. She introduced herself as Julia and said she was to be maid of honour at Stacy and Roxy’s wedding next year.
As the second half recommenced Julia insisted we take a selfie together and that I send it to Stacy and Michele on Messenger. Michele replied “Julia yay she looks smashed x”.
On the pitch the Lionesses added two more, separated by a Welsh consolation from Hannah Cain that got the biggest cheer of the night. We saw Basil leading the singing efforts of the next block along from ours. By full time Julia was saying she’d get me an invitation to the wedding.
I was among a band of English and Welsh fans who were left behind on the platform at Winkeln when the 23.07 train to St. Gallen Hbf was declared full after our colleagues in front of us had piled on. We formed ad hoc groups having conversations about football for half an hour until the next train came.
Out of the tournament they might have been, but the Welsh fans weren’t down. While we England fans stood quietly, for the whole of the train ride to the city centre the Wales fans were in full voice, singing “We scored a goal”, “Sophie Ingle’s magic” and “Hannah Cain” (to the tune of Give It Up. Respect.
Arrived home Monday evening, back to work Tuesday morning. Spent the evenings catching up on my TV and radio shows and watching the quarter-finals. England v Sweden on Thursday was one hell of a roller-coaster ride. For most of the game it looked like we were going out - till the amazing Lucy Bronze got us back into the game, then Chloe Kelly nicely teed up new sensation Michelle Agyemang for the equaliser, and the Lionesses emerged from a crazy penalty shoot-out to roar on. Bring on Italy.
There was again a Lionesses HQ set up in a pub in St. Gallen’s picturesque Abbey Quarter, though there was no big screen or beer tokens here. I tried the local abbey beer, Schutzengarten - not a bad drop. The England Band joined us again and much of the afternoon passed with them leading sing-alongs out front of the pub in the glorious sun.
Some Wales fans came and gathered just along the road from us. They were having a sing-song of their own while one young lad tried to kick a football to a man standing on a fourth-storey balcony - he caught and kept the ball in the end to a round of cheering. Another ball was produced but the youth ended up chipping that one onto the roof terrace of an office building where there was no-one to return it. QPR Ash was standing among them - he usually attends England games but also has an affinity with Wales, so was sitting with their fans that day and wearing a Wales goalkeeper’s shirt with Safia Middleton-Patel’s name and number on. As she’s an openly autistic footballer I told Ash I’m a fan of Safia, and he said he gets on with her parents.
After a visit to a packed McDonald’s just down the road, got the bus to Winkeln station for the fan walk. The street outside the station was alive with England supporters with Deb and a couple of others at the front keeping us behind a cordon. Finally 7 pm arrived, someone put on a recording of Neil Diamond singing Sweet Caroline and we set off on the 20 minute march to the stadium chanting. After all the ballyhoo over seats in Zürich, I got a bottle of water and an ice cream as soon as we reached the ground then headed straight for my seat bright and early.
The Lionesses needed a win to be certain of progression to the quarter-finals, and raced into a 4-0 lead by half-time. During the break I got talking to the lively group of ladies behind me. One of them asked which club I support.
“Portsmouth.”
That delighted them, one said “Put it there” and I ended up shaking hands with them all. The lady with long dark hair right behind me asked if I was from Pompey.
“Gosport.”
“Do you know Stacy and Michele Niven?”
“I know them quite well.”
The lady broke into a broad smile and asked “Are you [my name]?” I confirmed I was and she said she’d heard so much about me. She introduced herself as Julia and said she was to be maid of honour at Stacy and Roxy’s wedding next year.
As the second half recommenced Julia insisted we take a selfie together and that I send it to Stacy and Michele on Messenger. Michele replied “Julia yay she looks smashed x”.
On the pitch the Lionesses added two more, separated by a Welsh consolation from Hannah Cain that got the biggest cheer of the night. We saw Basil leading the singing efforts of the next block along from ours. By full time Julia was saying she’d get me an invitation to the wedding.
I was among a band of English and Welsh fans who were left behind on the platform at Winkeln when the 23.07 train to St. Gallen Hbf was declared full after our colleagues in front of us had piled on. We formed ad hoc groups having conversations about football for half an hour until the next train came.
Out of the tournament they might have been, but the Welsh fans weren’t down. While we England fans stood quietly, for the whole of the train ride to the city centre the Wales fans were in full voice, singing “We scored a goal”, “Sophie Ingle’s magic” and “Hannah Cain” (to the tune of Give It Up. Respect.
Arrived home Monday evening, back to work Tuesday morning. Spent the evenings catching up on my TV and radio shows and watching the quarter-finals. England v Sweden on Thursday was one hell of a roller-coaster ride. For most of the game it looked like we were going out - till the amazing Lucy Bronze got us back into the game, then Chloe Kelly nicely teed up new sensation Michelle Agyemang for the equaliser, and the Lionesses emerged from a crazy penalty shoot-out to roar on. Bring on Italy.
