England fans defied police orders to move on from the Londoner Pub in Dallas, Texas, last night, with hundreds of supporters packing the bar and consuming over 5,000 beers ahead of the Three Lions' World Cup opener against Croatia.
Party atmosphere despite police presence
The pub was filled with fans in fancy dress and draped in St George's flags, creating a lively atmosphere with chants and songs. However, bar staff and two police officers ordered fans to leave just before 10pm, citing maximum capacity and only two security guards on duty. Despite the early closure, many fans remained on the balcony for another two hours, defying police orders.
No arrests made
Police confirmed that the majority of fans were well-behaved, and no arrests were made. Some fans played football in the street, with the ball occasionally hitting vehicles, and a small group dropped plants off the balcony edge. After the pub was cleared, dozens of Dallas Police Department vehicles lined the road, but officers moved away after about 20 minutes.
Record beer sales
Before closing, the Londoner sold over 5,000 beers, including 2,352 bottles, generating more than £30,000 in revenue. Fans later helped bar staff clean up the mess created during the evening.
Organiser's perspective
Event organiser John Gallivan, 39, from Bristol, said the scale of Texas made it harder for fans to find each other compared to European tournaments. He criticised FIFA for pricing out many regular supporters, noting that fans who travelled to Albania and Latvia were unable to afford the trip to the US. Gallivan is already planning a similar gathering for England's next group game in Boston, where he hopes to secure a good beer deal for fans.
Despite the police intervention, Gallivan praised the warm welcome from Texans, saying, "Anywhere I go, they're excited to have you here. That whole narrative that England are disliked is not true at all."
