Day 99: 7/8/2018
Watching a football match between England and Sweden was much more than just watching a game!
P’Gluay and I had an excellent time watching the game at a pub called Old White Swan. As the game time was approaching, more and more people came into the pub. Soon enough, it was hard to move around. There were many things we learned from watching ONE game there.
- It is totally fine to block people’s view to the TV. So, in case that you are blocked, just like us yesterday, move your chair or find yourself a new seat.
- There are many ways to get a seat or even a table including order some food. Once your food arrives you definitely need a table and it can be set up for you.
- Not a lot of people give tips at the pub.
- English pub food is great, pretty much homemade style, and very affordable. Our meals cost about 20 pounds excluding the drinks.
- Most beer are sold by glass (from tap) in half a pint or a pint.
- Non-alcoholic beverages are available.
- Kids are welcome to the pub.
As soon as the game started, I could feel the atmosphere became much more intense. Apparently, English people really take football seriously. Most of the people who came to watch the match knew most of the rules well (unlike me who could not even remember the last time I watched a game).
We heard cheering, cursing, criticizing, and so many more things as we watched the game there. Some people got drunk even before the game reached halftime while others ordered their drinks for the second, third, and forth round. There were a handful of people who were like me at the pub yesterday. Those were who did not know much about the game but wanted to accompany their loved ones or just to hang out with friends and have fun. One of the signs I spotted was that they did not fully pay attention to the game but often got distracted, enjoyed themselves, or killed time on their phone. Overall, I could sense that not everyone was there for the sole purpose of watching that game and there was nothing wrong with that.
As the first half finished, the second one was on its way, people were still worried because England was leading by only one goal to Sweden. Based upon my very brief and limited observation throughout the match, English people tend to speak less when they are intense or anxious. The first half of the game was rather quiet. There were a few times that English people yelled out as they cheered for their team. As the second half went on, England was getting better and better, I could see more talking from English people all around us. They teased, told brief jokes, and criticized the team and some players harshly throughout the latter half of the game. Obviously, the crowd was much more talkative as England scored more.
The best moment came when England hit the second goal and was likely to win the game. People cheered and screamed at the top of their lungs. It was so incredible to see all that with my own eyes. At the end of the match, English people both in the pub and on the streets cheered up and sang “It’s coming home. It’s coming home.” We could hear that same song over and over throughout the city center for the rest of the day. The game was over but the spirit lingered.
Overall, it was such a fun package of first-hand experience within just a short period of time. P’Gluay and I learned so much about York, food, football, pub culture, British people and culture and the English language. We both look forward for more experiences like this in the near future.
7/9/2018 12.37 am.
Edited 7/9/2018 10.16 pm.
