England supporters bought more than 5,000 beers in a single evening after taking over a pub in Texas ahead of the Three Lions' World Cup opener against Croatia. The Londoner Pub in Dallas was forced to close early after reaching maximum capacity, with only two security guards on duty.
Fans Defy Police Orders
Dallas police officers asked fans to move on, but hundreds of traveling supporters remained in high spirits, some in fancy dress and draped in St George's flags. Despite the pub advertising a later closing time, bar staff and two police officers ordered fans to leave just before 10pm. Many defied the orders and stayed on the balcony outside for another couple of hours.
Massive Beer Sales
Before closing, the Londoner sold over 5,000 beers, including 2,352 bottles, generating more than £30,000 in revenue. The pub was packed with Three Lions fans who were mostly well-behaved, and no arrests were made despite some ignoring police instructions.
Police Presence and Fan Behaviour
After supporters remained on the balcony, dozens of Dallas Police Department vehicles lined the road outside. Officers stood watching the chanting fans for about 20 minutes before moving away. Fans then spent around an hour kicking a football in the street and on the balcony, with the ball occasionally hitting nearby vehicles. A small group dropped plants off the balcony edge. At the end of the evening, many fans helped bar staff clean up the mess.
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. "America's massive, it's so big, so vast. When we go to Europe, it's really easy – you know where you're going to be," he said. The event grew beyond his expectations after sharing it on social media. He criticised FIFA for pricing out many regular England supporters, saying, "People that I spent time with in Albania and Latvia … have been priced out of it and that's not right."
Warm Welcome from Texans
Gallivan noted that England supporters received a warm welcome from Texans. "Anywhere I go … they go, 'Oh wait, where are you from? Britain? England?'. They're excited to have you here," he said, adding that the narrative that England fans are disliked is untrue. He is already planning another gathering for the team's next group game in Boston.
