As the Glastonbury festival filled up on Sunday, there was an incongruous mix of England football shirts and cowgirl get-ups among the crowds.
England’s Euro 2024 football match against Slovakia kicked off at 5pm on Sunday, immediately after Shania Twain’s Legends slot and shortly before Avril Lavigne took to the Other stage at 6pm.
Glastonbury organisers announced weeks ago that, should England (or Scotland, who got knocked out of the competition last week) qualify, it would not be showing any games, saying it could clash with big names on the lineup.
As the 5pm kick off hit, the final notes of Twain’s Man! I Feel Like a Woman had barely faded before phones started being whipped out and people’s focus turned to the match.
In a bizarre turn of events, the former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson wheeled out a full-size TV on a camping trolley, hooked up to a portable generator at a campsite nearby and quickly well over 100 people gathered around to watch. He went out to buy it from Argos on Sunday morning, he said.
Among the crowd was Nathan Davenport, 26, from Tamworth, who said: “Our mate found this and texted us to come. I 100% would have liked to have seen it on a big screen instead and I think the way the acts lined up, it would have been feasible.
“We were just walking around watching it on our phones but having this is better.”
At one point Glastonbury stewards tried to move the TV, arguing that the crowd was blocking a key route, and were met by resounding boos. A compromise was eventually reached.
When Jude Bellingham scored the equaliser in the 95th minute of play, the group erupted into euphoria – drinks were thrown into the air and the crowd jumped up and down, hugging each other among the tents. England went on to win the game 2-1, with Harry Kane scoring early in extra-time to set up a quarter final match against Switzerland.
Elsewhere, a huge crowd had gathered for Avril Lavigne’s set, and many people had one eye on the stage and another on their phone while the game was on.
Callum Stokes, 26, and 15 of his friends were in fresh England strips bought especially for the festival – he was dressed as the goalie Jordan Pickford. “We just wanted to support the boys,” he said. “We’ve all got different names on the back for our favourite players.
“We’re just watching it on our phones. We were determined to find a way to watch it, but we’re here to enjoy the music and the festival as well.”
“I brought two phones to make sure I got connection,” said Sam Neve, a 30-year-old England supporter from London. “I’m trying to enjoy the show while having one headphone in listening to the commentary. The game is my priority but my group wanted to see Avril so I’m happy to compromise.”
Although Glastonbury did not officially show the England game, as it has done in the past during the World Cup, it was expected that some bars or small venues across the site would.
“I think them not doing it an official capacity is probably for the best,” said Neve. “The only issue is if somewhere puts it on and there’s a rush of people trying to get there. I think them advising people just to enjoy the music is best.”
In a statement issued in May, Glastonbury festival said: “In previous years, we have endeavoured to show notable matches on big screens where possible, particularly on days before the main stages have opened.
“However, as in 2014 and 2016, should England or Scotland qualify from their groups, their last 16 matches will not be shown at the festival.”
Jayne Errington, 56, and Karen Nicholls, 57, had thought ahead – they’re camping in a motorhome and have brought a TV specifically for the purpose of watching the match. “We’re heading straight back to watch the footy after Shania,” said Nicholls, from nearby in Somerset. “We’re music fans but also football fans, so you have to get the balance right.
“We were here when England were in the World Cup and everyone went to watch them on the big screens – but they haven’t got them this year which is a little bit disappointing.”
