For football fans at Glastonbury this weekend, the timing of England’s last-16 fixture against Slovakia presented a bit of a conundrum – the match took place from 5pm yesterday, but organisers opted against screening it on Worthy Farm.
After Shania Twain’s legend’s slot, countless footie fans retreated to shady patches to watch the game via pixelated livestreams, but just down from the Pyramid stage, boyband star turned indie musician Louis Tomlinson put on an impromptu viewing party.
Louis Tomlinson brought a TV to Glastonbury so people could watch England’s Euros match as the festival organizers refused to screen it. pic.twitter.com/d3MooSTKUi
— Pop Base (@PopBase) June 30, 2024
The former One Directioner reportedly left the festival site earlier in the day to purchase a full-sized television, a generator, and an internet dongle from Argos. He told the Guardian that he originally intended to set up the viewing area backstage, but a dodgy Wi-Fi signal meant he ventured into the campsites.
Tomlinson watched the game alongside hordes of festival-goers who joined in with the screening. Though a low-key Tomlinson sat at the front in a vintage England windbreaker watching the game, many at the back did not initially spot him through the growing crowd, or realise at first that the boy band singer was behind the stunt.
when Glasto won't show the footie pic.twitter.com/BA2zf1kYto
— Paul Weedon (@paulweeedon) June 30, 2024
While those responsible for crowd safety had words with Tomlinson about the screening, fearing that it would cause an obstruction on the main thoroughfare between the Pyramid and dance-heavy festival area Silver Hayes, a compromise was reached, and the viewing moved off to one side, near to a campsite.
he started a cult in glastonbury my god pic.twitter.com/CwCQqBZ8L2
— b (@louischiffon) June 30, 2024
Though England eventually secured victory against Slovakia thanks to a late comeback and last-minute equaliser from Jude Bellingham, followed by Harry Kane’s winner in extra time, the mood was tense as fans wondered if the Three Lions could pull through.
When the final whistle blew, festival-goers went wild – one happy fan even lit a flare.
