Residents on Britain’s most footie-obsessed estate have festooned their balconies with England flags ahead of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The Kirby Estate has been busy painting walls and buying banners ahead of England’s first game against Haiti on Saturday, July 22.
Organiser and estate resident Chris Dowse said: “Because the last World Cup was at Christmas, the flags took an absolute battering because of the weather and snow.
“So we’ve got another 40 flags coming, another 30 packs of bunting, and we’ve got all the old bunting from last Christmas which we’re gonna try and re-use.”
Families have been draping the Bermondsey estate with St. George’s flags for over a decade – starting when football fever swept through south London during Euro 2012.
England’s journey ended with a penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy in the quarters – but the Kirby’s flag-waving frenzy didn’t finish there.
By the 2018 World Cup, flags were hanging from every balcony. For the Women’s Euros in 2022, the estate unveiled a thirteen-foot mural of England star and estate namesake Fran Kirby.
This year, Chris and his team have painted a new St George’s cross mural and there are plans to paint the bollards red-and-white.
The multi-cultural estate is home to Irish, Canadians, Spaniards, Portuguese, Brazilians and Jamaicans, all of whom are competing this year. The Kirby Estate will also provide them with their national flags.
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Asked to assess England’s chances this year, Chris said: “We’re right up there. Beth Mead’s injured, Fran Kirby’s injured, Leah Williamson’s injured so that’s a big nucleus of players from the last tournament but our bench in the Euros last year was so strong.
“Rachel Daly was playing left back last year but her natural position is up front! So I think she’ll be playing up front this time. I actually think we’ve got a really good chance.”
The bookies have England as second-favourites to win the tournament on 9/2, pipped by the USA on 13/5.
The Women’s World Cup kicks off on July 20 and the final will be played at Stadium Australia, Sydney, on August 20.
