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World Cup 2006 Blog

From our reporters in Germany

BA9200 lifts off - Destination Germany!

claire_heald66.gifLUTON AIRPORT - Claire Heald writes:
That's it, they're off! The next time we see they will be in their training kit in Germany.
But in this corner of England - that's Luton Airport short stay carpark - the . Shouts, horns, chants of 'give us a wave' pushed the players up the staircase and onto the plane...

..Then they all came off again (were they just bagging their seats??) for the last photocall, lined up two-by-two on the steps.

Beckham gave the snappers their final shot, hanging out the cockpit window with an England flag, before BA9200 took off bang on time, 1530 BST.

Compared with their Armani-clad heroes, the lot of the 200-odd fans here was an unglamorous one. But they got what they wanted.

As Mark Powley, a student who rushed here straight from his A levels, said: "It's so much more real now. It puts everything into perspective - they are the people everyone in this country is supporting, our hopes and dreams hang on them!"

British Airways did not waste the chance to get into the patriotic mood, renaming the plane 'Pride of the Nation' and laying on a very English final feast for the 62 passengers - cream teas all round.

tim_noakes203.jpg

The ground staff loaded up 300 plus bags between them (excess baggage anyone??) and every seat was decked out with messages of support from England fans.

The pilot of the plane, Paul Smiles, told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News 24 "It's not everyone who gets the chance to say 'I captained England!'.

One face that stood out of the crowd, was that of Tim Noakes. At 6ft 5ins, he's two inches shorter than Peter Crouch (do you think he got an aisle seat?) - but that's without the wig...

The ex-teacher has been traveling in Argentina, where he convinced the locals he was Crouch - until they saw the England striker playing in last week's friendlies..

"I've been getting a bit of stick from friends in the pub and when I try and do that robot dance they find it particularly amusing, especially after a few beers..

family.jpg

Jay Clarke, aged nine, was up on the roof of his mum's car to cheer England off though he fears: "Brazil will do us".

It was the first time Emma Pentelaw and her family had seen the England team. "We just wanted to come and show the team we're behind them!".

Comments  Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 03:27 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • wrote:

I hope England are not flying in one of those orange coloured planes.

I know it might look good on the FA's balance sheet but we need our boys there before Saturday!

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  • 2.
  • At 05:11 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • nabeen wrote:

hope that England team will fly high to Germany with a high spirit of not returning home before the world cup ends, crushing each and every opponents, be it Brazil or any other team.

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  • 3.
  • At 05:12 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • nabeen wrote:

hope that England team will fly high to Germany with a high spirit of not returning home before the world cup ends, crushing each and every opponents, be it Brazil or any other team.

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  • 4.
  • At 05:13 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • nabeen wrote:

hope that England team will fly high to Germany with a high spirit of not returning home before the world cup ends, crushing each and every opponents, be it Brazil or any other team.

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  • 5.
  • At 05:20 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • wrote:

>As Mark Powley, a student who rushed here straight from his A levels, said: "It's so much more real now. It puts everything into perspective - they are the people everyone in this country is supporting, our hopes and dreams hang on them!"

Not a drama student, by any chance, is he?

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  • 6.
  • At 05:27 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Mark Powley wrote:

Nope, I'm not a drama student, I'm just overly talented in every possible way.

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  • 7.
  • At 05:29 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Reidy wrote:

Play your Hearts out boys, Play to win and don't worry about anything else - We'll certainly be supporting with all we've got.

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  • 8.
  • At 05:33 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Reidy wrote:

Play your Hearts out boys, Play to win and don't worry about anything else - We'll certainly be supporting with all we've got! Reidy.

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  • 9.
  • At 05:54 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Bryan wrote:

I am not superstitious but I believe the England team should have delayed their departure to Germany until 6 June. Wasn’t this the date we sent the last victorious team out to Germany?

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  • 10.
  • At 05:55 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Reidy wrote:

Play your Hearts out boys! Play to win and don't worry about anything else - We'll certainly be supporting with all we've got! Reidy.

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  • 11.
  • At 06:10 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Craig Millett wrote:

Mark Powley.. well done cant believe your 'interview' is up!! WHERES THE PICTURE SHE TOOK? CLAIRE, PUT IT UP !!! COME ON ENGLAND! WORLD CUP CHAMPS 06? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • 12.
  • At 06:14 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Mark Powley wrote:

Footblogger, any chance you're a computer administrator?

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  • 13.
  • At 06:25 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Gregor wrote:

Am I the only one worried when the entire England team gets on one plane. They should do as the Royals do and separate them out, send a couple by train and the rest on a selection of well tested and proven aeroplanes :)

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  • 14.
  • At 06:26 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • drokkeh wrote:

Wish them all the best for saturday. If this team play to their best they *can* win this. P.S When the plane lands and the door opens, i want to see crouch emerge first doing his RoboKop!!

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  • 15.
  • At 07:29 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Tim Noakes wrote:

Thanks for the fame at last Claire...! See you when Daid brings the trophy home...COME ON ENGERRRRRRRLAND!!!!!!!!!!

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  • 16.
  • At 07:29 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Tim Noakes wrote:

Thanks for the fame at last Claire...! See you again when David brings the trophy home...COME ON ENGERRRRRRRLAND!!!!!!!!!!

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  • 17.
  • At 07:42 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Ike Orunta wrote:

Clare, what happened to my interview and pictures? Come on England. You should have flown with easyJet instead of BA

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  • 18.
  • At 09:06 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Bernardo (Brazilian) wrote:

Brazil is the best team of the world!..no chances England!..we have the best players..look: Ronaldo, Adriano, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Kaká, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Dida, Juan, Cris, Juninho,Zé Roberto,etc..
BRAZIL WIN AGAIN!!! AND WILL BE WINNER AGAIN!!

________6 TIMES and 6 STARS_______


BRAZIL WIN WORLD CUP 06!!

BRAZIL!BRAZIL!BRAZIL!

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  • 19.
  • At 09:27 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • Kev wrote:

lets just hope we can stick it up Bernardo's nose and bring the world cup home to the rightful place

Come on England

Lets get another star for our collection

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  • 20.
  • At 09:50 PM on 05 Jun 2006,
  • bob the builder wrote:

Shouldn't have waited to the 6th - day of the beast. Here are some coincidences about the number 6

06/06/06 is coming up

we left for our victorious campaign on 06/06/66

we beat Jamiaca 6 nil - that was our 6th win in a row

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  • 21.
  • At 03:34 AM on 06 Jun 2006,
  • CrouchY wrote:

Thanx again Claire! All the ladz loved it...especially those that saw bbc24.(was actually planning to surprise a mate then he rang my house and said "I've just seen you on telly you....**&&^%$£""....

Priceless.

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  • 22.
  • At 09:50 AM on 06 Jun 2006,
  • Glenn wrote:

Bryan should perhaps look at his history. If he did he would recall that it was not only England who stood up to germany, and who sent fathers, sons, brothers to France (not Germany) on the 6th June. Show some respect particularly to those who were the real heroes, and to those whose relatives from all nations gave themselves for your freedom, and the freedom of England.

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  • 23.
  • At 02:30 PM on 06 Jun 2006,
  • cheryl wrote:

COME ON ENGLAND COME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLAND

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  • 24.
  • At 02:32 PM on 06 Jun 2006,
  • cheryl wrote:

COME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLAND I REALLY WANT ENGLAND TO WIN THE WORLD CUP. WELL DONE GERMANY FOR THERE WONDERFUL ENTRY

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  • 25.
  • At 02:32 PM on 06 Jun 2006,
  • cheryl wrote:

COME ON ENGLANDCOME ON ENGLAND I REALLY WANT ENGLAND TO WIN THE WORLD CUP. WELL DONE GERMANY FOR THERE WONDERFUL ENTRY

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  • 26.
  • At 04:20 PM on 06 Jun 2006,
  • wrote:

Despite the glut of songs out there, none of them really do it for England, do they...

QEFC, two brothers - not just 'cos we're black guys either! - re wrote William Blake's poem 'Jerusalem' and set it to Hubert Parry's wonderful tune. Our myspace blog is gaining pace and we were asked to perform on Radio London on Sunday night.

To hear the song check out myspace.com. Go to either 'music', 'groups', or 'myfriends'. Type in QEFC, listen. Forget the famous people on a gravy train doing their 'songs'. We need to get the terraces singing.

THIS IS ‘FOR ENGLAND’.

English terraces in Germany can confound the opposition and fuel the players. But only with your help. Yes… you. Can we… real fans... make this viral on the internet…

To the tune of JERUSALEM

We are at home when we’re abroad
Flying the red cross of Saint George
White Rose of Yorkshire, red of Lancs
Scouse! Cockneys! Geordies! Close your ranks

God save the Queen, God save us all
For God and Harry and Football
Once more unto the breech, we stand
For England’s green and pleasant land

Toad in the hole, and beans on toast
Fish and chips and Sunday Roast
Hot spotted dick, and Yorkshire pud
Our English food misunderstood

But I love Blighty like my mum
And Bobby Moore’s our favourite son
Once more unto the breech, we stand
For England’s green and pleasant land

Red white and blue, fight the good fight
Very perfect gentle knights
1066 and all that
North South East West white brown and black

We’re back-to-back and side-by-side
We love our green and sceptered isle
Once more unto the breech, we stand
For England’s green and pleasant land


© Sepiavision UK Ltd

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  • 27.
  • At 09:31 PM on 06 Jun 2006,
  • Antoine wrote:

Not bad. A nice idea, ill give you that.

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  • 28.
  • At 05:33 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • matias wrote:

Vamos argentina todavia!! Tim dejá de decir boludeces!!
England must remember MARADONA!!!

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