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So St Etienne is interesting. 
Got here last night and it’s very relaxed. It’s a small town which quite simply doesn’t open on a Sunday. 

We asked for a supermarket to get some supplies when we got in and were laughed at. “This isn’t Lyon or Bordeaux. This is St Etienne. Everything is closed”

So the only area open was the downtown square. Which doubles up as sort of a small Fanzone. 

This in effect had become St Etienne’s “Queen Victoria” pub – the one that the press were camped outside for three days in Marseille and was the main focus for trouble. 

Flags draped in the walls and across the front of bars around the square.  


We don’t normally head for the main fan focus point. We, like many others who watch England, try to keep ourselves slightly off the beaten track. But we had no choice last night if you wanted a drink or something to eat. 

And I have to say the atmosphere last night was very good. St Etienne seems to have it sussed. Lots of bars playing loud music. They had sussed out the English fan’s playlist. Wonderwall. Fire starter by prodigy. Park life. Bruno Mars????? As can be seen clicking on this link. 

I know some folk’s ideal night out isn’t standing with a group of lads and lasses singing what is perceived as ‘lad songs’. But personally at football I think it’s great. It’s good humoured and positive. And no different than a square full of Ireland fans singing rebel songs (which again I don’t have a problem with) or Belgians singing their songs on a group that you think is great only because you are unable to understand them. 

The best reaction has been the police. They have been totally stand-off. Even to the stage of approaching England fans and asking if they can have a photos taken with them.


It very much reminds me of the reaction of the Dutch police in Euro2000. Music and a calm attitude ensured no problems in Holland with English fans as opposed to in Belgium where (like in Marseille) the police were wading in with riot batons and tear gas when someone dropped a sweet wrapper in the floor. 

I spoke to a couple of journalists I’ve seen at every town so far. They said their job this weekend is to take photos of England fans enjoying themselves (yeah of course it is). They commented St Etienne was by far the best vibe to date. 

Interestingly I also chatted to a UK policeman who commented on how cowardly the Russians were. They made a deliberate decision to attack innocent fans who were not looking for trouble and steered well clear of the one place in Marseille that, if they decided to attack, may have put up some sort of defence (the pub surrounded by the press and riot police). He wasn’t condoning the defence I hasten to emphasis. Just commenting that the Russians has chosen the easy option.   
Today is match-day. Loads of England fans will come flooding into St Etienne today. They will all be in that square. It’s too small. So let’s see what will happen today. 
It’s a long olde day today with kick off at 9pm. Hopefully the day should go off peacefully.