Lager, lager: Race on for England fans to get the pints in

While Irish authorities are on tenterhooks and British authorities have banned 1,300 English football fans from travelling to Dublin for Sunday’s international at the Aviva stadium, a big concern for English fans seems to be where to get a drink that early on a Sunday.

The Fans' Forum on the official website of the English Football Association is awash with real footballing issues, such as how and where to spend the golden hour from noon to kick-off at 1pm.

Simon is on the case. He is trying to let his fellow England fans down gently.

“Don’t think you will [get served drink] anywhere.... 12 is when the pubs can start serving so we have 1 hour!! Pub near stadium then.....” Andy still plans to be “pished from night before”, so no need to worry too much on his behalf.

Thomas O’Dea, who, given his name, must surely have issues about which team to support, is not that bothered about getting a drink beforehand as long as the pubs “are open after”. Thomas can relax. They are.

Thinking ahead

Thinking ahead, Simon says he plans to start drinking “now, just to make sure”.

Andy (a lot of England fans are called Andy, it would seem) should probably be managing the team, such is his dedication to perfect pre-match preparation. “Purchase a crate the night or that morning before and walk down towards the ground,” he advises.

Louis is singing from the same hymn sheet. “Yes, as far as I know booze available to buy up to 11pm on the Sat night. Then nowhere will be selling booze till 1 hour before kick off.”

Thomas will be buying drink from a supermarket and “leaving it in hotel while out in pubs Saturday night, then drinking on way to ground.”

Let’s just hope he has paid for the breakfast in his hotel first.

“Find a church - rumour has it they hand out free wine on a Sunday,” advises one wag. They’re a riot, those England fans.

A man who says he is called Patrick Gordon Walker says fans should “buy a bottle as you come out of the airport”. A bottle of what exactly, Mr Walker?

Done a ringaround

Luckily, some of the lads have done a ringaround and there are a few names of pubs serving before 12pm coming up on the site. No wonder the sun never set on that nation. They are pint-sized conquistadors.

Daniel is on the ball.

“Jump in any taxi at 8am on Sunday morning and ask the driver to take you for an Early Drink !!”

But keep it civilised, lads and ladies. The great Jack Charlton will be at the Aviva, bringing his smiling Geordie entente cordiale to Anglo-Irish relations.

Big Jack is now 80, and it has been reported that his family may agree for him to receive special presentations from both sides on the pitch before the game in a show of unity between England and Ireland supporters.

With Jack in the middle, what could possibly go wrong?