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United KingdomSports9 days ago

Inside England's US base gripped by World Cup fever as tournament kicks off

The article reports on England's World Cup headquarters located in Prairie Village, Kansas, and highlights local American support for the team. It mentions the location of the team's accommodation, the Inn at Meadowbrook, and notes that the area is preparing for the tournament with fans displaying flags and excitement.

World Cup fever is gripping a quiet American suburb hosting England's training base - with local streets covered in 'good luck' signs and shops stocking Marmite and Hobnobs.

The Three Lions will arrive in Prairie Village outside Kansas  City on Saturday and move into its single hotel - the 54-room, £260-a-night Inn at Meadowbrook.

Residents are preparing a big welcome, with St George's Crosses fluttering from local homes and cafes, watch parties scheduled for England games and flower beds planted with red and white blooms.

Any England fans staying nearby will be treated to a tempting array of local drinking spots, from a classic American dive bar to an Irish pub serving up fish and chips, toasties and pints of creamy Guinness.

England's hotel is already a hive of activity ahead of the team's arrival on Saturday with police on patrol and security barriers brought in – although there are plans for open training sessions.

The area the England team are based in is an affluent suburb of Kansas City which some say still epitomises the 'American Dream' with its tree lined streets and 1940's and 1950's homes. There are several local artisan shops and among them is The Better Cheddar which stocks an impressive range of British products including Jaffa Cakes, Hobnobs, bottles of HP sauce, Bisto gravy and Branston pickle.

Chris Thomas, 40, moved to America nearly 20 years ago and now runs a catering firm called Brit Boy Street Food with his wife Lizzie, 38, who has banned him from wearing bucket hats during the tournament.

Manchester United fan Mr Thomas, who is originally from Selby, told the Daily Mail he was delighted that Thomas Tuchel 's Three Lions had set up their base in Kansas City - and offered to send them some supplies.

Chris Thomas, 40, moved to America nearly 20 years ago and now runs a catering firm in Kansas City called Brit Boy Street Food with his wife Lizzie, 38

Pat McCroy, 40, with English products in his shop The Better Cheddar in Kansas City

English products including HP Sauce in The Better Cheddar, in Kansas City

Jaffa Cakes and Hobnobs are also on the shelves of The Better Cheddar, in Kansas City

The name Brit Boy comes from the way Lizzie saved Mr Thomas's number in her mobile - Brit Boy - when they met and the name has stuck. As their website proudly advertises, they sell 'proper British pies, pasties and sausage rolls' that leave you pining for the green and pleasant fields of England.

Mr Thomas said: 'If any of the boys are missing home and want a real sausage roll or shepherd's pie, I'm more than happy to deliver some on the house – it would be a great honour, but I know they probably have their own chefs.

'The pies are all meat and potatoes and follow the traditional recipe and those two staples are what make-up the traditional mid-West staple diet and they have gone down very well with ex pats and locals.

'It's funny when you think how much of a bad rap English food gets but we have been doing really well and I should thank my mum because she inspired me.

'The aim is to try and convince the locals to have pies and not pizzas and we are slowly working on them because as many England fans will find when they come to the US, it's not cheap out here.'

England will be based at the Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, a short drive from the city centre and their Inn on Meadowbank hotel, which has seen security tightened with the team due to arrive on Saturday from Florida.

Kansas City will also play host to the Argentina, Algeria and Netherlands squads with the first two kicking off the opening Group J match in the city's impressive Arrowhead stadium which holds 69,000.

Black screen netting has gone up around the England hotel and crates of water and energy drinks were dropped off on Thursday and as part of the security measures coffee shops and a food store next-door have been closed off.

Perfectly manicured grass lawns at houses close to the Inn at Meadowbank have also had little St George's flags planted in them and banners hung from the balconies of nearby apartments.

Mr Thomas added: 'Argentina has a real state of the art training ground; the Compass Minerals National Performance Centre is one of the best in the country.

'I would say it tops the England one and the Algerians and Dutch also have good facilities but one thing for sure is that all the teams will get a really warm welcome all the locals are so friendly.'

He added: 'There is quite a large expat group in Kansas City , and we meet up when we can, usually at a bar called the Friction Beer Company and we watch as many Premier League games as we can.

'There will be good crowd in for all the England games, but I won't be there as I have managed to get a ticket for the opening match against Croatia in Dallas.

'I paid $400 for it, which I think is a little steep but I'm sure it will be worth it, the ticket prices are ridiculous, FIFA have really priced out the genuine fans.

The Inn at Meadowbrook Hotel in Prairie Village - c…

Read the full article at Daily Mail

2 reports

Daily MailIndependentCenter9 days ago
The little corner of Kansas that's obsessed with their English World Cup guests: Sleepy midwest suburb stocks up on Marmite, Hobnobs and 'proper British pies'

A small area in Kansas City has become enamored with British culture, particularly through the offerings of Chris, a Yorkshireman who provides traditional British foods such as pies and sausage rolls.

Bias read (Center): The article discusses a cultural phenomenon involving British food in a U.S. town, which is not inherently politically charged. There is no evident ideological framing, bias, or partisan emphasis in the content provided.

Daily MirrorParty-alignedCenter11 days ago
Inside England's US base gripped by World Cup fever as tournament kicks off

The article reports on England's World Cup headquarters located in Prairie Village, Kansas, and highlights local American support for the team. It mentions the location of the team's accommodation, the Inn at Meadowbrook, and notes that the area is preparing for the tournament with fans displaying flags and excitement.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses on sports coverage with no explicit political commentary, framing, or bias. It provides factual information about England's World Cup preparations and local fan support without taking a stance or using loaded language.