A Stirling hotelier is ready to welcome English football fans as the Three Lions begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas this evening. Rosalind Atkinson, landlady of The Golden Lion Hotel in Stirling, is promoting a spirit of footballing togetherness despite the usual rivalries.
Warm Welcome for English Fans
Rosalind, 52, who runs the popular city center venue with her English husband Gary, 62, said: "English fans will receive a really warm reception in Scotland. It's a chance to experience football somewhere truly unique." She added that among Scottish fans, there is a real sense of pride and optimism, with celebrations already building in pubs and local venues.
"I am Scottish and my husband is English, and we'll be flying flags for both countries. There's a bit of banter and rivalry there, but really we just want a UK country to do well," she said.
Affordable Travel and Rich History
Incentives for English fans to travel north include low pint prices, as low as £3, and a new train service linking Stirling and London Euston. Stirling boasts a rich sporting heritage, home to the oldest football in the world, believed to have belonged to Mary Queen of Scots in the 1500s. The ball is on display at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, discovered in Stirling Castle in the 1970s.
Rosalind added: "Football runs deep in the history of Stirling, making it a truly great place to watch the tournament. It is the home of football – a brilliant mixture of passion and friendly rivalry, dating back to the 1500s. But don't just come to visit Stirling, come to explore Scotland."
Stirling is centrally located, just 28 minutes from Glasgow and 40 minutes from Edinburgh, with excellent rail links.
