England superfan Andy Milne, 62, is selling his second home in Cheshire for £350,000 to finance his tenth World Cup journey. The retired teacher, who has followed the Three Lions since 1982, gained viral fame in Qatar with his replica World Cup trophy named 'Sophie' after his daughter.
Speaking on Sky Bet's In The Mixer podcast, Milne explained that the property was always intended as his pension pot. 'I took early retirement to go to Qatar from my job as a teacher but I won't get my full pension for another four years,' he said. 'Now it's time to cash out that pension pot.'
Milne's likeness to former England manager Steve McClaren brought additional attention in Qatar, where his photo with Sophie circulated widely. He first brought the trophy to a World Cup in 2010 and says it has become a popular photo opportunity, though he has to guard against theft attempts.
This summer's tournament marks his tenth World Cup. He began attending in 1982 and has prepared meticulously for each, noting that Qatar's winter scheduling forced him into early retirement. His dedication has made him a recognisable figure among England supporters.
