Football superfan covers his home in England flags for World Cup

A football superfan has covered his North Yorkshire home in St George’s flags and Three Lions memorabilia in support of England, ahead of the team's first FIFA 2026 World Cup match this evening.

Benny Elcock, 63, who lives in Clifton, near York, has draped his house with England flags covering his windows and garden gates, as well as England hats, scarves, and flower pots.

A garden gnome and an ornamental meerkat are also in keeping with the display, sporting the England strip and standing with their own ball on a shelf above the front door.

Even the family's Yorkshire Terrier, Reggie, has his own outfit in keeping with the spirited display of support.

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Everton and England supporter Benny Elcock told GB News that he is 'mad' about football, which he played as a younger man in midfield for local pub teams - The Imperial and the Clifton Hotel.

For decades, he has decorated every inch of his home with dozens of England flags and ornaments during international tournaments to bring some cheer to the neighbourhood.

"I've been doing it for years and I always stick my Everton flag up, because I'm a massive Everton fan," he said.

"People just think I'm mad and say 'you've gone a bit mad, you've gone a bit overboard' and I say 'I don't care, I love it'."

Benny says the flags are enjoyed by everyone in the road and that people driving past often honk their horns to show their support, with passers-by also asking to take pictures of his display.

"We just want to support our country and when you're a football fan, you're a football fan, full stop" he said.

"It never, ever, ever changes, you're absolutely obsessed with it - well I am anyway.

"All getting together as fans watching a match when you're in the boozer having a laugh, having a discussion, and all the banter, it just absolutely excites you and I just love it."

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The World Cup, involving 48 teams for the first time, will be jointly hosted by 16 cities across three nations, with 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada.

Benny is determined to watch all the games despite the different time zones, and has high hopes that England will reach the semi-final - if not the final.

When asked the jackpot question of 'Is it coming home?', Mr Elcock said: "Without a doubt."

He added: "If the World Cup had been in Europe, I think we'd have waltzed it, but whether we can acclimatise, whether we can do the weather, because it's going to be red hot, apparently, I don't know, but we'll give it a good go.

"The Germans are all hanging in there somehow and obviously you've got to think about Brazil because it's hot over there, and they're used to it.

"But we should just go for it - there's now't to lose - they should give it their all, give it everything, just give it, give it, give it and we might just do it."

England’s first match is on Wednesday, June 17, against Croatia, kicking off at 9pm UK time in Arlington, Dallas.

England will then play Ghana on Tuesday, June 23, at 9pm near Foxborough, Boston, USA, followed by Saturday, June 27, versus Panama, kicking off at 10pm in New York.

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