HomeNeighborsManchester Great-Grandmother Wows Neighborhood With Her England-Themed Decor On Her House

Manchester Great-Grandmother Wows Neighborhood With Her England-Themed Decor On Her House

Manchester Great-Grandmother Wows Neighborhood With Her England-Themed Decor On Her House

For Mary Fannon, tournament time means one thing, flags everywhere.

The 71-year-old from Burnage, Manchester, has been decorating her home during every World Cup and Euros for the past 20 years. Over time, she has bought more decorations each year, and her collection now covers almost every inch of her house, garden and even the garage.

She said she put together this year’s display with help from an extendable ladder and her grandson.

“I love it because it’s England,” the Manchester United fan said. “Come on England, get us in there lads.”

Mary said people now expect the display every year.

“I don’t know of anyone else locally who puts as many flags up as I do,” she said. “People do come past and show their support, I get a wave from passers-by and they’ve got their car horns going.

“They always shout my name now, because they know who I am.”

As well as buying flags over the years, Mary said people have donated some to her, visiting the house to hand them over and see the display.

“A lot of the flags have come from people who have come up, knocked on and given me them,” she said. “It would be weird now if people came and saw I hadn’t put them up.”

“My grandson puts them all up for me,” Mary explained. “We’ve got an extended ladder he uses. He spent a full day doing it on Saturday and then again on Sunday.

“I can’t put them up by myself but as long as I’ve got my grandkids to help me, I’ll keep doing it for as long as I last.”

Mary said she hoped to watch England’s opening clash with Croatia either alone or with her grandchildren, but had bigger plans if the team reached the latter stages.

“If we get through to the final I’m having people round,” she said. “I don’t care what time it is, if it’s two o’clock in the morning, we’re doing it.

“I hope we win. If we get through tonight I think we’re in there, I think we can get in.”

Mary also remembers England’s 1966 World Cup win.

“I remember our last World Cup win at the 1966 final,” she said. “I was at home watching it with my mum and dad in Withington. I was still in school then.”

“I’m hoping it’s 2-0, I hope Harry Kane scores, and if they play Marcus Rashford, I hope he scores,” she said. “Rashford is my favourite.”

“I love it all because it’s England. I really do love it, I really enjoy it.”

She added: “This is this is the big tournament, this is for the golden one and we haven’t won it since 66.

“It’d be nice for it to get back here.

“Come on England, let’s get it done.”

Read more from BBC News.

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Vijay Chaterjee
Vijay Chaterjee
Vijay Chatterjee is a curious observer of people and places. He spends his time exploring cities, collecting stories and reflecting on how everyday experiences can shift perspective. Based near Toronto, he is rarely still for long.

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