‘It’s in our blood’

Victoria Sun

Friday, March 2, 2001 | 1:11 a.m.

In the grand soccer scheme of things, the game between England and Spain played Wednesday at the Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, England, meant very little.

No World Cup berth was at stake. No gold medal to brag over.

Except to millions of die-hard British soccer fans, there are no meaningless games. Every game counts, even when it doesn't.

"It's very important to me," tourist Paul Crawley said of his country's sport.

That would explain why Crawley and his wife, Nicki, were among about 75 soccer fanatics gathered at the Crown & Anchor British Pub on East Tropicana Avenue to watch the "international friendly" game between England and Spain.

The Crawleys found the Crown & Anchor listed in a guide to Las Vegas before they planned their week-long vacation here from Rockford, England. Paul, a fan of Leeds United, a team that plays in the Premiere Football League (England's top soccer league) professed that the couple planned on spending one more day in the quaint pub to watch Leeds play Manchester United.

Does Paul ever miss a game?

"No," he answered.

Soccer -- or football, as it's called in England-- is much more than just a sport to most Brits.

It's a way of life.

The group gathered at the Crown & Anchor gasped at every potential goal scored, sighed at every missed opportunity, cursed every mistake and erupted in joyful cheers when their team did something good.

It's like gathering all the sports fans in this country together to root for the same team. That's the way it is in England when the national team is playing.

And when the Premiere Football League is on, just about everyone has an alliance to a certain team, the same way Americans have their favorite teams.

The main difference is that Americans have multiple sports to follow while in England, soccer and rugby are about it.

"Football is a big part of my life," said visitor Steve Arch. "We talk about it all the time.

"It unites all of us. It's in our blood to enjoy it. The first game I ever saw was when I was 8. I've been a fan ever since."

Arch, of Lewis (East Sussex), England, and co-workers Paul Makin, Kes Thornley and Gary Rees, all from Birmingham, are stage lighting technicians.

They spend eight to 10 months away from England, but make sure they watch as many games as they can on TV.

Though Makin is rarely at home, he is still a season ticket holder for the Birmingham City team and is content with giving the tickets to friends.

Mark McGarry, one of the managers of the Crown & Anchor, moved to Las Vegas 10 years ago from San Diego.

McGarry, a British import from Coventry, England, began holding soccer and rugby viewing parties at the pub about five years ago.

He estimates that the pub spends about $30,000 each year to broadcast the soccer and rugby games.

"I love it," McGarry said with a large grin as he collected a cover charge. "Plus, it's the only way my wife will let me watch all of the games."

When Barry Fairhurst moved to Las Vegas two years ago from Lancashire, England, his first question wasn't where the loosest slot machines were located or where he could play single-deck blackjack.

It was, "Where's the best English pub?"

Fairhurst, fittingly a dealer at the Aladdin's London Club, found it at the Crown & Anchor.

"This pub doesn't rely on video poker for entertainment," Fairhurst said. "It's much more of a pub atmosphere like we're used to at home.

"Out here, apart from people staring at their machines, they go out to eat, but it's not very social. In England, you go to a pub to drink and chat with your friends. It's much more friendly."

A steady and heavy downpour didn't stop Fairhurst and co-workers Paul Phillips and Darren Bowes from making it down to watch England down Spain 3-0. The three are regulars at the pub, though Phillips pointed out an obvious difference between the group gathered there that day and one you would find at a typical pub in England.

"It would be very crowded," Phillips said. "So crowded you couldn't even move.

"Everyone would be singing, shouting and rooting loudly."

Win or lose.