England fan Ben Spurr meeting his Three Lions idol Paul Gascoigne
The English National Team means a great deal to me.
It is History.
It is memories of years gone by.
It is excitement for the future.
It is glory, tears, spirit, identity and a feeling of belonging.
Joy, sadness, euphoria, togetherness and division.
It is iconic moments in time that are etched in the mind of generations.
It is Gascoigne, Banks, Moore, Lineker, Ball, Barnes, Waddle, Hoddle, Keegan, Pearce, Gerrard, Shilton, Beckham, Lampard and the Charltons.
It is World in Motion, Three Lions and Nessun Dorma.
It is the pinnacle of 1966, the renewed hope of 1990 and the glorious Summer of 1996.
It is the comfort of connection that carried me through my Mother's death in June 2018.
Ben met Harry Maguire when he was watching his brother play for local team Gainsborough Trinity
It is White and Red, White and Blue and even Grey on one significant occasion.
It is my drawers full of football shirts and my shelf full of figurines.
It is the famous twin towers.
It is the nostalgia of sitting in my Nan's front room and enjoying the game.
It is Ramsey, Robson, Venables and Southgate.
It is the wondrous Wembley Studium in all its modern architectural glory.
It is the badge.
It is the Bobby Moore statue.
It is the St George's Flag.
It is skill, heart and pride.
It is the Past, the Present and the Future.
Right, wrong or indifferent.
The ever present.
This is England to me.
My England.
I hope yours is as invaluable.
