Boston Irish pub at heart of World Cup Tartan Army campaign prepares for England fans
A pub that Scotland’s World Cup fans picked to be the heart of their base in Boston has taken extra measures across the city as it prepares for England fans.
The Dubliner became a hub for the Tartan Army during Scotland’s opening two matches in Massachusetts, with supporters packing the venue throughout their stay in the city.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIt has now rented extra fridges and drafted in staff from with England fans beginning to arrive in Boston. ahead of the Three Lions’ fixture against Ghana on Tuesday, bar manager Brian McDonnell said preparations were already under way for another surge in customers.
He said: “Obviously stock – we have to stay way up on stock.
“We have deliveries coming in nearly every day – just always rotating around.
“Obviously we’re going through so much beer, and we have only a decent-sized keg room.
“We’re still going through so much that we had to rent a couple of mobile fridge units that we have out in the back alley so we always have beer rotating through – it’s always cold, it’s always flowing.”
The venue has also brought in extra staff from sister bars elsewhere in Boston to help cope with demand.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“And obviously we had to call in a few extra staff, and we’re in a lucky enough position that we have a couple of different bars around the city, so we’re bringing staff from there to give us an extra hand,” Mr McDonnell said.
“So we just stock up on everything and hope for the best.”
He said the World Cup had transformed business at the pub, even on days that would normally be quiet.
Mr McDonnell told PA: “In general, we’re one of the busier bars in the city so on Thursday, Friday and Saturday we’d be slammed regardless.
“But on a Monday night, you might only have two bartenders on all night long and it’ll be pretty dead.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“Obviously on a Monday now, we still have a queue down the street, we have full staff, we have record numbers.
“Even now, it’s just Sunday and it’s packed in there and there’s still a queue down the street.
“So in general, it’s just been a massive increase on every single day.”
Mr McDonnell said Scotland supporters had exceeded expectations during their time in Boston.
He said: “It’s been amazing – Scotland’s like the ideal crowd we could have got.
“Obviously (they are) big boozers, big partiers – but while doing all that, they caused zero problems.
“I said over the last two weeks of madness… I don’t think we’ve had to kick out a single person.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“There’s been no scraps, no malice from anyone. Everyone’s here for a good time.”
With England supporters now taking their place in the city, Mr McDonnell said he expected another large turnout.
“We’re definitely expecting a big crowd,” he said.
“If they take over as much as the Scots it’ll be a different story.
“Kind of similar enough drinking habits, so we should be pretty prepared for that.
“The Scots have really set a high standard with regard to the party but also just their behaviour and everything.
“So I hope the English can follow suit.”
The arrival of England supporters has also been welcomed by actor John Ratzenberger, best known for playing postman Cliff Clavin in the sitcom Cheers.
The 79-year-old, who spent a decade living in England, told the Daily Star: “Cheers England! You can go all the way.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementHe added: “England has the players, the passion, and an entire nation ready to carry that trophy home.”
Mr McDonnell said the tournament had also provided a boost for Boston’s international profile.
“It’s been unreal,” he said.
“Obviously there’s the business side of it, the financial side – we were slammed every single day.
“On the PR side, or the publicity, it’s like everywhere we looked on the media, our name was being mentioned – we were getting shared all across the world.
“That’s not just for us, that’s for Boston in general – I feel like it’s a lot more on people’s radar now thanks to the World Cup.”
Mr McDonnell added: “A lot of people had been hesitant about visiting America, visiting Boston, but coming here now they tell us it’s one of the best vacations they ever took.”
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
