This month (May) sees a flurry of football finals being broadcast on TNT Sports including the Champions League, Europe League, Conference League and Women’s Champion’s League.
The Morning Advertiser recently spoke with the sports channel’s pundits to get their take on why sport and pubs go hand in hand.
Broadcaster and former England footballer and TNT pundit Karen Carney outlined how she prefers going to the pub when the sun is shining and enjoying the beer garden.
“It’s about the community side of things. Football is great because it’s an ice breaker for everyone, it brings conversations together and brings people together,” she said.
“I’ve grown up in that environment, I learned to play football because my dad used to take me to our local pub and I’d play football on an old bowls green there.”
Carney added: “You can sit at home and listen but if you want the environment and atmosphere, you’ve got to watch football in the pub.”
Fellow former England player Joe Cole shared his thoughts on what pubs need to do to show sport well.
Community cornerstone
“I like going to pubs to watch football especially with mates. It’s important pubs have big screens so you’ve got a good visual from everywhere the pub,” he said.
“The only bugbear would be is getting served when it’s rammed but it’s the staff who make a pub.”
The TNT pundit, who runs a number of restaurants with Tom Sellers, highlighted his two favourite pubs – the Surprise in Chelsea, west London, thanks to its strong food offer, and the Duke in Wanstead, east London – the latter of which he has been known to turn out for the Sunday football team on occasion.
Being part of local sport is just one of the ways in which pubs play their vital role in the community, according to Cole.
He added: “Pubs have always been a cornerstone for their communities. It’s part of our culture and something we should embrace.”
The British culture of football and pubs have always gone hand in hand, according to former England midfielder Fara Williams.
She urged pubs to ensure there is a variety of games on offer including making sure women’s matches are advertised – something she said was becoming more common practice.
Williams also highlighted the key ways in which pubs can ensure they’re making the most of sport.
She said: “Plenty of screens, bar staff ready to serve and a good sound system – sound is important."
Open and accessible
The former Lioness echoed Carney’s comments on the importance of the community aspect of pubs.
“You can go into a pub, meet new people who have common interests in sport,” she added.
“When I was very young, pubs were very male dominated. Now, it’s a lot more open and accessible.”
Fellow former England footballer Rio Ferdinand drew on his recent experience, visiting sports-focused venues across The Pond.
“I went to New York recently and the pubs are set up for people to watch sport.
“There are seats at the bar, the TV screens are all above and around the bar with the seating is all planned towards that.”
However, the environment overall was the most important aspect of watching sport in the on-trade to Ferdinand.
He added: “[The atmosphere] is the be all and end all. Staff are vitally important, how much they embrace the crowds that come in almost on a name basis is the top tier.
“Giving that personal touch and embracing the spirit of what the competition is you’re going to watch is massive.”
