short pants. Tollgate is a 10-minute walk from Old Trafford.
Dozens of guests are spread out in the spacious room, and on the walls are televisions showing the premiere of the European Championship between England and Austria.
Regular Steve Callanger takes a look at the broadcast.
– They are better than United, he says.
The bar table is a floor length for five people. At one edge, Steve Callanger stands in front of him with a semi-dark beer (another layman tells us there’s an alcoholic in the beer, but we don’t see it). He paints cars during the day and hangs out at the local pub on his way home after work.
Tollgate is chasing Manchester United supporters. Steve Callanger is a fan. But this season, United did not praise the market.
Steve Callanger glances at the TV as Ellen White enters the box for a cute ride.
– They play better than United, he says.
We have a women’s team at United as well and they are starting to win matches. They probably win more matches than the men… It’s a good level in the women’s league. The national team has not lost in seven matches. They have a good chance but I wouldn’t say they are the favorites in the European Championship.
“The younger generation will think differently”
Richard Trautman, also a regular, is a pint.
He bet on Sweden as the winner of the buddy competition, which means the team that scores the most goals.
– Everything is changing now. He says excitedly that it is very popular with the crowded stalls.
He had intended to buy a ticket when the premiere took place in his neighborhood, but work and daily life came in between and he forgot. Women’s football has now moved into the pub, where it rarely gets a spot during Premier League weekends.
But he will follow the championship. He is a friend of women’s football and welcomes the huge development that is happening with a smile.
Not everyone does.
– He will grow, he will get better. I still feel that there are people who have problems with women’s football and I don’t understand why. I think it’s a generational issue, I think the younger generation will think differently.
– I have a friend who does not like women’s football and does not like commentators. I asked him how he could say that when he doesn’t even see any women’s football.
What do you value in the game?
– It’s more realistic. You get the impression that all female players desire, and there is loyalty sometimes lacking for male players. I’ve seen male teams playing and players who don’t even want to put in the effort.
Women’s football should have more time in the spotlight
The first half ended when a large group of men entered the room. Several of them were in shorts and training shirts after badminton Wednesday at the local LGBTQ group. Amy Murphy is the only woman in the badminton community. Her interest in football is moderate, but she sees other socially related benefits.
I think women’s football could take a bigger place in the spotlight, the men took a big part of the financial pie.
Badminton teammates Chris Kantor and Ross Owen sit and talk as the final whistle sounds. Ross says it’s time to “escape the ship when the match is over. Now the traffic will be horrible!”
They are leaving. Steve Callanger as well.
“But we won – indeed!”
Slowly, The Tollgate is filled with people wearing England national team jerseys and flags on their cheeks. The mood rises when fans sneak from the stands to celebrate the victory.
Suddenly, four-and-a-half-year-old Orla Snape climbed into the chair behind us. With the help of a little drunkenness and the first football match of her life, she stays awake even though the clock is late.
Father Dave is a Burnley fan, but the daughter gets free ideas and dreams.
This evening she can fall asleep in her sleeping beauty with fond memories – perhaps the first ones she really remembers – on her retina.
England started the premiere with a 1-0 victory in front of a packed stadium.
Orla begins to pick up the hats from her Russian bag. The parasols went for a trip this summer to Old Trafford.
She listens to our adult conversation that lands on the target. Was the whole Beth Meads shot inside, did the review show where it is right?
Urla pulls a pair of glasses over the tip of her nose and breaks:
– But we won – in fact!
