Victoria Street, Leominster

'There wa-as no-o blanket'

We spent the weekend in Herefordshire, staying over night on Saturday at a farm in Kimbolton, a few miles north of Leominster. The view from the farmhouse across the fields to the church of St James the Great appears in extras.

I booked a table at The Angel in Kingsland. Happily just around from the dining room was a luxurious area with a large tele where we plonked ourselves to watch England take on Russia. Over this way there was an understandable amount of support for Wales, but incongruously, the gaffer of the Angel was a scouser, and a couple down from Merseyside. There's something uncomfortable about listening to a woman who knows loads more about soccer players (national and international), laws and tactics than you do.

The first half was promising with plenty of chances. A goal was just around the corner so long as we could sharpen up around the six-yard box and Harry Kane stopped taking the corners and free kicks. Around 60 minutes, and Russia were beginning to terrify me. I couldn't watch, and took 5 minutes off to nip out down St Michael's Avenue at the back of the Angel, where I took the shot in extras across the field.