England superfan spent £100,000 on 9 World Cups in 54 years | Football | Sport

Garford Beck caught the international football fever 54 years ago and has become an England superfan, spending over £100,000 and attending nine World Cups in the process. Beck, 63, attended his maiden England fixture in 1972 aged nine when the under-23s faced Scotland at his cherished Derby County.

The matchday programme remains part of his treasured memorabilia collection from his odyssey, which has transported him to nine World Cups, countless England fixtures and established him as one of the England Supporters’ Travel Club’s “top cappers.” Beck counts himself amongst the fortunate ones this summer as he possesses sufficient matches under his belt to secure the discounted £45 Supporter Entry tickets for this summer, which he hopes will see him through from the Group stages right to the final.

It remains an enormous commitment for any supporter to trail their nation at a major tournament, but Beck reckons Thomas Tuchel could deliver an unforgettable summer for England supporters. “I think they’ll go deep into the competition. I think the conditions won’t help,” Beck said on the tournament in just a few months.

“A lot of our players won’t have a break, and I worry about that with so many games and then the players all in high-pressure games in the Premier League and Champions League. But we’ve definitely got a chance to go a long way.”

Beck has set aside at least £12,000 – and that was before FIFA revealed their reduced-price ticketing for certain supporters – and that represents doing it economically by splitting minivans, spending the occasional night with a niece in the US and utilising budget accommodation.

World Cup ticket pricing issue

There has been tremendous uproar regarding the ticket prices – the most affordable standard ticket for the final was initially £3,000 – yet it remains the supporters who truly create the atmosphere and establish the mood at any World Cup. To ignore the most devoted fans would be an enormous error because the sport is meaningless without the passion and energy they provide.

Beck is actually more annoyed that the Football Association has not spoken out more or arranged ticket distribution more effectively. Beck said: “I’ve qualified for them, but there’s not enough of them. I’ve had sleepless nights, teetering, worrying about getting there.

“I’ve got many misgivings about this World Cup. It’s the ticketing really. It feels disappointing to me because I always think the best World Cups are the ones with the best atmospheres. The England fans created a great atmosphere at the last Euros last year [2024], but many of them ain’t gonna be in America.”

Beck’s path to becoming a “top capper” has taken him across the globe. His debut World Cup was Spain 1982, he missed Mexico ’86 because it was so distant, but has attended every tournament that England have reached since.

Yet he still recalls the 1970 competition as if it were yesterday, and perhaps that established the pattern for a lifetime of anguish and letdown. “I’ve cried after a few football matches in my time,” he acknowledges.

“I was only four in 1966 and then eight in 1970, with that single Back Home and my World Cup coin collection… I just assumed England were going to win the World Cup.

“I remember being sat at my grandmother’s house on that Sunday in June watching the quarter-final against West Germany. And then we went into a 2-0 lead. And there we go. There we go [England lost 3-2 after extra-time]. When they lost that I just burst out crying. I didn’t cry again until 1976 when Derby lost to Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final.”

His first England fixture was that under-23s match – England drew 2-2 with a formidable Scotland side featuring Kenny Dalglish amongst others – and he has tracked as many age categories, tiers and the senior squad wherever feasible. He maintains he cannot provide an exact number of senior matches he has attended, but reckons it must be in the hundreds, with England only reaching their 1,000th international in 2019.

Beck, who is employed by Border Force, was absent from fixtures during Covid but managed, alongside other companions, to purchase an executive box which they could utilise within the lockdown regulations. He also regards England’s two warm-up friendlies in Florida in certain respects as more significant than the tournament proper.

“I have to go to the friendlies because that keeps you in the top caps,” he explained. “The tournament games don’t count towards it. The friendlies are not a vanity thing. You just have to go.”

Best England World Cup experience

Beck also manages the England supporters’ team. They organise fixtures against their respective opponents and undertake remarkable initiatives, such as last year hosting one in tribute to celebrated journalist Patrick Barclay.

He relishes those matches, the journeys and the fellowship. “I’m long past when football results dictate my mood,” he said.

“But with England, it’s about the fans’ matches, the trips and the games. I get behind the team, I want to watch and sing the national anthem.”

One of his preferred World Cups may well catch you off guard. “I liked Qatar because it was a one-city World Cup. The atmosphere was really good and it was a great tournament.

“One of the things I don’t like about tournaments is that it becomes quiet when loads of fans have gone home. But it was good in Qatar. The travel was easy, we had a big villa and it was busy until the end.

“I really enjoyed Russia for the travel. They laid on free supporter trains. We did an 18-hour train each way from Moscow to the quarter-final.

“What a great time we had. And not only that, we saw a lot of the countryside and you did have long stops at various places on along the route.”

Yet his commitment to the cause has brought some heartache over the years. “Well, probably relationships is probably the biggest thing. There’s lot of girls who follow England, but one of them being my girlfriend would have been ideal really. Find a football-loving girl that goes to the game.

“Especially when you end up decorating your place with a few trophies, bowls and pennants. That sort of thing.

“I actually had a girlfriend who did come out with the classic line: ‘You love England more than you love me.’ Well, how can I respond?’ I love Scotland more than you love you!’ Anyway, that’s when I was reaching into my pocket for the red card!”.

2026 World Cup travel tips on a budget

• Plan – get a map out: “Research your options and plan on how to get there and then also your internal options as well.”
• Make friends: “Buddy up with people. It’s a lot cheaper to rent Airbnbs with other people. In Qatar, we got a couple of villas and had no problem filling them.”
• Football Supporters’ Association: “They always publish a guide which is really, really helpful. They look after the best interests of the England supporters. You can find free travel. Do things on a budget. Look for their helplines, publications and social media platforms.”
• Don’t panic: “Sometimes flights, hotels and trips become available. Whether it’s a friendly or a tournament, as soon as it’s all announced, prices go like that and go up… but eventually they start coming down.”

BEST PERSON MET

“I met Archbishop Desmond Tutu by accident. Really. We planned a visit to a local school in Cape Town on the day of the Algeria game in South Africa. We’d arranged to meet outside the governor’s mansion and the cathedral was next door.

“I needed to use the loo, the cafe owner directed me to the cathedral and I saw this guy and as he got closer… I realised who it was. I got a picture and an autograph. It was quite special. My memories are about meeting people, making friends and playing matches.

“I was lucky to meet Pele, too. I was on duty when he came through Heathrow. I was stunned for a moment, the realisation it was Pele and I was so overcome. I kissed his hand, but he was really nice. I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day.”

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

“Brazil was a disappointment. We were out after two games. You’ve got to go some to be knocked out at all after two games. But Roy Hodgson achieved it. But you know what? Roy was a gentleman.”

MANAGERS

“I liked Gareth Southgate because he did reconnect with the fans. I really liked Terry Venables and Bobby Robson came good. But when Gareth said going to Qatar was more than just the football… someone rightly said it’s ONLY about the football.”