RESIDENTS on England’s most patriotic street have let their Welsh neighbour fly his flag – but it comes at a price.
Ahead of the much anticipated battle tonight against the two nations, a street in Oldham will be filled with England flags – apart from one house.
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Chris Cunningham, 45, will be showing support for Wales even though his wife insisted an England flag had to go up too.
Despite living on Wales Street, England fans have taken over with neighbours even making Chris go to the pub in a football shirt.
Neighbour Chris ‘Faz’ Farrand, 52, got the Welshman in a England top during the last World Cup.
He said: “When we got him in the pub with the England top on – we all called him George – we loved it, but he probably didn’t as much as us.
“He follows the wrong shape ball usually, but suddenly they are in a World Cup finals and he’s supporting the football.
“It might well be another 58 years before it happens again.
“He’s properly Welsh from Cwmbran not far from Cardiff.”
Darren Dunne, 52, cleans the windows on the street and said all 29 of the houses on the street are flying a flag during the Qatar World Cup.
“We have some craic with him,” he added.
“It’s just general banter around the sport and we will all want him to lose tonight.
“I’ve been doing his windows since the family moved in.
“His next door neighbour up the street Faz went to school with me and he’s an engineer and did all the 30 brackets for the flags on the street.
“There are 29 houses and only one with two flags and one of those is Welsh! It’s all good fun.
“The time before the last tournament – Faz made him wear an England top to come in the pub. He went along with it, but wasn’t happy!”
Describing Chris as “very Welsh”, next door neighbour Doug McDonald, 70, said: “We do have a fair bit of banter.
“He has a very big Welsh dragon in his window and supports Wales at everything.
“He loves playing the Welshman and we all like the banter.
“It’s just general banter around the sport and he’s a smashing chap – it’s all in the best possible taste.
“Everybody gets on with him round here.”
Locals have even put a sign up re-naming the road “England Street” while the tournament is on.
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