From a roar to a whimper – social club changes name of guest ale after England’s World Cup disaster

The Knowl Club in Mirfield created a new label for the beer and dropped the price after a paltry 12 people turned up to watch England draw with Costa Rica on Tuesday.

Steward Paul Moon, 37, said: “I made a label and stuck it over the name. I think whimper was a more appropriate name for this campaign.”

He also reduced the price of the guest beer, described by brewery Banks’s as a “rip-roaring brew”, from £2.50 to £1.50 and decided to donate all proceeds of sales to the local kids’ football teams at Battyeford Sporting Club.

Paul, who has been steward at the club for 18 months, said: “The place was rammed for the last couple of games with well over 100 people coming in to watch the game.

“It’s almost as if people forgot that they were playing.

“We’d run guest beers for the qualifying stages and took on extra staff in preparation, but of course it wasn’t needed on Tuesday night.

“I think at least we ended on a high because the beer went down a storm with the lads that turned up and we had a laugh and a joke about it.

“I’m hoping that by donating the money to youth football we might be investing in England’s future prospects.”

Drinker Maurice Hirst, an 80-year-old retired boat builder, said: “I have seen a few England games over the years and calling it Whimper seems to sum up this tournament.

“I’m pleased my drinking could help future England stars.”