When football came home

Fletch recalls playing with Darren Anderton one of England’s star players from the Euro ‘96 tournament

- Steve Fletcher

During lockdown – and with UEFA Euro 2020 postponed until next summer – both the BBC and ITV have indulged in some nostalgia by broadcasting matches from past European Championships, including games from Euro ’96.

This was hosted in England and is a tournament I have fond memories of. It was a prime period in English football history. I was 23 at the time and I remember watching the matches under a gazebo in a mate’s back garden where he’d set up his television.

Often with England, expectations are sky-high going into major tournaments then quickly dashed when the matches get underway. However, Euro ’96 was a competition in which England truly performed, with legendary players such as David Seaman, Stuart Pearce, Tony Adams, Paul Ince, Teddy Sheringham, Alan Shearer and, of course, Paul Gascoigne in the line-up.