England fans hail 'superb' result (From The Argus)

England fans hail 'superb' result

7:35pm Monday 11th June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

England supporters in Ukraine have declared their side's 1-1 draw against France a "superb result".

They greatly outnumbered their counterparts from across the Channel to watch England's opening game of Euro 2012 in Donetsk.

Chants of "Roy Hodgson's barmy army" rang out from inside the 50,000-seater Donbass Arena.

Matt Isle, 39, from Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, said: "I would have bitten a hand off if I'd been offered a point before the game. We looked solid at the back. A draw is a superb result."

Graeme Whitehead, 43, from Workington, Cumbria, praised the energy of England's attacking play: " I think it's a great result. I know we didn't beat the French, but it feels like it."

Inside the stadium there was anger after the England band - which had travelled 2,500 miles by road to get to Ukraine - were refused entry to the game.

Despite assurances from the Football Association and Uefa, the band were not allowed to bring their instruments into the Donbass Arena. The band has been a feature of England games for the past two decades and estimate they have been present at more than 300 consecutive matches.

It was the first time they have been refused entry to a game and no reason was given for the decision, although they were allowed entry once their instruments had been confiscated. A spokesman for Pukka Pies which sponsors the band said: "We are going to make an official protest about this matter."

There was also sour note before kick-off when an off-duty British policeman received minor injuries when he was attacked on his way to the stadium. Pc David Heasman, 45, from Norfolk Police, said he was punched and kicked by a group of four men who he said claimed to be "Russian mafia", and received a cut to the ear but did not require hospital treatment. The assault appeared to be an isolated incident as elsewhere the city seemed peaceful.

Pc Heasman, a married father of two, said: "I feel upset because it's been a nice atmosphere until now. The police are out in force but they're not there when you need them. They're just standing on show on street corners."