AFTER Tuesday's win against Kosovo the England soccer team is well on the way to qualifying for next year's European championships so we are taking a look back to how Furness supported the players back in 2002.

That year England was in the World Cup finals, held in Japan, and pubs, schools, streets and workplaces did their bit to cheer on the team as it got through the pool matches, beat Denmark in the round of 16 and finally went out to Brazil in the quarter finals.

The Mail, on June 13 in 2002, noted that residents living in Worcester Street were showing their support by decorating their homes in the England colours.

Sandra Baker said: "We'll be keeping the flags up for as long as England are winning.

"We are really pleased with the way the street looks. There have been a lot of people looking at the decorations."

As England knocked out Denmark by three goals to nil, the streets of Barrow were almost silent as fans crowded round TV sets or enjoyed the match in pubs and clubs.

The Mail on Monday, June 17, noted: "Barrow pubs enjoyed a football bonanza at the weekend.

"As England made light work of the Danes on Saturday, town centre shops were deserted.

"All that could be heard from the streets were chants and England anthems.

"The volume rose as Rio Ferdinand, Michel Owen and Emile Heskey blasted England into the quarter finals."

Craig Worswick, of Adelaide Street, Barrow, watched the match at Bar Continental in a pair of Union Jack trousers.

He said: "It makes the game being in a pub with everyone else.

"Everyone's singing, jumping, shouting."

George Kirkham, 71, of Furness Park Road, Barrow, celebrated the World Cup by hanging a flag of each of the 32 nations from the front of his house.

He said: "I've always been interested in putting flags up for any occasion worth celebrating.

"I like to think that I am making people happy. I like to see kids in the street enjoying the flags."

The Crampton family of Middlecliff, Ormsgill, had huge England flags front and back.

Elaine Crampton said: "We are going to keep all the decorations up until the England team comes home.

"I hope that won't be for a while."