We urge England fans to wear a waistcoat just like Gareth Southgate for World Cup semi-final against Croatia
Gentleman Gareth is putting scruffy rival managers to shame on the touchline with his dapper £65 M&S waistcoat
ENGLAND fans saluted dapper team boss Gareth Southgate - and geared up for a “Waistcoat Wednesday” semi-final clash with Croatia.
Gentleman Gareth has put scruffy rivals to shame by cutting a dash on the touchline as we roared to our first World Cup semi in 28 years.
And The Sun today urges Three Lions fans everywhere to smarten up and follow our fashion leader into battle in Moscow.
Incredible Southgate lookalike Neil Rowe, 43, showed the way in the stands in Samara on Saturday wearing exactly the same kit as the England boss.
The dead ringer even fooled BBC host Gary Lineker who told viewers as the camera show Neil at half time: "Surely he's not sitting there? That's extraordinary."
Pilot Neil will don his own lucky Marks and Spencers waistcoat again on Wednesday night as Southgate vies to become the first manager to take England to a World Cup final since 1966.
And thousands more fans will do the same according to retailers who revealed sales of the traditional garment had gone “through the stadium roof.”
Sources said yesterday that M&S were considering a special offer on waistcoats after reporting soaring demand for Southgate’s £65 version from their official FA collection.
Fans urged stores to cut the smart garment’s price yesterday - to £19.66 - as England’s young heroes battled to bring home the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.
Teacher Paul Seligson, 61, who sported an traditional English bowler hat at Saturday’s 2-0 triumph over Sweden in Samara, said: “I think it’s a great idea.
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“I may be going to the Croatia game as Henry VIII but I’ll wear the waistcoat on top.”
Paul’s pal Michael Dobres, 61, said: “I’ll be dressed as a beefeater but the waistcoat should compliment it perfectly in honour of Gareth.
“He appreciates the importance of an Englishman looking smart when he goes into battle and all fans should follow his lead.”
Builder Tom Reynolds, 40, from High Wycombe, Bucks said: “I’ve been looking into getting a waistcoat for the next game to wear on top of my England shirt - it’s the perfect combination.”
M&S waistcoat sales have shot up by more than 35 per cent, eBay searches are up by 25 per cent over the weekend and tailoring brand TM Lewin tweeted that sales “were going through the stadium roof.”
Global fashion search site Lyst said inquiries on its platform were up 41 per cent since the start of the World Cup with an average of a search every 12 minutes.
Waistcoat Wednesday plans took shape yesterday as England legend Sir Geoff Hurst said he believed England could finally repeat the glory of 1966.
Sir Geoff, 76, said Southgate’s shrewd leadership qualities reminded him legendary team boss Sir Alf Ramsey.
Ex-West Ham striker Sir Geoff - who bagged an historic hat-trick at the Wembley final - said: "The leadership at the top is vital."
"We had a terrific manager in Alf Ramsey, who had a great system and he selected a team that could be successful and had good characters.
"We've seen the leadership with Gareth Southgate being very impressive.”
Asked whether football was finally coming home, Sir Geoff said: “Where we are today, I would say, categorically, quite clearly, we can win it - without a shadow of doubt.”
Gareth Southgate’s men’s soccer success has boosted optimism and distracted the nation from Brexit and political and economic uncertainty.
The World Cup run, the heatwave, Prince Harry’s wedding and imminent school holidays have made us happier than at any time since the 1990’s.
Professor Cooper, professor of organisational psychology at Manchester Business School, said: “The young team and their ‘gentleman’ manager have united the nation.
“England have also rid the country of the negative legacy of losing on penalties, which was a breakthrough moment.”