Football à la carte

They haven't managed berating the referee in French yet. But they can order sausage and chips outside the ground with impressive ease and are old hands at the chanting and gesticulation of the locals.

Semi-retired John Hart, 61, and his son Jonathan, 38, used to be Watford fans. John is proud to have gone to the FA Cup Final defeat by Everton in 1984. But the journey to Vicarage Road is much longer and more hassle than a trip to the Stade Bollaert.

John said: "I get the same buzz from watching Lens as watching Watford. If we win, I'm elated. If we lose, I'm dejected." His son added: "I wouldn't wear the shirt if I didn't feel attached to the club. We sit in the car afterwards and talk the game to death."

The financial arguments in favour of French football are easy to understand.

Charlton are trying to lure Kent football fans to The Valley with £5 special coach trips from Maidstone. But the London club's cheapest season ticket is £325 compared with only £80 for Lens. And the cheapest entrance ticket at the Stade Bollaert is just £6.

No first-class club in England could match the £20 total per head that Fletcher and his friends pay for the travel and ticket every fortnight to Lens. Throw in food and drink and a day trip costs about £30 each.

Fletcher, a buildings inspector for Canterbury council, said: "Compare that with the fifty odd quid you might spend to sit behind the goal in England. Take out the top few teams and we are watching the same standard of football as the Premiership."

John added: "I've just moved up to Lincolnshire from Kent so it's a longer journey now. But for a season ticket price of 70 quid, I wouldn't mind just seeing four games a season." But the money is not the only reason these anglais turn up behind the goal at Lens for every home game. What they enjoy is football à la carte. The match is always the main course but they usually start their day in France with a tourist trip to a nearby town or a meal in a local restaurant.

The lack of hassle in the journey - parking is no problem near the ground - also means the day is relaxed and full of fun and banter.

Last Saturday, a trip to a supermarket was on the agenda with the Harts seeking out speciality "French spring beer" and cheeses. Fletcher always takes home a strawberry tart for his wife.

There's even time for a couple of beers at a nearby cafe. Then it's on to the ground and the Delacourt End - some of the cheapest seats in the house but a perfect view despite the fence around the pitch.

The atmosphere is intense with the almost full crowd of 35,000 fired up by two official cheerleaders perched on the 12ft fence chanting through megaphones.

Any doubts that our four Englishmen are not passionate about Lens is soon swept aside when Hart senior waves his glasses at the referee in frustration after one decision.

All four are on their feet punching the air at the opening Lens goal. Joining in the chanting is also not difficult, given that one of the main songs is a version of Amazing Grace with just one word - "L'or". It's hardly a Fame Academy challenge.

But it is at half-time that it becomes clear that these Englishmen are now officially accepted as Lens fans.

Arlette Blottiaux, 69, has been coming to Lens games for 20 years. She sits with her friend Yahne Lamendin, 64, right behind Fletcher and got worried a year ago when he failed to turn up for some matches.

Despite their difficulties in conversing, Arlette learned that his wife had had a baby. Now a year on, she has a present in her hand for Fletcher son's first birthday.

Yahne said: "We had a good laugh when they first came, the way they shouted in English for the team. They are great. We love them here."