Yahoo News I've been called racist for draping my home in St George's flags for Euros
A die-hard England fan who has festooned his house with St George's flags insists he is 'England through and through' and won't be swayed by critics labelling him a racist.
Martin Baker has turned his property into a shrine of national pride, decking it out with an array of flags as Euro 2024 gets underway. The bricklayer has even given his driveway a makeover, painting it in the national colours to show his support for Harry Kane and the team following their opening victory against Serbia.
However, when images of his patriotically-adorned house surfaced online, some detractors linked the St George's flag with racism.
But the 50-year-old retorted: "There were some nasty comments with people saying things like, 'You're National Front' and 'What universal credit do you claim?"
Yet, the father of three added: "I've done this loads of times - every time the Euros or the World Cup is on all the flags go up. I love England and I went one step further this year and painted the driveway myself with the flag.
"I've even been trying to get a huge flag for the roof but I can't find one." The neighbours don't seem to mind, and people are always stopping to take photos outside with all the flags."
Regarding the negative remarks, he commented: "I just laughed it off. I put the flags up for a bit of fun." At the end of the day, I live in England, I'm in England, I'm England through and through and I'll fly the English flag if I want to."
A lifelong supporter of the national team, Mr Baker travelled to Portugal to watch England play in the 2004 Euros and even has the Three Lions badge tattooed on his chest, reports the Express.
This year he'll be watching the action at the pub with some mates while enjoying a few beers - and he's feeling confident about the side's prospects.
He said: "I reckon we could go all the way. We have a good young side with some experience as well. So long as we make it through the group stages, I think we've got a great chance."
