Sunday 12th July 2026
By Bridlington Gold Radio Editor
AI image - Bridlington football fans celebrating England’s 2–1 extra‑time win over Norway
England’s World Cup quarter‑final against Norway — kicking off at 10pm UK time — proved to be one of the most nerve‑shredding nights of the tournament, and Bridlington felt every twist of the drama. With pubs, bars and late‑night venues packed, fans gathered around screens big and small to watch England battle their way to a 2–1 victory after extra time.
Norway struck first, stunning supporters with a 36th‑minute goal from Andreas Schjelderup — a cross‑shot that flew into the top corner and left England momentarily rattled. Groans rippled through Bridlington’s venues as fans clutched pints and stared at screens in disbelief.
But just before half‑time, Jude Bellingham delivered the moment Bridlington had been waiting for. Latching onto a neat pass inside the box, he fired low into the corner to level the match at 1–1. The roar across the town was unmistakable — from the Harbour Tavern to the pubs along Promenade, cheers spilled out onto the streets.
The second half was tense, with Norway threatening and England surviving scares, including a disallowed Norwegian goal and a VAR‑checked England penalty shout. As the clock ticked past 90 minutes, Bridlington fans braced themselves for extra time.
Three minutes into the added period, Bellingham struck again — pouncing on a spilled shot to smash home the winner. The reaction in Bridlington was electric: pints in the air, chants of “It’s coming home!”, and spontaneous singing of Sweet Caroline outside several pubs. Some venues stayed open later than planned as supporters celebrated England’s place in the semi‑finals.
Argentina Await England on Wednesday
In the match immediately after England’s quarter‑final, Argentina defeated Switzerland 2–1, securing their own place in the final four. As the result filtered through Bridlington’s pubs and WhatsApp groups, excitement grew even further — with fans already talking about Wednesday night’s showdown.
Bridlington is now gearing up for Wednesday’s semi‑final against Argentina, with venues expecting another huge turnout.
