There was a buzzing atmosphere in a local pub event hosted by Watford legend Luther Blissett as fans watched England finish top of the group.

The No 8, Vicarage Road (formerly Red Lion) pub has had Blissett along with Justin Beattie and Carl James - from the Do Not Scratch Your Eyes podcast - host weekly events at the venue before England’s Euro 2020 games.

Blissett, who spent the time before the match chatting to punters and livening the crowd on a microphone, believes these events during the Euros is important to bring football fans together.

Speaking to the Watford Observer, he said: “I just saw it as an opportunity to get Watford fans together, because I’ve been speaking to an awful lot of them and one thing that they really miss is that social side of being a football fan.

“Going to the game and having that period before the game - sometimes the game is almost incidental to the social interaction they have with their mates and other people.”

Watford Observer: Some of the fans watching the match at the event, which was booked outSome of the fans watching the match at the event, which was booked out

And while there are social distancing restrictions in place and a limited capacity, Blissett managed to achieve the social side with his charming personality and hosting pop quizzes and predictions.

“The players play, but the supporters are the ones that talk about the game constantly and I’m always interested to hear their opinion on things, because it is sometimes different to mine and other players. We look at it at that tactical perspective but it looks different to people from outside,” he added.

He explained that the atmosphere, and people voicing their different opinions, was alike to how they would at a stadium - and states it is a good alternative until stadiums fully reopen back to fans.

Francesco Casale, the manager at the pub, admitted the pub was “quite lucky” to have Blissett and other guests organising the private events and bringing people in.

The manager said: “Because of the area we are, we are away from the town centre, so mainly people will only come here for the stadium or the hospital - so it has been quite challenging because obviously our main source of income has been the match days and we haven’t had that in full for a year.”

While there have been locals supporting the pub, being situated opposite the stadium meant that there was a massive loss of revenue without the stadium being active.

However Mr Casale hopes to find new ideas to bring in the local community and more customers to the pub, despite not being at the town centre.

Watford Observer: Meanwhile in Wembley, crowds began to descend to the stadiumMeanwhile in Wembley, crowds began to descend to the stadium

Speaking about the atmosphere during the Euros, he said: “It’s been really cool, people are just glad to be out. I think the Euro is a great opportunity because people have been away from football for so long, so just the ability to come to a pub and watch a game has been so exciting.

“Just very few people have been lucky to sit in a stadium, so the ability to sit in a pub and socialise - even with restrictions - is nice.”

The podcasters for Do Not Scratch Your Eyes applauded the “togetherness” at the venue despite challenges in the Covid era.

Watford Observer: Justin Beattie (left) and Carl James (right)Justin Beattie (left) and Carl James (right)

One host, Mr James, said: “As Watford fans first and foremost it’s a pub that we pass in most match days, and to look at it from the outside it’s always boarded up and closed, so hopefully this will give it a new lease of life.

“Football’s a language, it doesn’t matter where you’re from or the background, it’s something everyone understands and it’s a passionate thing.”

Mr Beattie, the other host, said: “We’re both massive Watford fans and of course Luther is the Watford legend, so it (holding the events) was a no brainer for us.

“They’ve been good events. I hope that this place is going to be a hub for supporters.”