NEIGHBOURS of an England superfan who has covered his ENTIRE house in flags say they love his passion – although it can make parking tricky.
Paul Bibby’s incredible display of St George’s flags at his home in Chelmsford, Essex, is so popular that drivers stop on the street to take pictures.
And he has now added even more Three Lions decorations, with fresh bunting adorning his bright red front garden picket fence.
The 58-year-old dad – who puts up similar displays every international tournament – has been subjected to cruel comments on social media calling his efforts an “eyesore”.
But The Sun has spoken to his neighbours on Kings Road who have all given him the thumbs up.
“Generally, I’ve had a great response,” Paul said. “In this world you do get one or two people with probably nothing else better to do.
“It’s my house, my flags, I do what I want – I support the team. Come on England!”
Referring to the haters, he added: “I had one comment saying it’s an eyesore… to all those people, just get a life and do something else. If you don’t like it, don’t view it.
“Online you always get people who’ve got nothing better to do.
“Most people love it. It brightens the place up.”
During our visit to the street, multiple cars beeped their horn and drivers pumped their fists at Paul’s flags.
A video the dad posted on TikTok of the display has garnered more than 690,000 views.
For the last four Christmases he has also put up festive lights and raised an estimated £5,000 for Essex Air Ambulance.
As such, he is a popular member of his community.
Next door neighbour mum Sarah Perry, 38, said: “It’s alright, innit? It’s a bit of fun.
“It can be a bit of a nightmare parking outside when people are trying to stop and take pictures, but apart from that it’s all good.
“You get people honking as they go past in their cars. I’ve heard no complaints.
“Everyone knows when something big’s coming up that he’s going to be decorating the house.
“My other half has offered to help him put them up before but he gets on with it himself, bless him.
“He’s always adding to it. I did say ‘you can decorate my house if you wanted to’,” she joked.
Fellow neighbour Terry Wilson, 50, said: “He did just as much, if not more, at Christmas with the lights. There’s no problem at all.
It’s my house, my flags, I do what I want – I support the team. Come on England!
Paul Bibby
“We’ve only lived here since December. Everyone as they go past is always bibbing at the house. I always speak to Paul, everyone does all the way up the road.”
Teacher and mum-of-two Vicky Hayward, 33, said: “Certainly no complaints from me. Paul is really well known in the area and raises a lot for charity.
“It’s cruel for anyone to criticise him. The display is perfectly fine.”
She added that he is also great with children who come by to admire the display, as well as his Christmas lights.
Madelyn Cox, 72, originally from Cape Town, South Africa, said: “I can’t believe anyone would complain. I don’t have an issue with them. He does this sort of thing every tournament. I’ve lived here a long time.”
She joked: “His Christmas lights could be described as a bit garish.”
Andy McCallum said: “No one in their right mind would have a problem. I speak to Paul most days. He’s lovely and he’s always doing things for good causes.”
Paul said it took him two days to put up the display, which consists of 20 big flags and 400 pieces of bunting.
By Henry Martin
AN ENGLAND fan has revealed his disappointment after Serbian football fans stole a flag which he had for 20 years.
Matt Barnes, 42, and his 13-year-old son Harry travelled from their Eastbourne home to Germany to watch England play in the Euros 2024, bringing with them the 14ft St George’s Cross banner.
The £500 flag, which he has had since the Euro 2004 competition, has been with Matt all over the world, and in just about every football stadium in Britain.
As England battled Serbia on June 16, Matt’s banner, featuring a Millwall lion, a Three Lions logo, and the words “Millwall: No one likes us”, was pride of place pitchside.
But when Matt, who works for Mercedez Benz and was born in Lewisham, walked down the steps to collect the banner at the final whistle, he was horrified to find it had gone missing.
To make matters worse, he saw the very same flag in a boastful social media post, being held upside-down in triumph by people believed to be Serbia fans who pocketed it.
Matt told The Sun: “For some people it’s a flag, but for me it’s a sentimental thing for doing 20 years of football with my dad.”
He said that his elderly dad Brian is no longer able to travel with him, so the sentimental value of the flag had considerable, because it reminded him of the times they spent together as father and son.
Matt had been purposefuly attending as many games as he could over four years to build up enough points to go to the Euros – the first tournament he and his own son went to together.
He said: “It was supposed to be a really good experience and just to have that bit done at the end…”
Matt claimed he had “next to no help from German police”.
