Posted on 22nd March 2010
This is a story from the FSF archive – the FSF and SD merged to become the FSA in 2019.
Well, who’d’ve thought it? The free fanzine that has become a staple of England fans at matches both home and abroad is celebrating its 100th birthday. From humble beginnings at the European Championships in Belgium and Holland in 2000, we’ve come a long way.
What started life as ‘The Lowdown’ (a clever play on the advice we were giving, as well as the fact the tournament was being held in ‘the low countries’) has now outlasted four England managers (Keegan, Taylor, Eriksson and McClaren). Free Lions is now a key part of the matchday ritual for thousands of England fans.
By way of marking the occasion, we produced a special celebratory issue for the recent friendly against Egypt at Wembley, although don’t go expecting all those extra pages every time!
Issue 100 features articles from the Sunday Mirror’s Brian McNally, a look ahead to the venues England will be visiting in this summer’s World Cup, and some lovely congratulatory messages, including one from Fabio Capello, no less. There’s also a bumper Free Lions 100 question football quiz, featuring our favourite teasers from each previous issue.
The fanzine is now available through our shop for the bargain price of £1, which is just enough to cover our postage and packaging – the essence of Free Lions; that it’s, er, free, still remains.
You know what else is free? Membership of the FSF, so sign up today!
The England Fans’ Guide to Russia 2018 in association with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) gives you the lowdown on everything the travelling fan will need to get through this summer’s tournament. The 152-page guidebook is a vital part of every England fan’s planning and it’s available for a small P&P fee in hard copy (UK only) or free to download.
England’s 2018 World Cup campaign kicks off in Volgograd on Monday 18th June as they take on Tunisia in their opening fixture in Group G.
Harry Kane’s late winner against Tunisia left England fans in a buoyant mood ahead of their trip to Nizhny Novgorod, spellcheck required, the second of England’s World Cup venues.
England’s final group game at the 2018 World Cup takes place in Kaliningrad this Thursday 28th June as they take on Belgium, with a place in the last-16 already secured.
