IS this the most patriotically decorated home in Hampshire?

England fan Anthony Baddams has left nobody in any doubt who he is supporting in the World Cup by turning his house into a shrine to the Three Lions.

The 46-year-old spent three weeks covering his four-bedroom terraced property in Southampton with more than 300 flags, England shirts, hats, dice and other memorabilia.

Nothing has escaped, with the front wall and even the door and windows of the privately rented home in Northbrook Road, St Mary’s, a sea of red and white.

It is not the first time the Chelsea fan has gone World Cup crazy. He has been showing his support for the team in this way since the 1980s but he rates this year his best effort.

Daily Echo:

Anthony said: “I just wanted to show my support for the lads. I do not see a lot of flags going up these days. This year it has been my best and hardest effort because of the wind and rain.

“I love when people call me a true England fan. I am proud of being English and supporting the team.”
His wife Anita, 44, wasn’t too keen initially but she has grown to love it.

She said: “At first I said to Tony ‘just put a couple up’, but Tony being Tony said ‘it’s only once every four years – let’s go the whole hog’. I really like it now.”
Neighbours have mixed feelings towards his home.

One, who did not want to be named, said: “I think it is a bit scruffy and there are too many flags.”
However Anthony’s German next door neighbours have put national rivalry aside and even taken pictures of his home.

Sebastian Antzek, 22, a student at Solent University, said: “I think it looks really good. When I go back to Germany I will do the same with German flags.”
With the World Cup just days away, Hampshire is gripped by football fever.

The opening match between Brazil and Croatia takes place on Thursday evening before England – whose squad features Saints stars Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw and former players Rickie Lambert and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – kick-off their bid for glory against Italy at 11pm on Saturday.