England's World Cup stars have found a new way to sharpen their competitive edge off the pitch — a 20-year-old pool table bought from a Kansas grandmother on Facebook Marketplace.
Lynne Brown, 68, from Overland Park, Kansas, had listed the family heirloom for sale as part of a house clearance. Within hours, she was contacted by people claiming to work with a World Cup team based in the city.
“England's World Cup squad bought a pool table from a Kansas grandmother via Facebook Marketplace for £520.”
“Both said, ‘Hey, I’m with a World Cup team based in Kansas City. Is this table still for sale?’” Brown recalled. “At the initial point, I didn’t know who it was. I was probably guessing England, but I did not know for sure.”
It soon became clear the buyers were representing the Three Lions, who wanted the table for their Kansas City base. The family had owned it for around 20 years after moving from Denver, but plans to renovate the basement prompted the sale.
The England camp wasted no time. “By 7 o’clock, we had a whole crew of people and a big truck. A big truck,” Brown said. “It took five or six big dudes to move that thing. They had to stop midway and put it down.”
The table changed hands for around £520 ($700). Brown’s husband had grander ideas for the negotiations. “My husband was like, ‘Get tickets!’” she laughed. “I was like, ‘This table is not worth as much as these tickets are.’”
Tickets never materialised, but Brown gained a story — and a claim. “If they win the World Cup, I’m totally taking credit,” she joked.