Be On The Ball for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa

As everyone in England starts to book flights and holidays for the world cup, English cricket’s passionate travelling supporters, the Barmy Army, has called on football fans to be vigilant and to plan ahead before travelling to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup this summer.

After around 40 days in South Africa, Barmy Army co-founder Paul Burnham commented: “We had a fantastic time in South Africa but this was no fluke. We prepared months in advance to make sure the key aspects of our visit, such as accommodation and transport, were all sorted before we left. This meant we were better able to enjoy the fantastic reception we received from the South Africans.”

Burnham continued: “Football fans need to remember that South Africa is very different to the UK – our experience has taught us that you need to be on the ball at all times whilst in the country.”

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, key issues for fans heading to the World Cup in June include understanding local laws and customs, securing travel insurance, booking accommodation, making transport arrangements and personal safety in South Africa.

This was further reflected in comments from other members of the Barmy Army. Kevin Jeffries who has followed England all over the world advised fans to, “make sure you’ve got the right accommodation before you get out to South Africa, I wouldn’t rely on getting here and just hoping you’re going to get somewhere – pre-book before you come.”

Mark Thompson called for caution to ensure a safe stay: “if you come to South Africa you’ve got to be careful, don’t travel down streets that are unlit, travel in groups and remember you’re not invincible.”

Philip Lord of the Know Before You Go campaign at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office called upon football fans to follow the example of the Barmy Army: “South Africa is an unfamiliar destination for many and we would urge those planning to travel to follow some basic tips to help them have a safe and enjoyable stay.Taking a few simple steps such as visiting the FCO website to research the destination, as well as taking out appropriate travel insurance in case something does go wrong can make all the difference.”

With almost half a million fans from around the world expected to descend on South Africa in time for the start of the tournament on the 11^th June and tens of thousands English fans among them, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is continuing to advise travellers through its dedicated ‘Be on the Ball’ campaign, aimed at helping England fans travelling to South Africa for next summer’s World Cup have a safe and enjoyable trip. For more information please visit www.fco.gov.uk/worldcup.