Church welcomes Serbian community for England game

Natasha Hole said "everyone is welcome" at Lazarica Church

Like many England fans across Birmingham, the city's Serbian community will be gathering to watch the two nations face off at Euro 2024.

But rather than a pub, Bournville's Lazarica Church will be the venue of choice on Sunday.

Natasha Hole, organiser and a member of the church's committee, said everyone was welcome but that she would be rooting for her home nation of Serbia.

She added that due to having an English husband, her children had been torn on who to support but said she believed she had convinced them to side with her.

She told BBC WM: "My household is very much in support of Serbia this year. If and possibly when Serbia get kicked out then obviously our loyalties go to England."

Discussing what the day would involve for her and her fellow Serbian Orthodox Christians, she said: "On Sunday, we are going to get the community together and everyone is welcome.

"We will be sitting down together in the hall watching the football.

"One of our chefs in the community is making our famous burgers so we have got that and a few drinks."

Fans watching the match will gather in the hall with drinks and their "famous burgers"

Ms Hole has warned England fans to be aware of Serbia's star strikers Aleksandar Mitrović and Dušan Vlahović.

Lazarica Church is just one of many Serbian Orthodox churches dedicated to the Holy Prince Lazar.

It was the first purpose-built Serbian church in the UK, built and maintained by exiled Serbs and their supporters in England.

One of the most notable supporters was the Cadbury family who sold the land.

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