World Cup 2018: Tube station named Gareth Southgate
- Published
A London Underground station has been temporarily named after England's football manager.
Southgate Tube station was rebranded Gareth Southgate station from Monday morning for 48 hours, after the squad finished fourth in the World Cup.
It was England's best result since 1990 when they also lost in the semi-final.
"We're delighted to be able to show our appreciation to Gareth and the team by renaming the station in his honour," Transport for London (TfL) said.
The Piccadilly Line station, in Enfield, north London, will display the manager's name on its signs until the end of Tuesday.
One local resident said the temporary signage was a "fantastic" way to say thank you to the England manager.
Speaking at the station, she said: "He gets on with the job and he achieved those amazing results and lifted the whole nation's spirits.
"And this is a tribute to him in the very same manner - quiet, unassuming."
The young England squad have been highly praised for their performance in the tournament in Russia, which ended on Sunday with France beating Croatia 4-2 in the final.
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England captain Harry Kane won the Golden Boot as the World Cup's top scorer.
But a local Tottenham Hotspur fan outside "Gareth Southgate" station on Monday said the national team would have to do more if they wanted the new name to stick.
"Let them win the Euros and then you change it permanently," she told BBC Radio London.
London Fire Brigade think they might have given TfL the idea, external for the name change, while two young fans could also take the credit.
Archie, 11, and Harry, 10, balanced a photo of the manager on top of one of Southgate station's signs ahead of the semi-final clash with Croatia.
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The Southgate stunt wasn't the only name change to come out of the tournament.
The Paris metro temporarily renamed six stations in honour of its champions.
Does the entire Tube network need a naming overhaul?
Pickfordilly Circus
Walkerloo
Kane's Cross St Pancras
Stockwellbeck
Pope-lar
Harrow-on-the-Cahill
Covent Vardyn
LeytonStones
Maguire-lebone
Trent Cross
Tottenham Court Rose
Rubenscourt Park
Dele Alliphant and Castle
The team flew home from St Petersburg on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking after stepping off the plane in Birmingham, Southgate said England now had players who "can stand on their own two feet in the Premier League against other players from around Europe and the world. And they have proved that on a world stage at different age groups.
"I was given an opportunity here to blood younger players in this tournament and they have proved that they could perform at a really good level."
Some fans were disappointed when Birmingham Airport asked people not to travel to see the team arrive back on home soil.
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The airport said on Twitter, external: "We're handling the flight as the FA asked & the area of the airport doesn't lend itself to a viewing area.
"We understand you want to support the team but it's not the Airport's decision whether or not to hold a homecoming event for them."
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