Summer Sundays was a brilliant way to get into the football spirit

Summer Sundays, in Lower Castle Park, featured six bands who were huge during the 90s Britpop scene playing on a big stage.

I'd booked tickets for this festival before they announced they would also be showing the Euro2024 final on the big screen. 

Icons - Embrace performing on stage (Image: Ken Wallace)

Once I heard the news I was ecstatic - a whole day of great English music, drinking and football to top it all off sounded incredible. 

I have been to events at Lower Castle Park before so finding my way there was easy, but it was very well organised with lots of people in high-vis telling revellers where to go, along with signs and fencing.

There was axe-throwing and a silent disco for those who wanted a diversion from the music, but my attention was entirely on the bands.

Legend - Tim Wheeler, the singer of Ash (Image: Ken Wallace)

The first act on was ‘Tom Hingley plays Inspiral Carpets’ and they got the crowd into the mood for the rest of the day with a great performance.

The View, Cast, Ash and Embrace also played incredible sets with songs like Same Jeans, Sandstorm, Girl From Mars and Gravity.

Dancing along with other fans was great fun and headliners Ocean Colour Scene continued the good times right up to the football.

The screen on the right side of the venue had some technical issues which concerned some keen England fans, but the glitch was quickly resolved before kick-off at 8pm.

Euros - families and friends supporting England during the match (Image: Ken Wallace)

Watching the football surrounded by like-minded people was a fantastic experience, and the celebrations when Cole Palmer scored his equalising goal were incredible.

Despite the defeat to Spain, it was a fun and entertaining day and one I will remember for a very long time to come.