Cape Town declares open house for 20,000 England supporters

As England fans massed in Cape Town today ahead of their team's crucial group match against Algeria, the main topic of conversation was not who should play in goal or who should start on the left but the warmth of the welcome from the South African hosts. Unlike the remote mining town of Rustenburg where England played their opening World Cup match – which saw fans drinking with locals in makeshift bars but facing severe transport problems – Cape Town is more of a home from home. "We've seen the England contingent build up throughout the week. Three things have impressed me the most: the locals, the steak and the Castle beer," said 26-year-old Robert Lee from London, who has been in Cape Town for a week. Emma Simarro, wearing a matching England shirt, said: "Everyone has been very respectful of each other's teams but there are so many more England fans than any others. We've been waiting for this. The locals love England and they're so friendly. Everyone has been waving and saying hello. It makes a nice change from London." England and Algeria fans gathered in front of a big screen in the city's upmarket Waterfront area, within walking distance of the spectacular Green Point stadium with views of Robben Island and Table Mountain, and in the lively bars and restaurants of Long Street, before the match. Chief Superintendent Dave Lewis, one of a group 12 British police in South Africa to liaise with local officers, said it was a "drink and walk location" rather than a park and ride one. "You will see a lot more drinking, so there's obviously an increased risk if people have too much. But when you look at the sort of people we've got here, they're not the under-25 beer throwers," he said. "There's a lot of decent football supporters out here. People are happy to talk to us. Part of the job here is about helping out supporters rather than catching them doing wrong. It's a dual role." As England fans slowly took over the area's bars, hanging St George's flags from every available point, he said he did not envisage any problems. Up to 20,000 travelling England fans are expected throughout the tournament and many have chosen to base themselves in Cape Town. Many others in the Green Point stadium are also backing Fabio Capello's team, including ex-pats and South Africans who are avid fans of Premier League clubs and players. There was also a highly visible cohort of Algerian fans today, some swathed in national flags and blowing vuvuzelas. "We believe in the team; it should be a great night. We are enjoying mixing with the England fans – fair play should be the winner," said Benacer Fanoulz, one of a group of friends from the Algerian city of Laghouat. Laurie McGhee, one of eight England fans dressed in chainmail who was posing for pictures with Algerian fans, also paid tribute. "Everyone has been very friendly, the Algerian supporters have been great and the welcome has been superb." But others blamed the media for limiting the number of travelling England fans by focusing too much on security concerns ahead of the tournament. "Back at my local boozer, the Coach House in Grimsby, I've got 10 mates who wish they were here. The England fans who stayed at home have missed out and the media must take some of the blame," said Robert Mackie, a 39-year-old scaffolder, drinking in the Dubliner bar. "The organisation is on a par with Germany but there was too much hype about the security. We went out drinking in the townships of Rustenburg. We were drinking in the shebeens with no problem whatsoever. They were football fans like us." London mayor Boris Johnson, one of a retinue of politicians and royals in Cape Town amid tight security, said: "England fans are being welcomed with open arms. They are friendly, even to the mayor. They're in great shape and it's going to be a great night." As well as Johnson, Princes William and Harry were there, and the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt. Tomorrow the princes will host a reception in Johannesburg aimed at boosting England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. Johnson said he was holding meetings with local organisers to try to learn lessons for the London 2012 Olympics. "Look at the number of England fans here today. We're interested in fan fests and how you manage the areas where large numbers of people will be celebrating," he said. "We need to take that euphoria, bottle it, distil it and take it to London in two years' time." Not everything has run smoothly in the opening week of Africa's first World Cup, which saw a wave of patriotic fervour sweep the nation only to fizzle as Bafana Bafana lost to Uruguay. Police have been forced to step in to provide stewarding at five stadiums after staff went on strike in a pay dispute and there have been criticisms of the transport systems. "It was a real shambles around the stadium in Rustenburg. We had to run the last five kilometres to make it in time for the anthems. The logistics have been difficult," said Matt Harris, a 35-year-old actuary from London. "But the welcome has been extraordinary." Rob Harrison, from Hull, who has been staying in Cape Town with a friend for a week, said his lasting impression would be the friendliness of the welcome and the extent to which the makeup of the England support had changed. "It's the tone of the World Cup. Everywhere we've been has been so friendly. Cape Town has got everything, from the city centre to the Waterfront to the beaches. It's spot on. South Africa is so far away that it's perhaps brought out a different fan. We've moved on, football has moved on and it's a new generation."