Kyle Bodker at the heart of the action in the United States

A SUPERFAN who saved £15,000 to attend every England game at the World Cup will follow the Three Lions to the end of the road.

Sports journalist Kyle Bodker, 21, who grew up in Mornington Crescent and went to William Ellis School, squirrelled away every penny he made working in a coffee shop for three years to cover his travel, accommodation, and ticket costs for all the England games this summer.

He had already watched the victory over Croatia and draw with Ghana when he spoke to the New Journal at 6.30am local time, en route from Boston to New Jersey for the final match of the group stage.

He said: “My whole life I’ve always wanted to watch England at a World Cup. It started way back in 2010 when I was in reception at Primrose Hill Primary School, and I got a certificate for naming all the flags. That’s how obsessed I was – I don’t think I understood it too much but it just made me happy.”

When he started a sports journalism degree three years ago, Chelsea fan Mr Bodker – whose favourite player in the England squad is Reece James – realised his graduation summer would line up with the World Cup and he decided to start putting money aside.

He didn’t know then how much it would cost, but the tickets alone have since set him back more than £8,000, with the final costing more than £5,000.

“I have had criticism saying, ‘you can’t make £15,000 working in a coffee shop’. Well, if you work enough then yes, you can,” he said, adding: “It seems like a lot of money to spend, but it’s not like I just woke up and said I’m going to spend 15 grand. It’s something I’ve set my mind to – I didn’t want to just come for one or two games, I wanted to experience the World Cup in its entirety.”

After the group stages, Mr Bodker’s tickets for the later matches are conditional on England being in them, so although he had to pay up front he will get his money back if they don’t get through.

Still, he is hopeful that the Three Lions will at least make the final.

“It’s knockout football so anything can happen, but the thing that gives me confidence is the manager, he’s a world class manager and that’s not something England always have,” he said.

Mr Bodker was pleased with the attacking football on display against Croatia, and the moment in the stadium afterwards where fans and players sang along to Wonderwall “makes it worth it already”, he said.

The high costs of the trip mean that he is travelling alone, but so far everything has been safe and seamless, Mr Bodker added – and he hasn’t felt lonely once.

“I’ve had such a good time already. I’ve met so many people from countries I never thought I would meet people from, and of course other England fans.

“I really do think it’s once in a lifetime, and if you really want to do something I think you should – that’s the way I live my life.

“I don’t want to look back with regret.”