England's most devoted fan lands Hilton deal after plan to sell home for World Cup trip

Andy Milne, the England supporter who put his second home on the market for £350,000 to cover the cost of following the national side across the United States this summer, has landed a deal with Hilton that will provide hotel accommodation for him and his best friend throughout the entire World Cup tournament.

Milne, 63, a retired teacher from Northwich, Cheshire, had estimated that hotels alone would cost around £35,000 across England’s two pre-tournament friendlies in Florida and the full 39-day competition. The Hilton arrangement removes that burden entirely and also sees him front a television advertising campaign alongside England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour, and Lionesses icon Jill Scott.

The deal came after widespread coverage of Milne’s original plan prompted an outpouring of support from fans and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. He was subsequently approached by a range of brands including Sports Direct, Lidl, and various US restaurants, bars, a cryptocurrency firm, and a casino.

“After that article appeared about selling my house, I had so many people in Dallas offering me accommodation and many restaurants and bars offering me food and drink,” Milne said. “Media across the US followed up, and I did all sorts of radio and TV interviews. People were so kind to offer me a place to stay. Then Hilton got in touch and I will stay in their hotels in the US and I am appearing in a TV ad for them.”

Milne first gained international recognition at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where a photograph of him holding a replica Jules Rimet trophy while celebrating England’s 3-0 round-of-16 victory over Senegal circulated widely and earned him the nickname ‘World Cup Guy’. He has since self-published a memoir under that title.

The trip carries additional personal significance: Milne’s daughter Laila is expecting his first grandchild this summer, and he plans to travel to Australia with his wife Achla, 63, to visit her after the tournament concludes. He has also noted that an England victory would prompt him to add new chapters to his memoir.

Stijn Bastiaens, Hilton’s vice president of marketing and loyalty for EMEA, said the company felt compelled to act once it heard how far Milne was prepared to go in support of his team. Hilton is the official hotel partner of the England men’s and women’s sides through its FA partnership.

The World Cup kicks off on 11 June.