England strike first blow in Battle of Britain clash as country steals longest place name title
London borough has been renamed after the England team to get one up on Wales ahead of the Euro 2016 crunch match
ENGLAND has got one over on Wales ahead of the Battle of Britain clash tomorrow - by stealing their rivals' longest place name crown.
Boasting an incredible 58 letters, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch was the longest place name in Europe.
But with the help of bookies Paddy Power and ex-England boss Terry Venables, the London borough of Barking and Dagenham has stolen the much-coveted title.
It was renamed after the Three Lions line-up and is one letter longer than the full title of Llanfairpwll, in North Wales.
Dagenham is now called HartRoseWalkerSmallingCahillDierAlliWilshereRooneyVardyKane.
Local lad Venables joked that it would be a blow to Wales' preparations ahead of the Euro 2016 clash tomorrow afternoon.
He said: “Throughout my managerial career I was always looking to land the first blow before a big game but this is the equivalent of a Stuart Pearce two-footed tackle – it could make all the difference.”
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Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogery chwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is a large village on the island of Anglesey in North Wales.
HartRoseWalkerSmallingCahillDierAlliWilshereRooneyVardyKane is the birthplace of England legends Venables, Sir Bobby Moore and Sir Alf Ramsey
England's shock 1-1 draw against Russia has ramped up the pressure on Roy's Boys as they face Group B leaders Wales in Lens tomorrow.
Local Dagenham resident Aaron Jones said:“I'm a big England fan so waking up and realising my hometown is now named after the Three Lions to get one up on Wales is pretty cool.
"I just feel sorry for my family when they have to send me Birthday Cards now - there's no chance that name is getting on the envelope!”
A Paddy Power spokesman said: “With Bale in their side, the Welsh are clearly confident of pulling off the nation’s greatest result since Steve Jones hooked up with Angelina Jolie.
"Teaming up with the borough to take their longest name record is one way of bringing them down a peg or two and hopefully it will help Roy’s Boys on their way to victory.”