IT WASN'T the result they all wanted, but people in York still pushed the boat out for England's World Cup clash with Brazil.

Sven's heroes bowed out at the quarter-final stage, but fans in the region still made it a day to remember.

York was like a ghost town as people stopped to gather at pubs and houses to catch a glimpse of England's biggest game in years.

Workers were told they could come in when the result was known and, at schools across the region, teachers got into the World Cup spirit by laying on TV screens and breakfast for patriotic pupils.

When youngsters at one York school were told they could wear yellow during the game, they naturally caused a fuss.

St Leonard's Hospice Go Yellow Day posed a problem for football fans at Acomb's Carr Infant School.

How could they wear yellow and support Brazil? But head teacher Anne McKeown came to the rescue by encouraging youngsters

to wear yellow to mark the charity day - but to wear their England shirts as well.

"Some of them were a bit worried," she said. "But we've made sure that we could all support England properly!"

At Lowfield School, in Acomb, York, youngsters were allowed to dress up in their England shirts and scarves to cheer on Sven's men. Blushes were spared at Oaklands School, also in Acomb, after deputy head Gavin Cowley shipped in a "cinema size" screen for the main hall. During the Nigeria match last week, the big screen failed after a few minutes and had to be replaced with a normal TV.

At York's biggest employer - City of York Council - staff took advantage of flexitime arrangements to make sure they didn't miss the unofficial "World Cup Final".

Workplaces were decked out in red and white as workers pinned up flags of St George. A nation expected.

Streets in York were busy before the game, but deserted at kick-off. Many shops also decided not to open until after the vital clash was over. After the match supporters across York were trying to come to terms with England's defeat.

Joiner Dave Bailey, 28, from Acomb, downed pints in Harry's Bar, Micklegate, to try to numb the pain.

The pub was one of the busiest and noisiest in the city, along with the Windmill and Macmillans.

"People are still cheering for England even though we lost," he said. "This place was chock-a-block. I'm gutted but proud."

Butcher Lee Bell, 25, from Murray Street, took the day off and watched the game in bed.

"I'm shocked and disappointed," he said.

"We didn't capitalise on the fact they had ten men. The World Cup has been brilliant - exciting, unpredictable, and Argentina out in the first phase."

Head chef Dave Asbury, 29, from Holgate, watched the game with colleagues at the University of York's Alcuin College caf bar.

"We were beaten by a better side, Brazil contained us very well.

"Seaman was guilty of a schoolboy error for their second goal - what was he playing at?"

A spokesman for City of York Council said there were a lot of glum faces in the offices.

He said: "Our flexitime allows staff to come in as late as 10am providing their 'phones are covered, and a lot of staff took advantage that today to watch the game.

"Everyone here has been right behind England, but we had a steady flow of staff coming in as early as 9.30am straight after the match. No one was in a mood to sit around and watch the post-match analysis. "The atmosphere is very subdued, but many people think England were beaten by a better side on the day - and the probable World Cup winners. Good luck, Brazil."

Meanwhile, York man David Maclure has been condemned to spending a week in Brazil colours after England's defeat.

The football-mad supporter, of Hull Road, York, made a bet with Brazilian girlfriend Rachel Brown that they would swap shirts depending on which side triumphed.

David's loss means he has to wear Brazil's famous yellow shirt for a full seven days.

He quipped: "I am gutted. When we scored the first goal I tried really hard not to rub it in.

"But when Brazil won, Rachel was just going berserk. She did a little dance. I was quite sore, but it was all in good spirits.

"Now I have to wear the Brazil shirt for a week. I am not going out tonight, that's for sure."

Updated: 14:35 Friday, June 21, 2002