Football fans can grab a free pint from a major pub chain by answering one simple question.
With a summer of sporting action coming up, Greene King pubs ran a nationwide survey to discover the extent of Britain’s footballing knowledge.
It found almost one in five people – around 18 percent – said they did not know any of the jargon at all.
One of the most confusing terms is the modern false nine position, which 74% of Brits are unfamiliar with.
This has inspired Greene King’s brand-new False Nine golden ale; a 4% easy-drinking beer that pairs perfectly with a game of football, boasting refreshing citrus and tropical notes, reports Somerset Live.
The false nine position refers to a forward who plays deeper than usual, linking play from the midfield to the wide areas or aiding the team’s progression up the pitch.
To mark the launch of the new beverage, Greene King will be giving away free pints of False Nine across 532 pubs nationwide, but only to those customers who can name a false nine player, including the top five voted for in the UK-wide survey.
Top five false nines of all time voted by the UK:
Lionel Messi (22%)
Phil Foden (10%)
Johan Cruyff (10%)
Roberto Firmino (7%)
Francesco Totti (6%)
False Nine, a golden cask ale bursting with citrus and tropical flavours, is set to be the drink of the summer, available in select pubs from 19th May until the Euros final on 14th July.
Football legend and pundit Alan Smith has teamed up with Greene King to get fans flocking to their local this summer, offering a free pint of False Nine for those who can show off their footie knowledge.
Alan commented: “The modern false nine is quite a tricky position to define so it’s not surprising to hear the nation is a bit confused by what exactly it means.
“From Messi to Firmino, there’ve been some iconic footballers that have played in this role so it’s great to see a nod to the position with the launch of Greene King’s new False Nine golden ale.”
“Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual supporter who doesn’t even know what the offside rule is, now’s the time to get behind the nation and cheer them on to glory this summer. And what better way to do it than at the pub with your friends and family and a refreshing pint of False Nine in hand?
“So, head to your local Greene King on Wednesday 29th May, simply name a false nine player (Messi, Foden, Cruyff, Firmino or Totti) to grab your free drink. Maybe I’ll see you there!”
Will Hemmings, Marketing Director for Brewing and Brands at Greene King, announced: “To celebrate the launch, we’re going to be giving away the pint for free for one day only in selected Greene King Pubs, but only to those that can prove their football knowledge by naming a false nine player, including those voted the top five players by our nationwide survey.”
“All pub-goers need to do is give the name of a false nine player at the bar when purchasing the drink, then they can claim at no cost at all. We’re hoping this will give Brits the taste of False Nine ahead of the big games, meaning punters across the nation can enjoy the drink throughout the tournament as they toast to England and Scotland!”
To find a participating Greene King pub go to: www.greeneking.co.uk/our-beers/seasonal-range/false-nine/pint-finder.
