Shropshire’s Joe Hart should be given a chance as England’s first choice goalkeeper in the World Cup after Rob Green’s howler gifted a goal to USA, one of the country’s most famous shot-stoppers said today.

Watch our video bulletin to see the Shropshire fans’ verdict

Bert Williams, from Shifnal, made the comments to a friend after Fabio Capello’s men’s campaign to bring home the trophy began poorly with a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Fans turned out in force to pubs across Shropshire to tune into the match and cheer on the team, with county towns awash with red and white.

And supporters were trying to remain upbeat despite the draw, which leaves England in second place in Group C after Slovenia beat Algeria yesterday.

Today Mr Williams, who was England’s keeper in the notorious 1-0 loss to the USA at the 1950 World Cup, said he felt “so sorry” for West Ham player Green after he fumbled Clint Dempsey’s long-range effort into the back of his own net during the match in Rustenburg.

Glyne Wetton, 75, a life-long friend and carer for Williams, watched the first-half at the 90-year-old’s home in Shifnal.

They enjoyed a bottle of champagne as they saw the match on television with Williams’s children Vaughan, 62, Paul, 58, and 68-year-old Ann.

Mr Wetton, from nearby Brewood, in Staffordshire, said: “Bert said Rob Green didn’t get his body behind the ball and it’s a new ball that moves all over the place.

“He was devastated.

“He put his head in his hands and said Green would remember that for the rest of his life.

“He knows just how he feels. It’s really upsetting that something like that can happen but he blamed the ball.

“Bert knows that goalkeepers don’t do it on purpose so he had a lot of sympathy for him. But he thinks Joe Hart is the best.”

Among the pubs where fans turned out to watch the match were the Pheasant Inn in the High Street in Newport, where hundreds of people soaked up the atmosphere.

Bar owner Paul Quinn saw hundreds of people pack out the pub which had 11 screens showing the match.

He said: “The crowd were still going despite the result and it’s a credit to people in Newport.”

Debbie Pitt, from Lilleshall, said: “We played better than they did. America has not got as good a team as us but this is not the be all and end all of games. We’ll come back.”

Emma McCartney, from Church Aston, said: “It was a disappointment but we just have to move on.” In Shrewsbury dozens of fans turned out to watch the match at the Heathgates pub.

Martin Atkinson, pub landlord, said: “It’s gone really well, especially well considering the state of the economy. We have been open all day and we are showing every game on the big screen. This is a very local-oriented pub. People come here to socialise and all know each other and it’s been a really good occasion.”