Stone’s connection with English football began during college, when two close friends from the UK introduced him to the sport. One supported Newcastle United, and that club became his Premier League team.
That allegiance has shaped the household. Stone says his children wore Newcastle kits from birth, with football-themed onesies arriving from friends and family. For the World Cup, however, the focus has shifted to England shirts and shorts - outfits the children have reportedly worn while watching the team’s recent matches.
The tradition is no longer simply about dressing for the occasion. It is becoming a shared language between father and children.
Stone says Parker has already developed a particular interest in football’s laws, asking about offside, fouls, tackles and the difference between yellow and red cards. Both children recognise several players because their father regularly points them out during matches.
The pub setting also helped. Colouring sheets and Lego were available if attention wandered, although Stone says the football proved difficult to ignore. For him, the experience reflects a broader shift in how family-friendly venues can bring supporters together.
He acknowledges that some Americans may still question children being taken to a pub, even one designed for families. Stone believes attitudes are changing, particularly as similar environments become more common across the United States.
The next England fixture will offer another chance to build the ritual. Stone is reportedly hoping the team reaches the last 16 - and gives Parker and Jameson another afternoon of songs, shirts and shared celebration.