INTERNATIONAL footballers are a mollycoddled lot. This sporting jet set know only mansions, five-star hotels and luxurious health spas.

But it is not quite like that for the St Vincent and Grenadines squad. They have been flown from the balmy sunshine of the Caribbean to fog-bound North Yorkshire. Their training pitch is a lumpy paddock in someone's back garden. And they are thrilled: not a tantrum in sight.

The trip will certainly toughen them up. Perhaps Sven should use similar tactics and set up an England training camp on Clifton Backies.

Updated: 12:16 Wednesday, December 10, 2003