STEVE McClaren could be unveiled as England boss in the next 24 hours as chiefs at the Football Association were set to gather today to rubber stamp his appointment.

The 45-year-old York-born man appears to have emerged triumphant from a British shortlist that included Bolton Wanderers' Sam Allardyce, Charlton Athletic's Alan Curbishley and former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill.

McClaren - who was born in Fulford and brought up in Rose Street - seems certain to be the man to replace Sven Goran Eriksson after this summer's World Cup, as reported in The Press yesterday.

As FA board members prepared to choose McClaren, city people continued to bombard The Press with their memories of the current Middlesbrough manager as a young York lad.

At Millthorpe School, which was Nunthorpe School when McClaren attended between 1972 and 1977, staff and students were proud that a former pupil was set to take on the top job in English football.

Lawrie Hill, who taught at the school between 1971 and 1985, and coached McClaren in an under-13 side, remembered a boy who "always had an understanding of football".

"He was very slight, but his ability on the ball and to beat a player was exceptional. He made his own choices. He was always very ambitious when at school," he said. "A lot of students are good footballers, but get lost in the system. Steve knew what he wanted. He is a very pragmatic manager and his rise to England manager would be fantastic."

Mary Hill, Millthorpe School deputy head, said: "This is a fabulous incentive for pupils. They see someone who was an ordinary pupil here and he has achieved his goal. There is a sense that people are talking about this all over the school."

As well as excelling at football at Nunthorpe School, McClaren was also a champion tennis and squash player in York.

Meanwhile, former cub scout leader and ex-Middlesbrough scout Peter Theaker said he knew from a very early stage that McClaren was a special player.

The 76-year-old, from Rawcliffe, said after watching McClaren play for the cubs he showed him to former York City great Jack Pinder, who was also a Boro scout.

"He was what I would call the perfect player," he said. "I picked him out as a possible player because of his skill - the way he performed on the field and his mental character.

"At Middlesbrough, the coach thought Steve would really do well. When it came to handing out apprenticeships they failed him saying he wouldn't grow. In those days he was a very small lad with a shock of red hair. Steve and my own son used to go along there for trials every fortnight. I used to take them in the car. I think he will make a great England manager. He has got the attitude - he wasn't like the rest."

Updated: 09:37 Thursday, May 04, 2006