Burton-based St George's Park has finished its role in preparing the national England football team for the upcoming 2018 World Cup as the squad flew out to Russia today.
The team arrived in Russia this afternoon, Tuesday, June 12, after flying out Birmingham Airport. It comes as the country crosses its fingers in anticipation of a win for England in their first group stage game on Monday, June 18, against Tunisia.
The squad, featuring star names like Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Dele Alli, made the three-hour flight to Saint Petersburg Airport, near the Russian city, along with manager Gareth Southgate and an entourage of support staff.
The team will be based in Repino, a district in the city of Saint Petersburg throughout the group stages, which will see them also taking on firstly Panama, then Belgium in Group G.
In preparation for the tournament, the team has been training just up the road from Burton, at Tatenhill's St George's Park, the Football Association's national headquarters.
An official team photo was taken at St George's Park before the squad got on the plane.
They wore exclusively tailored suits for the photograph made for the tournament that were sponsored by Marks & Spencer.
They then changed into England tracksuits for the flight.
After warm up matches which saw victories against Nigeria and Costa Rica in recent weeks, manager Gareth Southgate told his players to try to entertain the nation during their campaign.
He told the Mirror: "We hope we can send people to work the following day having enjoyed our matches.
"We know we are not the finished article - in fact, we're a long way from it - but I think people see signs of progress and enjoy watching us and the manner in which we try to play.
"We are seeing a team that is enjoying each other's company, getting on well; is very proud to represent the nation."
The tournament will begin on Thursday, June 14, as hosts Russia play Saudi Arabia kicking-off at 4pm.
England meanwhile open their World Cup campaign in Volgograd against Tunisia on Monday, June 18.
They will then take on group minnows Panama on June 23 before the final Group G encounter with Belgium.
You can watch England's World Cup fixtures at Burton Albion
Burton Albion supporters can watch the Three Lions play from the comfort of a familiar environment at the Pirelli Stadium.
The games will be played on the big screens in the stadiums suites and will be led by the hospitality team at the stadium in Princess Way, Burton.
There will be showings of England's group stage opener against Tunisia on Monday, June 18, and the final fixture against Belgium on Thursday, June 28, both kicking off at 7pm.
A two-course buffet will be served on the night and included with the tickets that have been priced at £15 per person.
Anyone interested in order a ticket can do so by calling the club on 01283 565938.
TV Licence warning
Planning on staying home to watch England's journey in Russia?
Residents are being reminded to make sure they have a TV licence before watching the World Cup or any other channels to avoid being slapped with a fine of up to £1,000.
A valid TV licence is needed to watch the sporting action on TV or online while at home. The licence is also needed to catch up on matches or highlights on services such as iPlayer.
Spokesman from TV Licensing, Mark Binnersley said: "Whether you're a seasoned England fan, experienced in the disappointments of being knocked out, or optimistic that a team of young hopefuls can finally deliver success, the competition is sure to bring some surprises.
"What is certain is that you're watching games live on TV, live online via a device such as a tablet, PC, games console or mobile phone, then you'll need a TV licence. You'll also need a licence to watch any highlights on iPlayer."
A household licence covers you to watch live TV or programmes on iPlayer on any mobile device away from home, as long as it is powered by internal batteries.
A colour TV licence currently costs £150.50, while a black and white once is priced at £50.50.
They can be purchased through a number of methods, including online where you can pay through a debit or credit card, which can be found at here
Other methods include setting up a monthly, quarterly or annual direct debit, which can also be done online, or by paying over-the-counter at a designated centre. There are 28,000 of them across the country with a list available here
You can also pay across the phone on 0300 790 6112 or by post by sending a cheque made payable to TV Licencing, Darlington, DL98 1TL.
