THE performance of the England football team can be summed up as "adequate," or even "workmanlike."

They did all they were expected to do against an ordinary Scottish team.

Let's not get carried away - there are far sterner tasks to face, to prove their real worth.

The influx of players from all parts of the world has given us an insight into what classy footballers are to be seen in our own domestic game.

Highly-paid they may be, and to some extent talented, but they are not in the mould of former greats who graced our game.

I wouldn't expect the young fans of today to agree with me - but then I have seen both sides, and memories of Matthews, Finney, Mortenson, Shackleton, Swift and many others, are still firmly etched in my mind.

Nevertheless, good luck to England, may they progress and hopefully prove me wrong.

K SOWERBUTTS, Southwood Drive, Baxenden.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.