Had some bad news and some good last Friday night. Our telly gave up the ghost and we couldn’t watch the second half of Enger-land vs Algeria. You decide which news was which!

We support England of course. A group of well paid young men, who every week 'earn' (several times) more than my teacher wife’s salary.

I’ve heard tales of Bryan Douglas and his contemporaries walking down to Ewood Park before they played a match. Those living further afield took the bus, I’m told.

As a lad brought up in Brum, one week we’d take the No 53 to St Andreas, the next week the No 11 to Villa Park. We just liked football.

Then there’d be visits to the cricket at Edgbaston or Moseley rugby at the Reddings. We just liked sport and really there wasn’t that much on the TV.

But this was all 'accessible' stuff. Sportsmen weren’t paid a fortune or just weren’t paid!

Now I don’t have any qualms about professional sport. We pay other performers royally in music, film and other bits of showbiz.

Some England fans in South Africa will have saved or borrowed what will be royal ransoms to them for their visit.

They identify and affiliate with the national team. The same goes for us hardcore Rovers followers...OK; Blackpool, Stanley and Burnley too.

But do the players care as much? Or has it just got completely out of hand?