Peter Kay inspires England squad

England’s chances of Euro 2004 glory could lie not in with David Beckham or Sven Goran Eriksson – but with Peter Kay.

Striker Wayne Rooney has revealed that the comic provides the squad with some much-needed inspiration off the pitch.

The 18-year-old Everton star said: “When we go into the massage room, we put a DVD on and watch it.

“We watched a bit of Peter Kay the other night before I got my head down and went to bed. He's very funny.”

But it’s not Kay’s acclaimed Channel 4 series Phoenix Nights or his popular stand-up shows that the teenage star loves most – but his 30-second adverts for John Smiths bitter.

Rooney said: “There's a great one where he is kicking the ball up, and then shouts 'ave it'."

The DVDs were sent out to Portugal after Sunday’s defeat by France to raise the England squad’s spirits.

As well as Kay’s disc, the team also ordered The Fast Show, The Royle Family, Monty Python and Red Dwarf.

Meanwhile, Kay is preparing for a spell behind bars during filming of his Phoenix Nights spin-off Max and Paddy, in which the nightclub doormen played by Kay and Patrick McGuinness, tour the country in a camper van.

Prison Service chiefs have given the go-ahead to film an episode inside Preston Prison, showing how Paddy ends up in jail after he unwittingly takes a part in a porn film.

Published: 17 Jun 2004