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England school trip - Russian pitch battle will be fought in Altrincham first
24 September 2007
UEFA have given Russia permission to play the Group E game on October 17 on the Luzhny Stadium's artificial surface.
England head coach Steve McClaren has located a replica pitch in Altrincham. So, although Arsenal's London Colney training base and Manchester United's Carrington training ground have synthetic pitches — but of slightly different grade — England will use the Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College for their final practice session before the flight to Moscow. That pitch is thought to be a similar grade to the Russian surface.
Headmaster John Cornally said: 'It is absolutely fantastic. For our school to play a part in helping England qualify is marvellous.
'Lessons might be difficult that day and we may have to be flexible in that regard, but what we don't want to do is get in the way of the important thing, which is for the England team to train without any interruptions or distractions.
'In exchange for a few autographs and signed shirts, we will make sure that happens.'
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