Strachan backs rivalry revival

Gordon Strachan wants to see the return of regular clashes between Scotland and England - with the profits generated being reinvested in rearing young players north and south of the border.The Dark Blues boss has named a 29-man squad to take on Roy Hodgson's Three Lions side at Wembley on August 14.The match - which is being held to celebrate the Football Association's 150th anniversary - is the first staging of the world's oldest international fixture in 14 years.Scotland have met their neighbours just three times since 1989 after a creaking fixture list and the rise of hooliganism prompted the abandonment of the annual meeting with the 'Auld Enemy'.But Strachan says next month's game should signal a permanent revival of the contest.Asked if he would like to see the game played more regularly, he said: "I think so and we could use the money it generates for grassroots football on both sides of the border."I think everyone would accept it - the players would love it, the fans would like it and I think grassroots football would benefit from it."A lot of people would like to see it happen more regularly, that's for sure."Strachan took England on four times as a player but his sole victory came at Hampden in 1985.However, his personal memories of a game won by a Richard Gough header stretch only to his own disappointing performance.

Source: PA