England vs Scotland: Paul Gascoigne used to streak in the hallways and Terry Venables would croon in the bar, but Burnham Beeches Hotel needs repairing – just like England’s team
Three Lions stayed at this leafy retreat during Euro 96 but, like the national team, it is in dire need of an overhaul
POKE around a bit at Burnham Beeches Hotel and the history is in there somewhere.
Like the England team, it just takes a while to find it.
England stayed at this leafy retreat during Euro 96, a once prestigious property that is now in dire need of a major overhaul.
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Some might say it is the perfect spot for our national team.
Every room has a different story here, every wall has a tale to tell.
That kind of stuff, the stuff of legend, has disappeared from our great game.
Last night every England player would have been packed off early to bed after an early supper at their magnificent retreat at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire.
The high life is out before England v Scotland at Wembley, the high-energy drinks are in.
Professional sport is such a sterile environment now.
Back in the day, at Burnham Beeches, Paul Gascoigne would freak out the patrons by streaking naked through the hallways.
The memories of him guzzling champagne while squashed in the Jacuzzi with some hotel residents before England played Scotland in their second Euro 96 group game.
A couple of days later he scored one of the greatest goals of all time when he scooped the ball over Colin Hendry’s head before beating Rangers team-mate Andy Goram.
Nights in the Piano Bar, where Terry Venables would croon Ray Henderson’s song Bye Bye Blackbird to swaying heads, are long forgotten.
Venables, one of the finest coaches of his generation, is the last England manager to take the country to a semi-final of a major tournament.
The billiard room in the basement, where England’s players would spend hours playing snooker on the full-sized tables, is a dumping ground for old furniture and computers.
A tariff on the wall — £10 deposit for cues, £5 an hour to hire the tables — is caught in a time warp.
The putting green, once a feature on the lawn at the front of this imposing 18th-century building, has been dug up.
Gazza, inevitably, had to be dragged from the greens late at night.
In the pool he would organise games of volleyball between England players and hotel guests.
In 1996, Burnham Beeches was the place to stay.
Four-star luxury, a few miles down the road from England’s training centre at Bisham Abbey and half hour down the motorway to the old stadium.
Somehow it is still rated four stars but Burnham Beeches Hotel must have caught the AA inspector on a very good day indeed.
The ghosts of England’s past still rattle through the corridors, with memories of their visits held under lock and key.
A wonderful picture of the England squad with the entire hotel staff gathers dust in a disused room in
one of the draughty wings.
It is the only one in existence.
Gareth Southgate, who started every England game at Euro 96, is pictured on the front row alongside the smiling staff.
Really it should take pride of place in reception, a permanent reminder of a glorious era for the hotel and for the country.
Various England pendants, once pinned to the oak-panelled walls off the main drawing room, have recently been removed.
A few months ago the general manager of the place ordered reluctant staff to take down the history. What a sad day that must have been.
For years conference delegates, wedding parties and hotel guests would pause on the way to their rooms to look at the names and signatures on them: Gazza, Lineker, Shearer, Carlton Palmer . . .
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Instead of throwing them in a rubbish skip, staff took them home as souvenirs and mementoes of the England side’s frequent stays at the hotel.
The few surviving members from that golden period still miss the buzz about the place when the England coach pulled into the sweeping driveway.
Sadly those days are gone. Long gone.
The Wright choice
IT has come to something when kids at Crystal Palace look blankly at the coaching staff when Ian Wright’s name is mentioned.
Not only is he the club’s greatest player — scorer of 117 goals from 1985-91 — but the ex- Arsenal and England striker remains a high-profile name in the game.
Huw's up the Swanee
HUW JENKINS knew the score when he flogged 68 per cent of the shares in Swansea City to American investors in July.
“You greedy bastard, get out of our club” was the chant ringing around the Liberty when they went 3-0 down to Manchester United last Sunday.
Most people would cut and run. But Jenkins took on an advisory role with the new owners to keep up appearances.
Little wonder he looks so uncomfortable, fidgeting in his seat in the directors’ box.
The Swans look bored of life in the Premier League, running out of ideas after five years in the top flight.
The players have lost their motivation.
Sadly for the fading Swans, the same can be said of Jenkins.