England's Southern Stars

After England's good win against Northern Ireland yesterday, it's interesting to note that the team has a strong southern and almost London bias.

Only five, Robinson, Neville, Rooney, Gerrard and Owen are from outside the south-east of England. Whereas seventy-five percent of the population is!

When the substitues are taken into account, then Dyer is from Ipswich and Defoe is another London, whilst Hargreaves is from Canada.

Is this a trend or just a blip? Or more worryingly is the north of England taking a leaf out of Scotland's book. Especially, if you discount Liverpool, which is very much a law unto itself.

Looking at the four semi-finalists for the FA Youth Cup, there is Tottenham, Southampton, Ipswich and Wolves. Only Wolves are not in the south.