Henry Smith MP has wished Gareth Southgate, the England national football team manager who grew up in Crawley, the best of luck ahead of the 2018 World Cup which begins today.

Henry said;

“When England’s World Cup campaign begins on Monday, the eyes of the whole world will be on one of Crawley’s own.

“I want to wish the best of luck to Gareth Southgate – who famously grew up in our town – and his team. Come on England!

“I remember being at a National Citizen Service graduation ceremony just a few days before Gareth was appointed permanent England manager – who knows what our town’s next generation will go on to achieve?”

England’s World Cup campaign kicks off against Tunisia on Monday, 18th June, at 7pm BST.

The England manager attended Pound Hill Junior and Hazelwick Schools, and married at Worth Church. He played 57 times for England, and in 2014 cited a number of his teachers at Pound Hill and Hazelwick as being a driving force on him taking up football.

Gareth was confirmed as permanent England manager in November 2016, following a period in interim charge from September of that year.