Barry Hayles and pals show Roy’s Boys how it’s done!

BARRY HAYLES has revealed the fuel that helped England Seniors win the World Cup – it’s vindaloo!

No, the veterans weren’t gorging on hot curry in Thailand. Their secret weapon was to sing the football song in the tunnel before games.

It worked against Scotland in the semi-final, before their prediction of ‘We’re going to score one more than you,’ came true in the final against the Thais.

Kenny Irons scored the winner as the Three Lions’ old boys were crowned champions of the world. Hayles, player-coach with Chesham United, scored four goals and says bringing the cup home was helped by a pre-match ritual.

“We had fantastic celebrations,” said Hayles. “We played well in the final. They were English conditions. The pitch was cut-up and we won a tough game 1-0.

“The semi-final against Scotland was really good. They’re renowned for singing in the changing rooms.

“So we came out into the tunnel singing ‘We’re going to score one more than you’ and I think that gave us the edge because they weren’t expecting it.

“We sang it in the tunnel before the final against Thailand. They were a bit taken aback as well!”

Hayles wasn’t the only Non-League golden oldie in Paul Bell’s squad. Bath City keeper Steve Phillips, Maidstone United assistant Nicky Southall, ex-Guiseley and Brighouse Town striker Jason Price and former Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler were all in the squad.

Booked

Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth and Sky Sports pundit Peter Beagrie were also in Chiang Mai. They kicked off their group with a 6-0 thrashing of Taiwan and booked their semi-final spot with a 2-0 win over USA.

They lost a dead rubber to defending champions Iran 2-1, before beating the Auld Enemy 3-0 to reach the final. And they showed Roy’s Boys how to get the job done with a narrow victory.

“We had a great team spirit,” Hayles said. “Credit to the manager for that. We had a job to do, which was to go out and win it, which we did.

“The referee for the final was from Thailand, so we knew if they took the lead they would disrupt the flow of the game. I emphasised to the boys ‘We’ve got to score first’.

“It’s a real buzz representing the country and singing the national anthem, as well as the camaraderie with the lads. That was the platform for us. We definitely felt we had a squad to win it. We just had to go out there and do it.”

At 44, Hayles is certainly in the twilight of his career, but he thinks he’s got one final year in him.

“I’ve spoken to the manager Andy Leese and he wants me to carry on in the same player-coach role,” said Hayles, who scored nine goals for the Southern League Premier Generals last season.

“We’ve got to finalise stuff, but 100 per cent, if we do agree everything, I think it will be my last season playing.”