A FOOTBALL-CRAZY couple from Chippenham are off to back England's bid to lift the World Cup.

Doug and Sandie Webb leave next weekend for Japan and if all goes well they won't be back for six weeks.

The couple, staunch supporters of Chippenham Town during the winter, are also keen followers of the national team and have followed England both home and abroad for several years.

They saw all England's World Cup games in France four years ago, followed the team's unsuccessful campaign in Euro 2000 two years ago and have watched all the team's qualifying games, both home and away, for this summer's World Cup.

"It's going to be an experience whatever happens to England," said Doug, who is now president of Chippenham Town after a long spell as chairman.

"Neither of us have ever been to Japan before, so the culture will be something new."

They have made their own travel plans, using the Internet and small companies to book match tickets, flights and internal train journeys in Japan.

They have tickets for England's three qualifying games and if Sven's men progress will follow the tournament through, hopefully to the final.

But both are cautious about England's chances.

Said Doug: "I think we'll qualify from the group stage, but after that it is going to be difficult.

"The loss of key players like Steven Gerrard, Gary Neville and Kieron Dyer certainly hasn't helped.

"We've told people we will be gone for at least three weeks, but might be away for six.

"I'm lucky I suppose that my wife is as keen on football as I am, if not more so."

Sandie, a Wiltshire county councillor and leader of Chippenham Town Council, is equally mad about football and wrote the centenary history of the Screwfix Direct League.

She reckons the joint highlights of England's qualifying games were the 5-1 away win over Germany and the 2-2 draw with Greece at Old Trafford which finally sealed England's place in Japan and South Korea.

"The Germany game and result was unreal, but the last ten seconds of the Greece game, when David Beckham scored that free kick was unbelievable, particularly so as the rest of the game had been so poor."

She added: "I think it's going to be a very interesting trip, but like Doug I think it's going to be a difficult tournament for England.

"France could again be the team to beat.

"Getting around in France for the World Cup four years ago was easy, but apparently it is virtually impossible to hire a car in Japan so we will be travelling by rail, including on the Bullet Train."

The Webbs hope to be in Japan to watch England's first pre-tournament friendly and are virtually guaranteed tickets for the later stages of the tournament should England get through.

But one problem they will have is with the language. Said Sandie: "I bought a book called 'Learn Japanese in six weeks'. I can tell you it doesn't work."