At an event to mark 50 days to go before the Championship kick-off, James met up with England Women’s team goalkeeper Rachel Brown, and encouraged fans to get to the games and cheer England on as they face the crème de la crème of Europe.

"Come and support," he enthused. "I’m going to the England-Scotland friendly match at Tranmere on Thursday and to the opening game of the Championships against Finland."

"It’s entertaining to watch and much more skilful than it was ten years ago. If nothing else it’s the European Championships on our home soil and you’re not going to see another one for a good while."

James also revealed that his connections with the England Women’s team run deeper than football alone. The talented 6’5’’ stopper also has a penchant for painting and England winger Rachel Yankey recently provided the inspiration for a piece which is soon to be exhibited country-wide.

"I was being shown the photographs from the Umbro kit launch," says James taking up the story, "and one picture of Rachel just struck me, especially the way her hair hung over the England badge.

"She had been talking about the Euro 2005 championships this summer, so I was thinking about women’s football and also how the David Beckham Mohican was iconic - that was the inspiration.

"Then I was asked if I would do a picture for an exhibition. The picture of Rachel was one that I liked and because of the tournament it has a bit more meaning to it.

"I just think women’s football deserves to get a bit more credit. There seems to be a naivety to the way people perceive sport that if you’re not the best and not a man it’s not worth being involved."

With only 50 days to go before the big kick-off on 05 June against Finland at the City of Manchester Stadium, now’s the time for you to get involved and secure your seat as football comes home for the first time since Euro 96.

Everton’s Burnley-born ‘keeper Rachel Brown is certainly looking forward to running out in front of big crowds in an area renowned for its passion for football.

"I’m training to be a teacher so I’ve seen how much interest there is in women’s football at grassroots level, and it’s just massive.

"It’s a football mad area - everybody’s into football. There’s no reason why girls shouldn’t be playing it and that’s how they see it here.

"The FA have put in a lot of money in with England and now we do get paid when we go away - such steps have made a massive difference.

"We’re very confident we can get through the group stages, at least to the Semi-Finals. Hope Powell has instilled an attitude into the players to give 100% and believe 100% in what the coaching staff are saying, buying into the whole programme. It has given us a very positive outlook for the summer."

As the cameras and journalists packed up, David James summed up: "We’ve got a good chance, so just get in there, see the games and support the team."

We couldn’t have said it any better.