by Chris Hatherall

FA General Secretary Alex Horne hopes the opening of St. George's Park will create a club atmosphere around all of the England teams training there.

Roy Hodgson's senior side are staying at the new National Football Centre for the first time as they prepare for Friday's World Cup qualifier against San Marino.

St. George's Park will be the training home for all of England's 24 teams and the facility will be officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge today.

Horne said: "All the development teams teams will train here and they will get that aspiration of staying in the suites at the Hilton, playing on the elite pitch.

"There will be a sense of bonding like you might get in a club - where they aren't training together but they are training side by side.

"We're building a real club ethic here around England and, if I might say, instilling and re-instilling playing with pride and passion for the badge."

So far the reaction from England's senior players has been hugely positive.

Horne said: "They are delighted with it. The facilities and amenities are tremendous.

"But it's about walking down the hill 100 yards to the dressing room which kind of looks like Wembley, feels like Wembley and onto the pitch which is exactly the same as Wembley.

"The hydrotherapy pools are brilliant for recovery and relaxation. And the gym - a lot of the players were in there yesterday because they had played Sunday - is phenomenal.

"The facilities are first class, world class. First impressions are all very positive."

St.George’s Park, The FA’s new National Football Centre, officially opens today.

Visit www.TheFA.com/sgp for all the latest on the new centre.