ENGLAND football managers past and present who have North-East connections will figure prominently in this weekend's Great North Run.

Former England and Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson will start the 2007 Bupa-backed run, on Sunday.

He will fire the starting pistol to set off 50,000 runners on Newcastle Central Motorway at the beginning of the 13.1-mile course to South Shields.

Among those taking part in Europe's most popular road race -also the world's biggest half-marathon -will be a successor in the England hot-seat, the current national team coach Steve McClaren, who was last year's starter.

Sir Bobby, who was born in Sacriston, County Durham, said: "I am honoured to be asked to set the runners on their way at the Great North Run.

"I last started it in 1999, and it was without question one of the greatest sporting moments of my life.

"I am really looking forward to Sunday morning and seeing that mass of colour and the runners of all ages, sizes and abilities set off towards South Shields.

"It is a fantastic sight."

Former Middlesbrough manager McClaren will take a break from England's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

He is the third England manager to compete in the event.

McClaren, who still lives in North Yorkshire, said: "I had the privilege last year of starting the race and I am delighted on this occasion that I can run.

"It was an awesome sight seeing 50,000 people streaming past me after I had fired the pistol, so I am really looking forward to having a go myself."

His predecessors at England who have completed the half-marathon are Kevin Keegan, a competitor in the first race in 1981, and Graham Taylor.

British athletics' golden girl, Paula Radcliffe, twice a previous winner, makes her competitive return after 21 months out from the sport, following a foot injury and the birth of her daughter, Isla.

The run is being covered live on BBC, with four hours of coverage from 9.30am on Sunday.

GNER will operate three extra trains on Sunday for runners.

Added to its regular Sunday schedule will be a 7.04am train from Darlington to Newcastle, calling at Durham; a 7.10am train from Northallerton to Newcastle, calling at Darlington, and a 7.35am train from Darlington to Newcastle, calling at Durham.

There will also be extra Metro services and the Haymarket station, in Newcastle, which is undergoing a £20m redevelopment, will open on the day.

For a full preview of the race, see Saturday's paper. For reports and pictures, see Monday's paper.