ALL the fears of fan trouble and expulsion from the European Championships next year were gone in just five pre-match minutes.

It became clear just before kick-off that England's appearance in the North-East would not be ruined like it was the last time they were here.

Middlesbrough-born opera singer Suzannah Clark's glorious rendition of the Slovakian national anthem was immaculately observed - and even applauded by the English fans. And surely God Save The Queen has not been sung so lustily in the North-East for some time.

By now, the atmosphere was so positive and exciting that all the worries of violence, racism and pitch invasions had long been forgotten.

The high-pitched cries of thousands of children in the crowd - in contrast to the hateful shouts of yobs at the Sunderland game - could be heard when older voices had gone quiet.

Earlier, off the pitch, it was the fans, Middlesbrough, and the North-East who were the winners.

Before the kick-off, there was something different about the town - a smile had been put on its face, and it had been put there by England. Superglamorous, superfamous England, had chosen tight North-East working town Middlesbrough to stage a major match and the people were proud.

Demonstrations of that pride may have been understated but it was there all right. Every second shop was bedecked in England colours, every pub full of happy-looking drinkers. Flags of St George fluttered from cars and Cockney flag sellers (they were all Cockney) did a brisk trade.

"It's nice here," said Dan Watts, 21, from Bristol. "Nice day, everyone's having good fun. A few light years behind Bristol, mind, but then again, where isn't?"

One middle-aged Nunthorpe woman, wearing an England top, was also in a good mood. "This is our chance to show what we're all about. It's great for the Boro," she said.

Wandering around the town, all seemed well. Then you noticed something else you couldn't quite put your finger on - until you spotted your first police officer.

Having seen one, you noticed the town was teeming with them. Police officers on horseback, police officers wandering round the streets, police officers with dogs, and police officers in vans. It was slightly incongruous with the pleasant atmosphere but they all seemed to be in a good mood and it was reassuring.

At the Dicken's Inn near the university, the only place where the Union Flag replaced the flag of St George, there was also little cause for concern. Then we heard a shout.

"Hey, mate, where you from?" asked one lad with his mates, pointing at my reporter's notebook and the photographer's camera.

"The Northern Echo."

"Aw, The Northern Echo, full of Geordie stuff. Tell the Geordies to get lost."

He'd obviously been drinking for a while.

"Seen the police walking around? They're harassing us man, you want to report that."

In fact, two officers had simply wandered around the pub, barely saying a word.

But chatting to England fans from Teesside, Durham, Birmingham, Tyneside and Blackburn, you got the feeling that everything was all right. It was a reminder that the vast majority of fans are always simply after a drink and a good time.

Middlesbrough was enjoying a day in the sun - and the national spotlight.

On best behaviour

FANS flocked from all over the country to witness Middlebrough stage its first international since 1937.

The Riverside Stadium was a 35,000 sell-out to fans, including about 900 Slovakian supporters, and many of the town centre pubs were also packed.

Although there was a small number of arrests later last night, there was no hint of trouble in the build-up to the vital Euro 2004 qualifier and fans were keen for it to stay that way.

Middlesbrough and England fan Martin Kellerman, 41, a civil engineer, said: "Everyone seems to be in good spirits and there has been no sign of trouble.

"That would be it for England if there was any bother, but everyone seems to be behaving themselves.

Autograph hunter's 'disgust'

AN autograph hunter has spoken of his disgust at the way England players snubbed football fans for a second time outside a hotel.

As reported in The Northern Echo on Monday, about 100 fans were left disappointed when members of the England squad refused to sign autographs at a training session in Hurworth, near Darlington, on Sunday.

Tony Hillman, who collects famous signatures, said he attended both the training session and Redworth Hall, where the squad is staying, to try to get an autograph.

"I was absolutely aggrieved that they wouldn't speak to the fans," he said. "A couple did but the majority totally ignored everyone. Outside Redworth Hall, there were not even that many people.

"I think it's absolutely disgusting.

"I'm not a football fan, just an autograph hunter, but there were a lot of young kids there who were devastated."