Feel-good factor back at FA

Heavens to Betsy but Brian Barwick and his acolytes at the FA have come over all warm and friendly at the start of the new era with Fabio Capello at the helm of England’s leaky ship of destiny. Barwick, the chief executive, and his high command are so smitten by the new manager that the order went out yesterday to be nice to the press. Yes, they are that happy.

Pictures of the England team in their new Umbro kit were scheduled to go out from Action Images, the FA’s official picture agency, to all newspapers at the usual fee of £150 a snap. But before paperwork could change hands, it was discovered that the pictures would be free of charge. Startled picture editors rang the FA’s London headquarters just to be sure, but were told there was no problem, enjoy the snaps compliments of the house thanks to the new “feel-good factor”.

Shame on you all, by the way, for voting for Steven Gerrard as England Player of the Year. Apparently, he won it for running about a lot and kicking a ball even though he appallingly managed not to appear in a tabloid newspaper even once to show real skill in drinking, vomiting, fighting and losing a wife.

No more slobbing for pampered players

The strict new regime for England’s pampered stars adopted by Capello was being touted by Sir Clive Woodward, the head coach of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning rugby union team, in this newspaper last autumn. Like Capello, he would not allow players to be late or slop about the team hotel in shorts and flip-flops. Even as our paper hit the stands, the England football team, under Steve McClaren, were slopping around the exclusive Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire.

Surfers test BA’s sporting pledge

British Airways’ enthusiasm for sport, reflected in its new £50 million sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics, obviously stops at the shoreline. Thousands of surfers, canoeists and people who kayak are furious with the airline after it banned their equipment from flights last year. An online petition protesting the ban has garnered more than 10,400 names.

Force India, Formula One’s newest team, are taking a press party to Bombay this week as they prepare for their first season at the pinnacle of motor sport. The reception will, no doubt, be hospitable, unlike the one reserved for Lewis Hamilton in Spain this week. Force India, who are keen to introduce an Indian driver as soon as possible, must wonder what sort of multinational sport they have joined.

Officials from Ukraine are coming to Britain to find the cash to fill the financial black hole facing them as joint hosts of Euro 2012. The World Bank believes Ukraine will struggle to fund the tournament, which it is staging jointly with Poland. Prince Michael of Kent will be one of the guests at a forum in London to highlight “investment opportunities”.