'Two of my children play for England, I still pinch myself'

"Today I still pinch myself because you sit and think to yourself: has this actually happened?"

For nearly a quarter of a century, Nigel James has been coaching young footballers in south-west London.

Uniquely among coaches, two of his children, Lauren and Reece James, play football for their country - the first brother and sister to be senior England internationals in the modern era.

"Over and over I say to myself 'can I believe it?'," he says. "And it's reality, it's happening. The whole James family is very proud of what the children have achieved.

"I'm extremely proud. Your children doing what they want to do for a living and now to get to the highest level you could think of in football is a very proud moment."

Nigel's son Reece is expected to start at right back for England in the World Cup, which begins on Thursday.

Speaking at his academy in Wimbledon, Nigel said: "Reece used to train with us on a Friday evening and he was with his friends, he would score goals. It was like an enjoyment youth club, which kids don't really go to any more, so this compensates for the youth club - to play and enjoy."

Nigel's academy has also produced Jack Rudoni, soon to be a Premier League player with Coventry City.

"We've had two of my young players that progressed into the academy system just graduate from Cambridge and Oxford University," he adds, "so we don't just produce players, we produce good human beings and confident young men and women in the game.

"They meet different friends, they grow with confidence, so there's lots of different things that opens up for them."

Nigel's academy at Goals in Wimbledon is part of Play Their Way, a coaching campaign backed by Sport England.

Phil Smith, who is executive director for the sporting system, says: "He's brought up his two kids, who both now play for England, with exactly this philosophy: fun first, child first - and if it's good enough for Reece and Lauren James, it's good enough for the rest of us.

"Half of kids in this country don't play sport enough and of those who do play, less than half of them say they're really enjoying it. This is a problem for the activity levels and the health of the nation; it's a problem for all our future.

"Some of these kids might go on to play for England one day - most of them will not - but I hope that the fun they've had here will keep them playing, whatever level."

Nigel is flying out to the US for the knockout stages of the World Cup, harbouring high hopes of England's glory.

"I honestly believe that I think we will do very well," he says. "That's why I'm confident that I could miss the group stages and be out for the quarters and the semis."

Asked for a prediction, he replied: "Win. All the way. It's coming home."

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