Chelmsford's Paul Ray is in Holland and Belgium for Euro 2000 as both a fan and in his official capacity as a member of the Football Supporters' Association.

He will be one of a number of people working to provide a mobile embassy service which will offer assistance to travelling supporters.

Travel and accommodation details, as well as up-to-date information about issues such as tickets, policing and legal rights, will be available.

The service will work from a vehicle which started off in Eindhoven for England's first match and then move on to Charleroi for their other group games.

It will remain with the entourage of players and supporters as long as they remain in the tournament.

The scheme, which is run by the FSA, is unique in that it is provided for fans by fans and is entirely independent from interests other than those of ordinary football supporters.

Ray said: "We are fans ourselves and so we know from personal experience what the needs and interests of travelling supporters are, and that means that we are able to speak-up for them.

"We hope that our efforts in Euro 2000 will contribute to fans getting the best out of the tournament as supporters are, after all, the most important people in football."

Backing for the service has come from both the Foreign Office and the Home Office, and it has also received sponsorship from a mobile phone company.

The idea was first introduced at Italia '90 when England played in the World Cup, and has continued to follow the team to international tournaments since.

Mobile service - Paul Ray of Chelmsford

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