Registering Support

Patriotic flags on cars are simply not enough for some hard-core England fans during this year's World Cup, with some people forking out thousands of pounds for a personalised football related number plate from Dunstable's Regtransfers.co.uk.

Up for grabs from the High Street South company is the 'Perfect 11' plate X I for an astonishing £500,000 and EN51 AND for £17,495, for those football fans looking to add an additional expression of support for their national team. Regtransfers' marketing manager Leonard Stout said: "Special occasion plates are something we supply to people all the time. Anybody buying a football-related plate right now will have a visual memory of what should be a great World for England Cup for England.

"England are, undoubtedly, the best in 40 years. I was a teenager when we last won it and am looking forward to being a teenager all over again in a few weeks time. That's if the wife will let me!

" The sales team has so far sold 11 football-related number plates, but number and letter combinations such as 5 VEN for Sven, costing £35,000 and R100 NEY meaning Rooney for £4,895, are still waiting to be sold. Leonard said: "We are selling football and World Cup plates and there is a definite surge in interest. To celebrate the World Cup here, we have installed flat-screen TVs in all areas so that those having to work can still feel involved and express their support for England. or whoever they support."

The DVLA is also getting behind the England team with personalised registrations including '06' and '51' series 'ENG' number plates, with the '51 ENG' series number representing England's 5-1 victory over old foes and World Cup host Germany in 2001 and the '06 ENG' rep resenting this year's tournament. Buyers are able to choose any two available letters to complete their England plate, for example OK51 ENG.

Louise Pierpoint, publicity manager for DVLA personalised registrations, said: "The 5-1 win was arguably England's best moment since winning the World Cup 40 years ago. More and more people seem to choose number plates to celebrate something good in their lives so why not use them to get behind the England team."

In total there will be about 1,000 '06' and '51 ENG' numbers to choose from with prices starting at £499. All registrations can be viewed online at www.regtransfers.co.uk

Other plates for sale from Regtransfers include R3 FFF = Referee; S60 RES = Scores; RE53 ULT = Result; J6 PAN = Japan (f.5,895); K10 REA = Korea (£1.495); C1 SSE = Cisse (£7,395); V11 ERA = Vieira (f.6.994); HEN 12Y = Henry (£29,995); R10 ENG = Rio (£1,395); C120 UCH = Crouch (£12,495); WAY 11E = Wayne (£29,995); T33 RRY = Terry (E4,245); 6 OLE = Cole (E24.995); L444 MPD = Lampard (£245); and NEV 11E = Neville (£14,995).

Dunstable Gazette 14 June 2006