Exposure in the Sutton Coldfield Observer has led an England football fan's song to come in for praise by team manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Doug O'Brien was featured in the Observer in March in his search for a record deal to release his song Sing and Shout.

As a direct result he was signed up by local firm Fat Man Studios and his song is now on sale.

The paper this week reported how it has received approval from within the England set-up - and from the royal family.

Doug said: "I sent a copy of the track to Sven-Goran Eriksson ands he very kindly wrote back endorsing the song.

"I also sent a copy to Prince William and he also wrote back thanking me, which was a big boost."

His record was a big-seller before the recent England-Greece game and it has been playing in pubs around the town.

He's now hoping it will be adopted as a World Cup anthem for the finals next year.

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