Wiegman opts for the breakfast buffet but for the Daily Mail, it’s a choice of the ‘Performance Plates’ on our bespoke menu as part of the ‘Stay Like the England Teams’ experience.
I’m tempted by the breakfast wrap and the protein power bowl but I opt for the avocado smash on sourdough with a poached egg on top.
On the menu, it’s described as the ‘playmaker’. After all, it’s the one day where I get to live like an England player.
Train on the same pitches as Jude Bellingham? Eat in the same restaurant as Leah Williamson? Sleep in the same hotel as Harry Kane?
This immersive fan experience at the home of the national team lets you do all of that for £650 (for a family of four).
On arrival at the hotel we are greeted and escorted in a buggy around the back of the premises to the players’ entrance for a special check-in and provided with contracts to look over.
It details that we, the ‘players’, agree to ‘Live the Suite Life’, ‘Strike a Pose’ and ‘Train like a football player (kind of)’.
The Mail’s Aadam Patel heads to the Hilton St. George’s for the ‘Stay Like the England Teams’ immersive stay
Te experience gives guests the chance to ‘live like an England player’, by training on the same pitches as Jude Bellingham, eating in the same restaurant as Leah Williamson and sleepng in the same hotel as Harry Kane
‘On arrival at the hotel we are greeted and escorted in a buggy around the back of the premises to the players’ entrance for a special check-in and provided with contracts to look over,’ says Aadam
Contract signed and pictures taken, we ascend to the wonderfully named Suite Caroline,where Gareth Southgate stayed when he was England manager.
The Presidential Suite on the floor above is usually reserved for the managers, Thomas Tuchel and Wiegman, when their respective teams are here, but Southgate’s preference was to be on the floor below with a balcony overlooking the complex.
The suite is kitted out with memorabilia from Harry Kane, Alex Scott and Ian Wright shirts to a signed Ella Toone football and there’s great merchandise to keep, from England bath robes to a complimentary football.
After a brief rest, Ben, our FA-certified coach, takes us down to the pitch for our coaching session.
He puts us through our paces, finishing off with some shooting and one-on-ones and by the end of the hour, it’s fair to say Kane’s spot in the team is safe.
From there it’s time to head for our tour of the National Football Centre.
Built in 2012 at an initial cost of £105 million, St George’s Park is set in 330 acres of Staffordshire countryside and hosts England’s national teams.
The tour includes the pool where the famous picture of Bukayo Saka on an inflatable unicorn was captured, the cryotherapy chamber and the boot room, as well as a look at the Sir Alf Ramsey indoor pitch.
‘The suite is kitted out with memorabilia from Harry Kane, Alex Scott and Ian Wright shirts to a signed Ella Toone football, and there’s great merchandise to keep, from England bath robes to a complimentary football’ says Aadam
Built in 2012 at an initial cost of £105 million, St George’s Park is set in 330 acres of Staffordshire countryside and hosts England’s national teams
Then it’s back outside where there are no fewer than 14 pitches named after England icons such as Alan Shearer, Fara Williams and Gordon Banks.
The main pitch, named after Sir Bobby Charlton, is reserved for the men’s team and the Lionesses and has the same grass as Wembley and is the same size.
As evening hits, we take a walk through the corridors of the hotel. The walls are lined with images of England icons including Paul Gascoigne and John Barnes and you get a sense of the history attached to playing for England.
As of now, only 1,295 players have represented the men’s team, dating back to 1872.
Dinner takes place in the main hotel restaurant, with the starters called the ‘Warm Up’ in another special menu that’s reserved for this experience.
I sneak in some ice cream for dessert, though I’m not sure whether Alessia Russo or Declan Rice would be given that leeway.
After dinner, it’s time for the private outdoor cinema with heated dugout seats and a choice of classic football films, with popcorn, sweets and chocolates provided.
The England players say St George’s Park feels like a home from home. For one night only, it feels like football has come home.
TRAVEL FACTS
‘Stay Like The England Teams’ one-night experience from £650 for a family of four from November to January (hilton.com).
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