Jonathan Woodgate: please don't boo England team

Jonathan Woodgate has sent out a call for unity ahead of England's World Cup campaign.

The Spurs defender has urged fans to put aside negative thoughts for the good of the country following their reaction to the 2-2 Wembley draw with the Czech Republic.

Despite Joe Cole's late leveller, their response was mixed to say the least and there were even a few boos.

But Woodgate, speaking at an Inner City Football Funday for youngsters in Hackney - one of the projects funded by the Team England Footballers Charity Outreach Programme, believes it is vital for players and fans to get closer together if England are ever to be successful.

He said: "I think we've all got to be a unit - the players and the fans and everyone in the team has to be together, all pushing in the right direction.

"The last thing you want is people booing the players. You have to put up with it but it doesn't help.

"What we all want is to qualify for the World Cup in 2010 and there would be a lot of disappointed people if we didn't make it - especially the fans.

"Hopefully we can all pull together and produce the results. But we need everyone on our side, especially now."

Woodgate certainly doesn't want a repeat of England's last trip to Andorra when fans chanted 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' as Steve McClaren's men were held 0-0 for 53 minutes before winning 3-0.

He said: "It's important for them to get behind us and be our 12th man. We have to give them a foundation to get behind us but if we're not doing well we need the fans to help - and believe me they can help.

"My message is for fans to go to the matches and enjoy it. We're playing in qualifiers and they will be good games."

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