The shoot complete, the coach turned round and headed for home driven by Joe Noctor, the England team’s regular driver. He’s doubtless a man with inside knowledge and many behind-the-scenes stories but, in common with Blueways Managing Director Tom McKechnie, he’s keeping mum.
“Discretion is obviously a key factor in the equation for the Football Association,” says Tom. “The tabloids would have a field day with us if they could, but that’s not our game. We’re contracted to provide a service to the F.A. and that’s exactly what we do. No more, no less.”
There is no doubting that in the same way that the Under 12s of Alveston F.C. had a dream day, Tom McKechnie has what many would see as a dream job. Blueways London Limited has held the contract to move the England team since the 1970s. Based in Battersea with a second depot in Ringwood, Hampshire, the company has a fleet of 14, half of which are Scania including three high-specification Scania Irizar PB luxury touring coaches, all of which have seen service with the F.A.
“We’ve used Scania vehicles on the England contract for many years,” says Tom. “It’s all about style, quality and finish. They are extremely safe in operation, there’s no question about reliability, the service support programmes suit our needs perfectly and when it comes to projecting an impressive image, well – enough said!”
As an extra touch, the latest Scania Irizar PB sports the registration number FA05 ENG. “It’s the fourth England Scania coach,” says Tom. “Now it’s here, the previous one is moving the Under 21s about, while its predecessor is back in regular service. That’s the way it goes; regular replacements and a process of continuously upgrading our service.”
So how did Blueways win the contract in the first place? “It all started while we were driving the Arsenal team around,” says Tom. “I’m told it was either their manager, Bertie Mee, or their physio who one day said to Don Revie, the England manager at the time, ‘You drive about in lousy old coaches – you ought to call Blueways!’ And they did! And we’ve been transporting the team ever since.”
But Tom McKechnie’s England adventure doesn’t stop there. He became the regular driver for the Under 21s and fitted well into the organisation, so well in fact that manager Peter Taylor (now with Hull City F.C.) approached him with a special request: “He asked if I’d like to act as the team’s kit man,” says Tom. “I replied that I was really a bit too busy running the coaches, but he persisted and eventually I agreed to take the job.
“In 2000, I moved up to become kit man for the senior squad along with my colleague Martin Grogan. It’s a job that’s gets me a seat on the bench at matches and one that has taken me all over the world. All I can say is it’s a fantastic on-going experience.”
A combination of Tom McKechnie’s natural modesty, discretion and his commitment to the team prevent him from elaborating about his role further. But we’ve discovered that he is one of the most popular members of the organisation and, along with his kit duties, he has built an additional reputation as a bit of a computer doctor. “Yes,” says Tom, “the players all have laptops and I do sometimes provide them with a little assistance along the way if they get stuck.” So if Becks has a problem hooking up his email to report back to Posh, does Tom come to the rescue? Once again, he won’t be drawn, and we’re left wondering…
There’s one other thing about Tom McKechnie that made us wonder too: He’s a Scot. Could there possibly be a conflict of interest when England take on the Tartan Army? “No, not at all,” he replies. “That doesn’t come into it. In terms of allegiances, all I can say is that no-one was sadder than me when England were knocked out of the last World Cup – I really thought the boys could have won that one.”
And what about the high point of this Scotsman’s unusual and unique England career? “It has to be that famous night in 2001 when England beat the Germans 5-1 in their own back yard in Munich,” says Tom.
“Not only was I the happiest man on the planet – I was there as well!”
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