BURY Times columnist Jamie Hoyland is pinching himself as he prepares to fly out to France to work as part of England’s scouting network during the European Championships.

The former Shakers midfielder has been employed in the part-time role since November, 2014, during which time he has flown all over the world gathering intelligence for Roy Hodgson and his team of analysts.

He flew out to Stockholm on Sunday for Wales’ last friendly defeat before the tournament kicks off and will watch them play their first match of the Euros against Slovakia on Saturday before feeding that information through to the Three Lions coaching team at their Parisienne base.

Hoyland, aged 50, will then jet around France during the group stages, taking in six games in 12 days at four different venues – Bordeaux, Saint-Etienne, Lyon and the Parcs de Princes in Paris – compiling reports on England’s possible opponents in the knockout stages.

“My daughter’s boyfriend, Jack, keeps telling me I have the best job in the world, and you know what, I think he’s right,” said Hoyland.

“For a man who has made football his life, I don’t think I can imagine a better one.

“If I am being honest, I keep having to pinch myself to make sure it’s real, that I’m about to jet off to France for the Euros as part of the England set-up.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s a mixture of nerves and excitement, just like I felt as a player before a big match.

“I know what I do is only a small part of what goes into preparing the team, but there could be something I put in my report that gives England that little bit extra that can be the difference between success and failure.

“So it is a massive responsibility and one that I take very seriously.”

Hoyland was introduced to then England chief scout Martin Rigg by former coaching colleague Paul Simpson.

After initially starting out producing scouting reports for the England Under-21s, he secured a job as one of four scouts feeding information into the England senior team.

The ex-Sheffield United player is quick to point out it is more hard work than glitz and glamour, while he has endured some hair-raising moments travelling around Europe during the qualifying campaign.

He was even caught up in the Paris terrorist attack while scouting the France v Germany game at the Stade de France, but says being involved with England is an honour, never a chore.

“I am old enough to remember Euro 96, so I know what it is like to be in a host country when a big tournament is going on, and I can’t wait to experience that buzz over the next few weeks,” he said.

“After the Wales v Slovakia game I will be going back to the England camp for a few days to work with the coaching team in preparation for the Wales game then I will be jetting off and pretty much on my own from there on in.

“As soon as each game is over, it is a case of getting the lap top out finding some wifi and then filing my report as quickly as possible.

“A team of analysts will feed that into the system, and while they are doing that I’ll be moving on to the next game.”

Hoyland is adamant it is important for scouts to be out there watching the matches in person, rather than on TV in a studio.

“You might be able to pick up how a team plays on TV, but it is what goes on when the cameras are not on a player that can be important,” he added.

“It is not just the basics you are looking for, such as team shape and each players’ role within the team, it can be the little things you see in the ground that make the difference.

“For example, I watched Marcus Rashford in the United Under-21s a few weeks before he made his debut in the Europa League and I flagged him up in a report.

“What impressed me was his discipline and work rate off the ball. You look at things like that. How a player reacts when he loses the ball? Does he let his head drop?

“Marcus’s attitude came across strongly on the pitch that night, so that will have been there in the system.

“There is no doubt Roy uses all of this intel when making a decision on a player or how to combat an opponent.

“So it is my job to give him everything he needs to prepare England the right way, and I just hope I can do some good and play my part in England having a successful tournament.”

Jamie's Euro 2016 travel plan

Saturday, June 11, 5pm: Wales v Slovakia (Bordeaux)

Tuesday, June 14, 8pm: Portugal v Iceland (Saint-Etienne)

Thursday, June 16, 5pm: Ukraine v Northern Ireland (Lyon)

Saturday, June 18, 8pm: Portugal v Austria (Paris, Parc de Princes)

Tuesday, June 21, 8pm: Croatia v Spain (Bordeaux)

Wednesday, June 22, 5pm: Hungary v Poland (Lyon)