Name for a laugh

Will the real Goran Eriksson please stand up?

By Chris Charles BBC Sport Online

An England fan has got into the spirit of the World Cup by changing his name to Goran Eriksson.

Journalist Scott Faulkner hit on the idea after a night on the town with his friends.

He went through the proper legal channels and is now officially known as Scott-Goran Eriksson.

The 26-year-old said: "I was in the pub with a few friends and one of them said I should name myself after Sven for the World Cup.

A strip was not enough for Scott

"It started off as a bit of a laugh but I thought 'Why not?'. Most people support the team by wearing a replica strip or maybe getting a tattoo but I wanted to take it one step further."

Scott, who writes for the Liverpool Echo, has even had his by-line in the newspaper altered accordingly.

Waived

He told BBC Sport Online: "I've been asked to do the World Cup stories - which I'm well chuffed about. As long as people don't think they're being written by the England coach!

"I'm planning to keep the name for a month and then see how it goes.

"If England go out in the first round, I might think about changing it back straight away, but if they go on to win the World Cup I'll probably keep it for ever!"

Scott even had the £50 deedpoll fee waived, because solicitor Ray Goodman was so bewildered by his choice.

Maybe some of his qualities will rub off on me!

Scott-Goran Eriksson

"This is perhaps the most unusual request I've had in 22 years in the profession," Goodman confessed.

But how did the Faulkner family take the news of the new moniker?

"They're not bothered at all - they think it's quite amusing," laughed Scott. "And I haven't got a girlfriend, so there's nothing to worry about there.

"In fact, Sven has quite a bit of luck with the ladies, doesn't he? Maybe some of his qualities will rub off on me!"