If any Bermudian thinks all Brits are the same they should head to one of Hamilton's bars tomorrow as England and Scotland play out football's oldest and bitterest rivalry.

The Island's British community will be split down the middle as the nations clash in the first of two play-off games to see who will appear in the European Championship next summer.

Bars have been flooded with inquires about screening the matches while fans have been desperate to buy shirts for the crunch games.

Pro Shop boss Frank Brewster said: "I had about 15 or 20 people, mostly English call in about shirts, with just a few Scots.

"I've ordered 25 to 30 England shirts and 12 Scottish shirts, but they are still on the dock. I expect to get them today.'' Mr. Brewster, who starred in the Bermudian football team which won bronze in the Caribbean Championships in 1974 and 1978, is backing England to win.

The game is also a winner for the pubs who have bought rights to screen the two games.

Flanagan's' boss Tommy Gallagher is expecting a full bar despite the early 10 a.m. kick-off time and the $10 cover charge.

Mr. Gallagher said pubs were having to charge to recoup the $1,500 cost of screening each game.

"I don't expect to make money -- just to break even,'' he said. "But we've had a lot of calls about it.

"We are offering happy hour prices because most people don't feel like much more than a pint of orange juice at that time of the morning.'' And Mr. Gallagher said he still expected a few Englishmen to brave the Celtic fervour of his bar.

He said: "We do get a lot of Englishmen drinking here because they like the atmosphere.

"And Bermudians like it too -- they'll be supporting Scotland -- everybody likes to see England get beat.'' And he said favourites England might be in for a nasty surprise.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was a 2-2 draw,'' Mr. Gallagher said. "If Scotland get ahead they will be very hard to beat.'' However, the bookies are taking a different tack with Seahorses offering odds on England of 4-9 to win over the two legs with 6-5 being offered on the first game.

Better odds are being offered on numbers of sendings-off which is always likely in these fiery games which are referred to as Auld Enemy battles.

Scotland, who normally take overnight bags to World Cup Finals because they are always on the first plane home, still have their backers.

But -- in the interests of fairness -- England, however, rarely even have to pack as they do not qualify that often.

Mr. Lee Beauchamp, of Seahorses, said: "We've had more Scottish fans betting but, as every bookmaker knows, the heart always rules the head.'' One Scottish fan who is really letting it get to his head is Robin Hood chef Gary Bell.

Despite working in an English stronghold Mr. Bell is dying his head in the colours of his national flag.

Robin Hood co-owner Gary Sheppard said: "He's promised not to tamper with the food if Scotland lose.'' Other venues screening the clash include Docksiders on Front Street. While M.R. Onions on Par-la-Ville Road will know today if their decoder has arrived which will enable them to screen the game.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS EAT