Beeb prescribes squash tonic for stricken football fans

Poor old footy fans stuck for something to do next summer have been given a sensible suggestion by Auntie Beeb.

After all home nations were knocked out of Euro 2008, the BBC has sought to lift sports fans' spirits by offering 10 alternative ideas for what to do over the summer.

And coming in at number 7 is (of course!) the men's and women's World Opens, to be held in Manchester in October ...

The full prescription reads:

7. Watch other sports. Who needs Euro 2008 when there's Lewis Hamilton storming through his second Formula One season, a Rugby League World Cup and an England Test series against New Zealand? The Olympics in Beijing will be just round the corner, starting with football on 6 August, and the squash world championships in Manchester in October will showcase top British talent such as Nick Matthew and Tania Bailey.

And plenty more British (and world) talent will be on show besides.

As many of the England football team's players are based in the north-west, what better way to round off a long, boring summer than to get themselves down to Sportcity?

10 things to do during Euro 2008