There's a corner of Kent where England goalkeeper Robert Green is still loved and warmly remembered - despite his fumbling disaster at the World Cup opener against USA.

The under-fire keeper let in a tame shot that lost England their lead on Saturday, resulting in screaming headlines like "Butter Fingers" and "The hand of clod".

But at Folkestone's Castle Hill Primary School he can do no wrong. They have even put up a photo of him in reception.

Staff and children there remember his visit nearly three years ago, when he attended a charity event that raised hundreds of pounds for a cancer charity.

Head teacher Peter Talbot said: "He's still very popular here. In this corner of England the kids love him.

"Robert spent such a lot of time with the children. He came across as a very calm person, very patient and sensitive. Not your normal image of a swaggering, jet-setting premier league footballer.

"He stayed with us for a long time signing autographs and then staying for an auction of things he had signed."

Another school official, Sue Parsons, said: "Mr Green really gave a lot of his time. He was brilliant. We've even put up a display of news cuttings from his visit."

The former Express reporter who interviewed him at the school, Chris Denham, recalls: "He struck me as a very kind and sensitive man, very down to earth.

"I'm a Norwich City fan and used to watch him when he played for us at Carrow Road, so I was particularly interested in meeting him.

"He turned up alone in his Range Rover and spent a lot of time at the school.

"During the interview he made an interesting observation, saying there was no real friendship or loyalty at top club level, and that was a personal disappointment to him."

We can only hope he puts it behind him and things improve for England this Friday.