Obviously the first thing you will need to leave the country is your passport. Check that it will be valid for the duration of your trip, especially if you are going to a tournament and may be away for several weeks.

If you are planning to travel though several countries during your visit, check to see if you need visas for some or all of the places you intend to go to. Again, plan well in advance, especially if you have to send your passport off to several embassies.

Make two photocopies of your passport details page (and visa if one is issued for the country you are visiting), leaving one copy at home with relatives or friends and pack the other copy separate from the originals. This will make things a little easier to issue a replacement should your passport gets lost or stolen.

If a visa is required for the country you are visiting, make sure you give yourself plenty of time beforehand to apply for one. A little foreign embassy used to dealing with a few hundred applications a week will soon get bogged down with thousands of England fans all wanting a visa, and wanting it immediately. Some countries will not allow you to obtain a visa on arrival so make sure you check and plan well ahead of your travel dates.

How many times have you or your friends said ‘it’ll never happen to me!’ Chances are nothing will happen to you, but to err on the safe side and not tempt fate, ensure you have adequate travel insurance that covers you for medical expenses and possible medical evacuation.

If you are on prescribed medication, make sure you pack sufficient supplies as they may not be readily available in the country you are visiting.

Prescribed medications should be in their original, clearly labelled containers along with a signed and dated letter from your doctor describing your medical conditions and medications, including generic names. If you are carrying syringes, be sure to have a doctor’s letter documenting their medical necessity.

If you are taking traveller’s cheques and/or credit cards it's worth making a note of the serial numbers, and as with your passport, leave a copy at home and pack a copy separate from the originals.

It is recommended that you are up to date with all your primary vaccines including diphtheria, tetanus and polio and any others that may be required for your visit.

Make sure you order your currency before you travel especially if you are travelling between countries and you need several types. (There is nothing worse than being delayed at an airport waiting for a transfer and not having the right cash to buy a few beers!) Some currencies can’t be ordered outside of the visiting country, so ensure you have a credit card that will allow you to draw cash from ATMs upon arrival, especially if its late at night and you need to pay a cab driver to get you to your hotel.

Accommodation – vital if going to a tournament as rooms will have been booked up months in advance.

We advise supporters to always check the Foreign Office website for up-to-date information about the country they are visiting. Their website is www.fco.gov.uk

And finally, but most important of all, don’t forget to pack your match ticket!

CREATURE COMFORTS - The following are not necessities but they do make the journey a little smoother:

Power Plug adaptor – preferably a multi-plug with American, European and Asian plugs.

Padlock for bags being left in hostel or train station lockers.

Mosquito repellent – to stop any nasty nips.

Sun cream & sunglasses – especially if you are sitting outside bars all day before the match.

Basic first aid kit – rehydration salts, plasters, aspirin for the hangover head, antiseptic cream for stings and bites etc.

Mobile phone & charger - think about it.

Plastic bags for dirty laundry – or is that us just being fussy!

Earplugs – especially if your room-mate is a snorer or your room is next to the hotel disco.

Warm jacket/jumper – even the warmest of places can get chilly at night.

Condoms- need we say more! 

Bottle opener – saves damaging your teeth!

Wet wipes have a multitude of uses but particularly handy if public loos have run out of paper.