The automobile industry rose almost overnight. Orders poured into the offices of companies already organized; new companies were formed by dozens, capitalized at millions of dollars. Fly-by-night concerns sprang up like mushrooms, flooded the country with stock-selling schemes, established factories where parts of motor cars, bought elsewhere, were assembled.

Southgate's single-minded approach means he will not worry about outside noise if he is convinced this is the right way to go. The proof, as ever, will come with results before and during the summer's delayed Euro 2020 showpiece.

I set it in a 'pocket universe' based on role-playing games.

Naphtha lamps shed a weird light over a busy scene, for the work was being continued night and day. A score or so of sturdy navvies were shovelling and picking along the track.