Nicol Ready To Face Former Compatriots World No1 squash star Peter Nicol is preparing to make his debut for England in this week's European Team Championships against the opponents he would least like to face first - his former compatriots Scotland! Born in Aberdeen and one of the most successful sportsmen ever to hail from Scotland, Peter Nicol MBE caused apoplexy north of the border - and bewilderment around the rest of the world - when he 'defected' across Hadrian's Wall to take advantage of England's superior support programme for its leading squash players. The move gave the then world champion - and the sport - more media attention in a week than normally achieved in a year. Those close to Nicol feared for his safety should he next venture north from his long-time base in London! "It just had to be, didn't it!" was his reaction when he heard that the draw for the European Championships in Nottingham had pitched him headlong against his former compatriots on the opening day (Thursday 1st May). But Nicol has no regrets about his decision to transfer allegiance: "It's been absolutely wonderful," said the 30-year-old who will finally make his team debut for England more than two years after announcing his move. "It's a tremendous set up and it's been a great experience for me - and I've improved enormously over the period as a result of the move." "The coaches, the video analysis, the access to regular physiotherapy and massage - I feel I have benefited greatly and it's been wonderful to be part of the programme. And it's been thoroughly enjoyable," added the England newcomer. "I had a team training session last week with the England National coach David Pearson, who used to be my coach years ago, and it was very helpful. In fact it's almost frightening how much I'm still learning." Nicol first reached world No1 in February 1998 and became the first British winner of the prestigious British Open title for 25 years two months later - on his 25th birthday! He has amassed 43 international titles in his career, including the Commonwealth Games singles gold medal in Malaysia in 1998 and the World Open title the following year. At the Manchester 2002 Games, where he wore an England shirt for the first time, he won silver in the singles event - but claimed gold in the men's doubles with England team-mate Lee Beachill. He also became the first man to win a brace of squash medals in two successive Games. The European Championships, being held in England for the first time in 25 years - and the biggest team event ever staged in this country - have been a pivotal event in Nicol's life. As a rookie in the Scotland team in 1992, Peter won the decider in the semi-final against England which tossed the title-holders out of contention for a place in the final for the only time in 30 years of the competition! "It was an amazing match," Nicol recalls. "I had only moved down to London to begin working with my coach Neil Harvey a week earlier and was right at the bottom of the world rankings - at 252 - having not yet played a single Tour event. And I beat the world No20 Jason Nicolle which put Scotland into the final." Scotland went on to win the title - and England left Aix-en-Provence in France with their tails between their legs. "The whole tournament gave me a huge amount of confidence - and that was it, my career had started!" England are seeded to retain both the men's and women's titles in the 2003 European Championships which take place at the 10-court Nottingham Squash club from 01-04 May. Nicol is joined in the men's team by world No8 and doubles partner Lee Beachill, Nottingham-based Simon Parke and 19-year-old World Junior Champion James Willstrop - all from Yorkshire - and Lincolnshire's world No11 Mark Chaloner. The women's team, unbeaten in the 27 years of the competition, features a world top ten line-up including Linda Charman (Sussex), Tania Bailey (Lincs), Cassie Jackman (Norfolk) and Rebecca Macree (Essex). Nicol, who lost only one match in his 67 appearances for Scotland, is likely to face his Scottish No1 successor John White in the opening men's match. It was White - the world No5 and a former Australian, now Scot - who scotched Nicol's defence of the World Open title in Belgium last December, soundly beating the favourite in straight games in the biggest upset of the tournament. The most eagerly-awaited clash in Nottingham is the predicted men's final between England and France - which would be the rivals' fourth successive final meeting. "That would be ideal for the whole tournament - France are strong throughout the squad and it would make the perfect climax to the event," said Nicol. France will be led by the suave Thierry Lincou, the in-form world No6 from Marseilles who reached the final of the Tournament of Champions at Grand Central Station in New York in February against the odds - before losing out to Nicol. "We're likely to be the third match on, so Thierry and I could be playing the decider, which would make it even more exciting. We've had some great matches in the past - he's a very attacking player, very exciting. And he'll be even more pumped up this time as he just loves playing for France. "But as it's my first 'England v France' - and it's on home soil - it should be awesome!" Since achieving almost every goal he has set himself in squash, Nicol is turning his attention to other pursuits: "I'm involved with lots of things other than playing now, especially as I have more time, since I don't spend as much time training as I used to. A major part of my life is taken up by my new events company which is launching the English Open at the Crucible in Sheffield in August - I'm very involved in this on a day-to-day basis." He is keen to quash any thoughts, however, that this might mean early retirement! "I would like to think I'll still be good enough to be selected for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne - so I expect to be playing until at least then." While Nicol is making his England European Championships' debut at the age of 30, team-mate James Willstrop is also making his first senior appearance for his country at 19. Was there any advice Nicol might pass on to the World Junior Champion as the new England rookie in Nottingham? "There's no way I could give him any advice - he's a very switched on guy," said Nicol, without any hesitation. "He just loves his squash, loves practising, and he's going to be a fantastic player, there's no doubt. We'll all help each other in Nottingham - in fact there's just as much chance of me asking him for advice as the other way round!" England will defend their two European titles this week in the rare position of hosts: "It's amazing that my first two appearances for England (in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester and the European Championships in Nottingham) have both been IN England," said Nicol. "I am so used to playing in situations where my opponent has home advantage that this week in Nottingham is going to be extra special. It's going to be close tournament - so to have the added bonus of home support will be great."