Gourmet boost for soccer team

LONDON (Reuters): A top British cook has devised a series of energy-packed recipes to help her football team in its fight to win promotion to the top English soccer league.

Delia Smith, one of Britain's best known celebrity chefs and a director of Norwich City soccer club in eastern England, was holding a special cooking session Thursday to unveil the recipes to players and their wives.

A Norwich City spokesman said the team's manager, Mike Walker, was happy to try anything that could help the team in its drive to get into the Premier League.

The team needs all the help it can get. It is currently in 17th place in the 24-strong First Division.

Delia's past efforts to help the football club -- known after their yellow shirts as the Canaries -- have been equally original.

Five months ago, she announced she had found a new sponsor -- appropriately enough, the mustard manufacturer, Colman's -- and unveiled a new team strip created by fashion designer, Bruce Oldfield.