• England C manager Paul Fairclough
  • Henry and Porter celebrate

England C squad named

Monday, 24 January, 2011 

Paul Fairclough names his squad to face Belgium next month.

England C v Belgium
International Challenge Trophy
Semi-Final
Kenilworth Road, Luton Town FC
7.30pm, Wednesday 9 February 2011
Click here for fixtures  
By James Marshall

England C Manager Paul Fairclough has named a 16-man squad for the side’s International Challenge Trophy Semi-Final against Belgium early next month.

The squad includes three Luton Town players, plus new caps for Joe Day and Jamie Day of  Rushden & Diamonds, Robert Atkinson of Grimsby Town plus Michael Wylde of Tamworth and Robbie Willmott of Cambridge United.

Liam Brownhill of Droylsden has also been recalled to the side and is the only player from the Conference North.

The sides were drawn together in November and it will be a chance for Paul Fairclough's men to avenge their 1-0 defeat against the same opposition in the ICT Final in Oxford in May 2009.

“Belgium are a very technical side, they will play good football, there won’t be any long ball tactics and they encourage all their players to pass the ball,” said Fairclough.

“I went to see them against Italy and they have a lot of capable players, so the standard will be high.”

Should England make it past Belgium, they will be boosted by home advantage in the Final, where they will meet the winners of the other semi-final between Italy and Portugal.

Fairclough is delighted to see players from the Conference and below, gaining international experience and added: “It’s great for our players who play non-League football as it gives them experience of a high technical game. It also exposes them to different styles which they can take back to their clubs.” 

Admission will be £5 for adults with concessions at £1. For more information call Luton Town’s ticket office on 01582 416976.

Full squad

Seb Brown

AFC Wimbledon

Joe Day

Rushden & Diamonds

Sam Hatton

AFC Wimbledon

Michael Wylde

Tamworth

Kyle McFadzean

Crawley Town

Jamie Day

Rushden & Diamonds

Robert Atkinson

Grimsby Town

Liam Brownhill

Droylsden

Josh Simpson

Crawley Town

Max Porter

Rushden & Diamonds

Amari Morgan-Smith

Luton Town

Steven Gregory

AFC Wimbledon

Jake Howells

Luton Town

Matthew Barnes Homer

Luton Town

Alex Rodman

Tamworth

Robbie Willmott

Cambridge United