North trio earn the top marks at England trials
THREE North East youngsters are set for dream outings with England’s under-18 schoolboy squad this spring.
Following a final weekend of England Schools Football Association -organised trials, Northumberland’s Jack Butler and Durham duo Fraser Colling and Cieran Jackson have made the squad to represent England in the upcoming Centenary Shield tournament.
Striker Butler, defender Colling and forward Jackson will be in contention to face the Republic of Ireland in England’s opener at Luton Town on March 16.
That will be followed by games against Scotland (March 23 at York City), Wales (March 29 in Cardiff) and Northern Ireland (April 6, probably in Belfast).
Last weekend, 32 hopefuls took park in the final trials at Lilleshall National Sport Centre - playing matches against the RAF and Royal Navy - the number then whittled down to 18 for national selection.
The England squad will head back to Lilleshall towards the end of January to collect their kit and begin training ahead of the Centenary Shield fixtures.
The ESFA’s girls’ under-15s’ final trials will be staged in Stafford tomorrow, having being called off last month due to the wintry weather.