AIDY SUPPORT IS PRO-ACTIVE
Non-League provides a platform
ENGLAND Under 21 boss Aidy Boothroyd is set to head into Non-League territory for Thursday night’s Euro 2019 qualifier against Andorra – but reckons he’ll soon be back scouring the scene on a Three Lions scouting mission.
Boothroyd’s boys will secure their place at next summer’s European Championships in Italy and San Marino if they can manage at least a point at Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium.
And it prompted the former Watford and Coventry City manager to state that Non-League football has a big part to play in the development of England’s top young stars.
“I am really looking forward to the game” Boothroyd told The
NLP. “They have got some brilliant facilities at Chesterfield and the pitch is always in good condition. It is great that such facilities exist at Non-League level and it serves to demonstrate how advanced clubs – and indeed players – in the National League have become.
“We have always had a good relationship with Chesterfield and the club did a really great job of hosting a number of matches during the European Under-17 Championships earlier in the year”.
Boothroyd believes his current team is one of England’s strongest youth sides to date and is hopeful of attracting a large number of fans to the Proact Stadium, with players such as Manchester City starlet Phil Foden in the squad. “Chester field have one of the biggest fan basses in Non-League so it would be really great if we can get as many people as possible to come out and take a look at the potential future stars of English football,” he added.
“We have got some really fabulous players coming through the ranks at the moment, many of whom are already playing first team football at their respective clubs so it is certainly an exciting time.
“It will be a tough game though because Andorra are a very well-organised side who are very difficult to break down. We played them away from home last year and we certainly didn’t have things all our own way.
Mechanism
“We will have to be at our best but hopefully we can put on a good show for the spectators and get a positive result.”
Boothroyd’s team is likely to include a number of players with Non-League experience with former Stockport County goalkeeper Dean Henderson and ex Stalybridge Celtic striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin both receiving call-ups.
Boothroyd, who has been part of the England set-up since 2014, is a big follower of Non-League football and believes that it plays a crucial role in the development of young players.
“The fact that we have such a high standard of Non-League football in this country is such an important asset,” he went on. “When I was at Watford we had a partnership with Gordon Bartlett at Wealdstone, where we would regularly send some of our young players there on loan deals. This was absolutely crucial for the players’ development because it was so important that they started playing senior football at a young age in proper competitions.
“The Non-League system also serves as a great mechanism to help develop players who may have fallen through the net in the professional game. It can often provide players with a second chance and allow them to work their way back up.
“A good recent example of this is Nick Pope who went from Non-League to the England squad in just a matter of years.
“All football fans should be aware of and proud of the great Non-League system that we have in this country”.