Redman called up to help England C side at UEFA Regions Cup
CHELTENHAM Town’s James Redman flew out to Rome on Wednesday ready to represent his country.
The Robins’ first team sports therapist will be working with the England C team for three UEFA Regions’ Cup matches over the course of the next week.
Manager Paul Fairclough’s side are playing Germany, Italy and North Macedonia in a bid to qualify from the intermediate round into next summer’s finals, with only the group winners progressing.
The England C representative team was set up in the late 1970s with the aim of offering players in non-league the opportunity to play for their country at international level.
The England team for this series of group games is from Jersey, who defeated West Cheshire in the final of a tournament to decide which region would be supplying players.
The German side is from Bavaria, while the host team will be made up of players from the Lazio region.
University of Gloucestershire graduate Redman, who has just started his fifth season as a full-time member of staff with the Robins, is looking forward to the experience.
“I travelled to Copenhagen during a placement in American football during my time as a student, but this will be my first overseas trip as a graduate,” he said.
“I will be leading this one and fully responsible for the athletes, and it’s nice to represent your country so I am really looking forward to it.
“It’ll be a good trip for everyone and hopefully we can get through the intermediate round group and qualify for next summer.”
The matches are on Thursday, Sunday and next Wednesday, so Redman will miss Cheltenham’s home matches against Shrewsbury Town and Bolton Wanderers.
“I will be trying to represent Cheltenham Town in the best way I can, implementing some of the things we do here,” Redman, who hails from Cornwall, said.
“I came in as a student for a year under Gav (Crowe, head of medical) and he’s guided me all the way through and I am still learning from him every day.
“The club has changed so much in my time here and we are in a really good position so I am pleased to be a part of it.”