England C
England’s successful team
Adilapidated stadium tucked away in Jordan’s capital city Amman isn’t necessarily where you’d expect to find 16 young English footballers on a Monday afternoon in March.
Meet England C – the trailblazing Three Lions.
Paul Fairclough’s side are one of, if not the, most successful national team this country can boast.
Made up of Non-League’s finest Under-23s they were the first English side to visit the Arab Kingdom for a friendly with Jordan’s Olympic side.
Jez George director of football at Conference Premier club Cambridge United branded it,“the most irrelevant team in the history of football playing the most irrelevant game in the history of football”.
In an inevitable twist of football fate, it was United’s midfielder Luke Berry who scored the decisive goal in the 1-0 win.
Whether the Football League chasing U’s actually believe their somewhat harsh statement is another matter.
After all they’ve had their fair share of players capped in the team over the years. But, whatever a club’s agenda, it can be argued England C do more good on and off the pitch than most.
Back at the Petra Stadium earlier this month, the day before playing Jordan, a group of Jordanian and Syrian refugees were the visitors.
The squad split into groups to coach the kids in a mini-tournament before they signed autographs and handed out mementoes.When they travelled to Bermuda last summer there was a chance to visit some schools. They descended into chaos with the children mobbing the bemused players for autographs.
Never underestimate the power of the England badge.While children may have heard of the Wayne Rooneys and Steven Gerrards of this world rather than the Andre Grays and James Norwoods, they are still star struck.
“These children have been through so much pain and agony,” Fairclough said in Jordan. “This is something they will never forget. They’ve probably smiled more today than they have in the last few years – it’s a wonderful thing.”
The impact the event, organised by request of the British Embassy along with UNICEF, had on the players was clear to see too. As was the whole trip.
Jordan probably isn’t at the top of many of their holiday wish-lists. The pool parties of Ibiza are more of a pull for young lads these days.
On the drive to the King Abdullah Stadium instead of staring into the distance with their Dre Beats on their ears they looked out the window at an unfamiliar culture.
Fairclough is also big on self-improvement. When time allows experiencing the country is important – before flying home from Jordan there was time to visit the Dead Sea.
More generally, after the first evening meal of every trip each player stands up in front of their peers and talks about himself. Sounds simple, but for some it is a trip miles out of their comfort zone.
Another Fairclough favourite is to split the group into pairs. They then interview each other about life. Highest highs, lowest lows and where they see themselves ten years down the line.
The interviewer reports back to the rest of the team. Everything stays within the four walls of the room. From being released by their boyhood club to the death of a close friend, emotions are often raw.
Having been fortunate enough to sit in on these meetings, it is remarkable to see how a
shy 18-year-old, who seems to speak only with a ball at his feet, grows in the space of two days.
The football is important too. And they’ve got some good results. Of course the narrowminded, Premier League armchair fan thinks the Conference is full of talentless, overweight hoof merchants. The truth couldn’t be further from the stereotype.
England C play in a two-year tournament called the International Challenge Trophy. In it they’ve faced the likes of Portugal, Russia and Turkey who have boasted players with full international caps and Champions League experience.
Galatasaray midfielder Emre Colak was part of a technically gifted Turkish side. Many expected England to be on the end of a thrashing.
But Fairclough proves time and time again that English players can look after the ball, can understand high level tactical instructions and can go toe-to-toe with some of Europe’s most exciting talents, who play unfamilair systems and styles.
Turkey won 1-0 that day, but only thanks to a late goal when an injury meant England were temporarily down to ten men.
The proof is in the alumni. Since Fairclough took over in 2003, around 200 players have gone on to play in the Football League and higher – be it through promotion or by being signed.
George Boyd, now in the Premier League with Hull, played for the C team as did the likes of Steve Morison and Michael Kightly. “Their clubs do all the hard work but we’re like the final rubber stamp of approval,” says former Stevenage and Barnet manager Fairclough. For players who have had high hopes at top clubs in the country, England C is seen as a stepping stone to getting back to where they want to be.
Essentially told they aren’t good enough, these are the youngsters who refuse to go down without a fight.
Treated exactly like the senior team, everything is set-up to achieve.Without being strict, Fairclough demands his team represent their country perfectly.
No shorts are allowed at the dinner table, no one is allowed to get their food before all the team are present and no one can leave the table if one player is still eating.
You’d be hard pushed to know if a team meeting had been held in a room before you arrived. Chairs are put back exactly as they were found and all rubbish is taken away.
England C prefer to leave their mark in other ways.