Friday Freebie: England C still has a place to shine

Talent in the spotlight as non-league Three Lions return

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How many of you out there reading know that non-league have their own England team? I guess a fair few of you are nodding your head to say yes but a few of you not in the knowledge of.

It’s actually been around since 1979, giving players at the top of the non-league game a chance to pull on the shirt of their country, something many upon retirement age can say they were never close.

The team has been managed by Paul Fairclough, of Stevenage and Barnet fame, since 2003 and has seen off attempts in the past few years to have the side dissolved, the FA citing increasing costs for what they see as little return compared to the full England side.

It has been a showcase for many players over the years as a stepping stone into the EFL and beyond, the cream of the talent on show for an evening or two.

Back in the early 2000’s the side competed in the Four Nations Tournament with Scotland, Rep of Ireland and Wales, winning the title on no less than four occasions.

More recently it’s had more of a European flavour with the likes of Estonia, Slovakia, Ukraine and Cyprus to name a few at various age levels but no higher than Under 23’s.

However, when football stopped along with the world in 2020 it’s taken time to reignite some form of organised football for the side. A week on Tuesday Fairclough’s England will take on Wales C for the third year in a row amidst a congested domestic fixture list than is no doubt causing a lack of games to be played.

With the game falling at a crucial time of the season once again only one player per club has been selected as per last year in order to not decimate any particular club and to avoid a raft of injuries for the same reason, the likelihood then of managers not wanting to release their players.

The criteria for selection has also changed and it has drawn some criticism in areas of the game. Not so long ago Fairclough used an Under 23 age limit, picking only the best young talent within clubs and not limiting to just Step 1 and 2.

However, this squad and the two previous have had no age limit attached to them and it has made some people question why those of an upper age are getting the chance to gain an England cap.

If there was no stipulation on how many players you can select per club then it becomes a little easier to put a squad together. Don’t get me wrong I don’t see any issue with it, it rewards those in form and actually more than likely gives Fairclough a headache on the best way to fill the spots in the 23 man selection.

Alternatively you could argue it gives him a bigger headache if they used an age limit of Under 23 again and there isn’t a right back for example under 23 in the 24 team division, highly unlikely I know but you see what I’m getting at.

Hopefully, a future remains for this England side, in the past it was a great source of talent for the EFL to watch in one foul swoop and off the back of it a fair few made their way up the ladder on the back of good club performances backed up by international appearances.

Timing of fixtures is all so important and maybe there should be some thought given to maybe slotting games into the quieter months of the season and maybe being able to add one or two more in and playing them around the country as they were in the past.

No doubt there will be some great stories that those players will bring back to their clubs after playing and some it might inspire more over the coming weeks in some crucial club games to come.

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Is there still a space in the game for the England non-league side and where does it fit if so?

Let me know in the comments below.