England women's national under-21 football team

The England women's national under-21 football team, also known as England women Under-21s or England women U21(s), is a youth association football team operated under the auspices of The Football Association. Its primary role is the development of players in preparation for the senior England women's national football team.

England Women's U-21
Nickname(s)The Young Lionesses
AssociationThe Football Association
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachMo Marley
FIFA codeENG
First colours
Second colours
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Appearances5 (first in 2002)
Best resultThird place, 2018

It was reinstated as an age group in 2018. Under the new system the team will help develop players after each U-20 World Cup. They will take part in the Nordic Cup previously contested by the now defunct U23s, and in non-World Cup years (bi-annually) will provide a World Cup-type programme to keep the flow and consistency of preparation for England seniors.[1]

History

Beginnings

In February 1987 the Women's Football Association (WFA) appointed Liz Deighan to run a women's national under-21 team. Deighan had been a star midfielder in the England team which reached the 1984 European Competition for Women's Football. Four years later Deighan was not re–appointed and John Bilton took over. The team folded shortly afterwards because the WFA had run out of money. Eight of England's squad at the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup had come through Deighan's U-21 team, including Pauline Cope, Karen Burke and Louise Waller.[2]

FA sanctioned team

In summer 2004, The Football Association (FA) decided to reconstitute the U-21 team in order to give women a higher level of play to better prepare them for the full national team. Senior team manager Hope Powell held a four-day camp in Shropshire and announced: "This is a major step forward for our international teams and will bridge the gap between Under-19 and Senior levels. We have been observing players in this age bracket for the last six months and with the clubs' assistance I believe we can make this a real success."[3] Powell installed her full-time assistant with the senior team, Brent Hills, as coach of the team, which remained an U-21 selection from 2004 through 2008.

Competing as an U-23 team

2008 saw the change of England's youth national women's team moved to the U-23 level. The move was made by the FA in response to age-level changes FIFA had made to its oldest women's youth competition, now named FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. The age limit was raised from being a U-19 tournament to a U-20 tournament. This adjustment, coupled with a newly introduced U-23 age limit to the Nordic Cup, prompted the FA to rethink and eventually change the youth development team.

Return of U-21 team

Following a review in September 2018, the FA announced the amalgamation of the U23s and U20s squads to reform an Under-21s age group, which would become the top tier of the nation's new professional development phase.[4] The move would align England's structure to that used in other European countries to allow for more age-appropriate games and better manage individual player development post-U20 World Cup for those who have genuine senior team potential. The FA's head of women's development Kay Cossington and senior team manager Phil Neville stressed the move as an important part of the wider, long-term plan prior to the following summer's World Cup. The then U20s manager Mo Marley was announced as the team's first head coach.

Eligibility

Although most national football teams represent a sovereign state, as a member of the United Kingdom's Home Nations, England is permitted by FIFA statutes to maintain its own national side that competes in all major tournaments.

Every player must meet FIFA eligibility rules. However, as long as they are eligible, players can play for England at any level, making it possible to play for the U21s, the senior side, and then again for the U21s provided they also meet the age restrictions. It is also possible to play for one country at youth level and another at senior level.

Current players

The following 19 players were named to the squad for a double-header of friendlies against  France in March 2020.[5]
Head coach: Rehanne Skinner

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1GK Charlotte Clarke (2000-08-21) 21 August 2000 Stoke City
1GK Emily Ramsey (2000-11-16) 16 November 2000 Sheffield United (on loan from Manchester United)
2DF Niamh Cashin (2000-02-24) 24 February 2000 Rider Broncs
2DF Megan Finnigan (1998-04-02) 2 April 1998 Everton
2DF Taylor Hinds (1999-09-25) 25 September 1999 Everton
2DF Esme Morgan (2000-10-18) 18 October 2000 Everton (on loan from Manchester City)
2DF Mayumi Pacheco (1998-08-25) 25 August 1998 Reading
2DF Poppy Pattinson (2000-04-30) 30 April 2000 Bristol City
2DF Lotte Wubben-Moy (1999-01-11) 11 January 1999 North Carolina Tar Heels
3MF Amelia Hazard (2000-10-22) 22 October 2000 London Bees
3MF Aimee Palmer (2000-07-25) 25 July 2000 Manchester United
3MF Chloe Peplow (1998-12-03) 3 December 1998 Tottenham Hotspur
3MF Connie Scofield (1999-05-26) 26 May 1999 Birmingham City
3MF Emily Syme (2000-07-23) 23 July 2000 Aston Villa
3MF Ella Toone (1999-09-02) 2 September 1999 Manchester United
4FW Angela Addison (1999-12-09) 9 December 1999 Tottenham Hotspur
4FW Hannah Cain (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 Everton
4FW Niamh Charles (1999-06-21) 21 June 1999 Liverpool
4FW Rianna Dean (1998-10-21) 21 October 1998 Tottenham Hotspur

Recent callups

The following players have also been called up to the England under-21 squad within the last twelve months.

This list may be incomplete.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Sophie Baggaley (1996-11-29) 29 November 1996 - - Bristol City Nordic Tournament, October 2019
GK Hannah Hampton (2000-11-16) 16 November 2000 - - Birmingham City Nordic Tournament, October 2019
GK Sian Rogers (1998-06-28) 28 June 1998 - - Aston Villa
DF Anna Patten (1999-04-20) 20 April 1999 - - South Carolina Gamecocks v.  France, March 2020
DF Georgia Eaton-Collins (2000-06-09) 9 June 2000 - - Florida Gators Nordic Tournament, October 2019
DF Gabby George (1997-02-02) 2 February 1997 - - Everton Nordic Tournament, October 2019
DF Jess Carter (1997-10-27) 27 October 1997 - - Chelsea U23 Nordic Tournament, May 2019
DF Grace Fisk (1998-01-05) 5 January 1998 - - West Ham United U23 Nordic Tournament, May 2019
DF Lucy Parker (1998-11-18) 18 November 1998 - - LSU Tigers U23 Nordic Tournament, May 2019
DF Millie Turner (1996-07-07) 7 July 1996 - - Manchester United U23 Nordic Tournament, May 2019
DF Ellie Fletcher (1999-09-16) 16 September 1999 - - Sheffield United
DF Ali Johnson (1998-12-24) 24 December 1998 - - Sheffield United
DF Samantha Tierney (1998-10-08) 8 October 1998 - - Sheffield United
MF Amy Rodgers (2000-05-04) 4 May 2000 - - Liverpool v.  France, March 2020
MF Georgia Allen (1998-06-16) 16 June 1998 - - Syracuse Orange Nordic Tournament, October 2019
MF Bex Rayner (1999-11-07) 7 November 1999 - - Sheffield United U23 Nordic Tournament, May 2019
MF Mollie Rouse (1998-11-27) 27 November 1998 - - Louisville Cardinals U23 Nordic Tournament, May 2019
MF Charlie Devlin (1998-02-23) 23 February 1998 - - Leicester City
MF Shania Hayles (1999-12-22) 22 December 1999 - - Birmingham City
MF Amy Rodgers (2000-05-04) 4 May 2000 - - Liverpool
FW Charlie Wellings (1998-05-18) 18 May 1998 - - Bristol City v.  France, March 2020
FW Rinsola Babajide (1998-06-17) 17 June 1998 - - Liverpool Nordic Tournament, October 2019
FW Ellie Brazil (1999-01-10) 10 January 1999 - - Brighton & Hove Albion Nordic Tournament, October 2019
FW Lauren Hemp (2000-08-07) 7 August 2000 - - Manchester City Nordic Tournament, October 2019
FW Alessia Russo (1999-02-08) 8 February 1999 - - North Carolina Tar Heels Nordic Tournament, October 2019
FW Chloe Kelly (1998-01-15) 15 January 1998 - - Everton

Recent schedule and results

2019
5 April 2019 La Manga U23 TournamentEngland 2–1 FranceMurcia, Spain
3pm
  • Gago  45+1'
 Stadium: La Manga Club Ground
7 April 2019 La Manga U23 TournamentEngland 2–3 NorwayMurcia, Spain
3pm
Report
  • Hasund  5', 85'
  • Abrahamsen  13'
 Stadium: La Manga Club Ground
9 April 2019 La Manga U23 TournamentEngland 1–1 SwedenMurcia, Spain
12pm
Stadium: La Manga Club Ground
26 May 2019 U23 Open Nordic TournamentEngland 0–0 NorwayArvika, Sweden
Report Stadium: Solviksvallen
30 May 2019 U23 Open Nordic TournamentEngland 3–0 China PRSäffle, Sweden
 Stadium: Sporthälla Idrottsplats
1 June 2019 U23 Open Nordic TournamentEngland 4–1 NetherlandsSunne, Sweden
Stadium: Kolsvik
28 August 2019 Nordic TournamentEngland 0–5 SwedenLoughborough, England
13:00
Stadium: Loughborough University
30 August 2019 Nordic TournamentEngland 0–1 United StatesLoughborough, England
13:00 Dorsey Stadium: Loughborough University
2 September 2019 Nordic TournamentEngland 4–1 NorwayLoughborough, England
13:00
  • Naalsund
Stadium: Loughborough University

2020
5 March 2020 FriendlyEngland 1–0 FranceBurton, England
Dean  4' Report Stadium: St George's Park
8 March 2020 FriendlyEngland 2–0 FranceBurton, England
 Stadium: St George's Park
9 April 2020 La Manga U23 TournamentEngland v GermanyMurcia, Spain
Stadium: La Manga Club Ground
13 April 2020 La Manga U23 TournamentNetherlands v EnglandMurcia, Spain
Stadium: La Manga Club Ground


Coaches
gollark: 50 stars on a message saying "star to endorse [someone] as replacement owner" (precise wording TBD) could work, surely.
gollark: We could do that.
gollark: Star a message ors omething?
gollark: Brought to you by advanced heavpootsim™ technologololgy.
gollark: apioform! cease! ☭.

References
  1. Association, The Football. "England Women's national development team structure update". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  2. Lopez 1997, p. 68
  3. "Soccer: Heatherson looks for England place". Evening Echo. 16 June 2004. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  4. Association, The Football. "England Women's national development team structure update". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  5. Association, The Football. "England WU21s squad named to play double-header France at St. George's Park in March". www.thefa.com.

Bibliography
  • Lopez, Sue (1997). Women on the Ball: A Guide to Women's Football. London, England: Scarlet Press. ISBN 1857270169.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.