Unique chance for England Colleges players to take on Europe’s best in international tournament
England Colleges players will have the unique opportunity to take on national youth teams from across Europe in an annual football tournament in Rome next week.
The women’s squad will once again play in the Il Calcio E Rosa tournament after competing for the first time last year and winning the tournament. Meanwhile the men will compete in the Roma Caput Mundi tournament.
Both sets of players and staff are flying out to Italy on Sunday to compete in the five-day international tournament. Three group game matches will be played ahead of a potential final next Friday.
On the rest day, Wednesday, 19 February, the squads will go to the Italian National Olympic Committee Hall of Honour, in order to participate in the welcome ceremony in the presence of national sports authorities and diplomats.
After that there will be a visit to the historic Olympic Stadium followed by free time around Rome.
Alice Kempski, AoC Sport National Football Development Manager, said: “The tournaments in Rome are fantastic development opportunities for our players and staff in the England College national team programmes.
“We were delighted to receive an invitation for our women’s team to join the tournament again after participating in it for the first time last year, and we are looking forward to seeing if we can retain the trophy against new international opposition who will be participating in the tournament for the first time this year.
“For our teams to have the opportunity to compete with national youth teams from across Europe is really special. We are really proud of the programme and this is all possible because of our volunteer staff who provide a really unique and high-quality experience for players to develop themselves as players and as people.
“I would therefore like to extend my personal thanks to our excellent England Colleges staff team and our partners Future Elite Sport, Catapult, and UCFB who make this programme possible. I wish the players the best of luck for the tournament and beyond!”
Team’s competing in the women’s tournament include Abruzzo, Grifone Gialloverde, Moldova, Bolzano, Kosovo, C.R. Lazio and Wales Colleges (Welsh Colleges FA)
Men's Squad
College Name
Barton Peveril College Augustine Banhire
Berkshire College of Agriculture Fred Chapman
Berkshire College of Agriculture Taro Chitepo
Bishop Burton College Kieron Walker
Boreham Wood Luke Brophy
Bridgwater & Taunton College Callum Watts
Chichester College Dylan Jelley
Exeter College Charlie Miller
Exeter College Matt Wood
Merrist Wood College Harry Cawdron
Myerscough College Jake Connelly
SGS College Danny Constable
SGS College Harry Graham Simons
South Devon College JJ Evans
South Devon College Owen Price
Sudbury Sports FC Fred King
Torquay Academy Joshua Parry
Weston College Ryan Jones
Wyke 6th Form College Josh Dennett
Women's Squad
College Name
Barking Abbey School Sanaa Williams
Barking Abbey School Evie Anderson
Chichester College Nicole Robinson
EDSV Academy Hope Smith
Exeter College Georgie Barbour-Gresham
Gateshead College Eve Blakey
Gateshead College Sharna Wilkinson
Hartpury College Sarah King
Hartpury College Jess Hood
Highbury College Mia Adaway
Huddersfield New College Macy Fay Ellis
Newcastle Stafford College Jenny Hesketh
Newcastle Stafford College Caitlin Chapman
Oaklands College Alex Fuggle
Oaklands College Hannah Coote
SGS College Maisy Collis
SGS College Abbey Hateley
Tyne Metropolitan College Meg Farrell
Tyne Metropolitan College Grace Ayre
Woking College Katie Godden
English Colleges Women’s Team fixtures:
- Monday, 17 February : ECFA vs Grifone Gialloverde
- Tuesday, 18 February : Abruzzo vs ECFA
- Thursday, 20 February : Moldova vs ECFA
- The final match of the tournament will be played on Friday, 21 February.
The team’s competing in the men’s tournament are: Italian National Amateur League (Italy/LND), Moldova, Wales Colleges (Welsh Colleges FA), Frosinone Calcio, Greece (EPS Pellas), Kosovo and C.R. Lazio
English Colleges Men’s Team fixtures:
- Monday, 17 February: Italy/LND vs ECFA
- Tuesday, 18 February: Moldova vs ECFA
- Thursday, 20 February: England vs Wales Colleges
- The final match of the tournament will be played Friday, 21 February
**For updates on the team and for all ECFA news, please follow @ECFA12 on Twitter**
For more information on the England Colleges programme click here.