Next fixture: Guernsey 23rd and 24th April

Next week sees a squad of 15 players travel to Guernsey to play against the National side in preparation for their game against Jersey. This will give us another chance to see some of the players who did not get on the pitch at BUGs. We are very grateful to the Guernsey FA who have virtually paid for the trip across for us.

British University Games 2008 – England are Champions

After four days away at Edinburgh University and Heriot Watt University the England Men's Football squad came away Champions of the 2008 Tournament. The four days was a hugely different experience for most of the players having not been in a tournament environment before this. Their attention to detail both on and off the pitch was crucial in seeing us through two difficult games.

The first game was against Wales who put up a stubborn defensive display to earn a 0-0 draw in a game that the lads did not fulfil their potential. With Scotland having beaten Wales in the first game we knew that we had to beat them to win the tournament. In a very pleasing first half performance we dominated play but just could not apply the finish. The second half was muct the same, it took a pass from Bradley Pritchard to find Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton) to win the game for England 1-0.

English Universities v Guernsey FA

On Wednesday a squad of 15 travelled to Guernsey to play their FA XI at St Martins FC. The trip was funded by the Guernsey FA and was a chance for us to take away another group of players after the results in Edinburgh. Roy Sandeman from Leeds Uni was captain for the trip as Marc Richards was unavailable and Liam Hopkins was not selected.

After arriving in the morning we held a light training session and then went to check in to the hotel. The players were then given free time until we met for our pre match meal in the afternoon. The game was a learning curve for everybody. The first half the players did not fulfil their potential and went in 2-0 down against a purposeful Guernsey side. With some reorganising the second was very pleasing as the players reacted in the correct way and Andy Brown scored twice to bring the final score 2-2. The England side did enough to win the game in the end but just did not take enough chances created to make it happen.

Man of the Match - Liam Green (Loughborough)

British University Games preparation day

Yesterday the squad players for the up coming England trips to British University Games and Guernsey met up at Loughborough for a preparation day.

This was the last chance for the players to get together and fine tune preparations for the up coming trips. The players were yet again a credit to their institutions and applied themselves through a tough scheduled day which included fitness testing with Dawn Scott, the Football Association's Exercise Scientist who is travelling with the team next week.

British University Games

The squad depart today to compete in the British University Games at Heriot Watt. The players will play against Wales and Scotland on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. England have named Roy Sandeman of Leeds University and Liam Hopkins of Loughborough as Vice Captains to Marc Richards of UWE Hartpury.

England Universities student signs professional forms with Port Vale

University of Worcester student and England Universities player Rob Taylor has just signed a two year professional contract with Part Vale. This is great news for the Rob and the programme. We would all like to wish him well and every success for the future.