The Bermuda Football Association President Larry Mussenden announced the Bermuda National team will face England C at the National Sports Center on June 4th.
This match was made possible by the initiative of the England FA who contacted the BFA to indicate that their National “C” Team wanted to play against Bermuda. The BFA is very pleased because this would be the first time in recent memory that any national representative team from England would have played in against a Bermuda National team in Bermuda.
Acknowledging this opportunity, the English Football Association says that the current England C team, made up of elite players, the vast majority of which are full-time professional players will travel to the Caribbean region for a second time. The first occasion included fixtures against Grenada resulting in a 1-1 draw followed by a 2-0 victory in Barbados in what was an exhilarating game.
The England C team is a platform for young players in England who are trying to break through into the professional world of football. In the last ten years more than 150 players have used the England C team as a vehicle to fulfill their ambition of making it into the Football League. Indeed many of those young players have gone on to play in the Premiership and also gain Full International Caps.
Similarly, this opportunity will also provide the Bermuda National team players another platform by which they can measure themselves against the elite players from a football powerhouse. This match will also provide a true barometer of where their skills and talents are at present and where it needs to be if they have any aspirations of playing at a higher level. This opportunity also keeps the BFA connected to one its partners in the global game of football which we plan on utilizing to explore other opportunities for Bermuda football.
The England team consists of players who are all very eager to be selected for the next International Challenge Trophy that is staged every two years in Europe. Other European nations are fielding extremely strong teams in this competition with a considerable number of the opposition players having had full International caps and Champions League experience for their home clubs. Consequently, this group of players is exposed to very high standards of football. It is safe to say this match versus Bermuda will be very significant to them as it will be for our players.
The Bermuda FA and the England FA both hope that the visit of the England C team will assist in motivating and inspiring our young players on the Island and they look forward to the opportunity to assist in the development of football on our Island.
TEAM MANAGER PAUL FAIRCLOUGH
Paul Fairclough is the current manager of the England C National football team. He has been in charge for ten years and in excess of fifty games. He is also the Director of Football at England League Two club Barnet, having previously been manager of the club and steering them back into the Football League. Paul is a fully qualified advanced level coach. He has worked in many locations throughout the world including South America and Africa.
Throughout his managerial career Paul has won five Championships and been in notable FA Cup games against Newcastle United and Manchester United. At one stage in his career he was the third longest serving manager in England behind Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.
