Last updated: 08/02/08
English Universities football squad announced

A two day training camp held at Warwick University on January 6-7 was the final part of a four-month programme which saw 36 of the most talented university footballers compete for 28 places in this years English Universities squad.

The players now have the opportunity to play in The World University Games in Belgrade in July 2009 and will also compete in friendlies against Premiership and Championship opposition in the shape of Reading and Colchester.

Remarkably there were no Team Bath players included in the squad, despite competing at a high level in the football pyramid and making it through to the national final last year against UWE Hartpury. Richard Howell, VP Sport at Bath, stated that due to a busy schedule not all of the players were able to make the trials and he explained, “The priorities for the University and the players are promotion from the Southern League and winning as many BUSA points as possible, now that the FA Cup run has come to an end”.

Hartpury on the other hand asserted their status as the best university football team in the land following last year’s BUSA national title with the inclusion of seven players in the 28 man squad.

Johnny McCloughlin, the Leeds Met student goalkeeper who played for Harrogate Railway in their great FA Cup run, now playing for Harrogate Town in the Blue Square North said “The two days were great to work with three other high quality goalkeepers and Mark Phillips. It is an honour to be selected for the squad.” The squad will benefit from this experience and have the opportunity to learn from different players and coaches in Higher Education which will make them a stronger player for their University and club.

English universities football squad; Jordan Yorath (Northumbria), Simon Lynn (Birmingham), Johnny McCloughlin ; Rob Taylor (Worcester), Chibuzor Chilaka (Hull), Liam Green (Loughborough), Paul Casey (UWE Hartpury), Liam Hopkins (Loughborough), Luke Wildman (Leeds Met), Matt Shaxton (UWE Hartpury), Russell Courtney (UWE Hartpury), Andy Russell (Manchester), Andrew Battersby (Leeds), Lee Molyneaux (UWE Hartpury), Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton), Jon Scarborough (Canterbury) ; Chris Knowles (Bournemouth), Roy Sanderman (Leeds), Ashley Allanson (Hull), Bradley Pritchard (Loughborough), Mark Noon (Loughborough), Marc Richards (UWE Hartpury) ; Bruce Hogg (Northumbria), Michael Symons (UWE Hartpury), Andy Rushbury (Notts Trent), Andy Brown (Loughborough), Alex Rodman (Notts Trent), Will Morford (UWE Hartpury).

by George Kotschy