Jack Butland has urged the England Women’s U17 squad to embrace every opportunity at the European Championship.
The Under-21 goalkeeper was between the sticks as the Men’s U17 side won the Euros in Liechtenstein in 2010.
That side also contained Ross Barkley, Saido Berahino, Connor Wickham and Andre Wisdom, players who have all gone on to earn first-team recognition with their clubs and represent their country at a higher level.
England v Spain
UEFA Women's U17 Championship
Semi-final
7pm, Thursday 5 December 2013
Burton Albion FC
Tickets priced £3 adults, £1.50 children
And ahead of the Women's U17s' Euro semi-final against Spain in Burton, the Stoke City stopper, currently on loan at Barnsley, has advised Lois Fidler’s young charges to make the most of this home tournament.
He said: "I’d tell them to enjoy the whole experience, to not let it pass them by and to take as much out of it as they can.
"They might not get another chance to appear in a Euro Finals so they need to make the most of every opportunity - it could prove to be as big a step for them as it was for most of us.
"Hopefully it will be an experience they can look back on with fond memories in a few years."
Butland, who will be in attendance at the semi-final on Thursday, started the 2010 Euros on the bench, with Manchester United’s Sam Johnstone handed the No.1 jersey for the opening two group games against Czech Republic and Greece.
But the 20-year-old got an opportunity in the final group match against Turkey and he impressed Head Coach John Peacock enough in that 2-1 win to keep his place for the semi-final and the final – where England came from behind to beat Spain and lift the title for the first time.
“The chance to win something with your country is hugely important and I’d like to think the 2010 Euros did a lot for us all.”
Jack Butland
He has gone on to earn 18 caps at Under-21 level, play in an U20 World Cup and made his senior team debut against Italy in August last year.
And he credits those two weeks in Liechtenstein as a big part of his development.
Butland added: "It was a great experience to play against some of the best young players in Europe.
"For most of the lads I’m sure it is one of their best moments in football – it’s certainly up there for me as one of my favourites.
"I’m really glad to have been a part of it and an experience like that is something you will always hold on to.
"I didn’t start the tournament as the No.1 but I started the last three games and that did a lot for my confidence in terms of my development and helping me kick on in the other age groups.
"But no matter what age group you play at, the chance to win something with your country is hugely important and I’d like to think those Euros did a lot for us all."
