England U16s aim for happy homecoming at Huish Park

Steve Cooper’s Young Lions host the Scots at Yeovil’s Huish Park in their final Victory Shield game of the season.

And the head coach is hoping his squad can enjoy the experience of their first home match under his stewardship following a win and a draw in the competition so far.

"The players were really looking forward to meeting up for this game and relationships have already started to form which is great," revealed Cooper, who took over as U16s boss last month.

"Development is about individual talent but it is also about playing in a team. To do that we need to make sure the players bond – and they certainly are.

"It was a real honour for me when I was appointed as the U16s head coach in October and I am really excited about taking this team to Yeovil. 

"It will be my first home game in charge so of course it will be a proud moment for me and the rest of the staff, but it will be far more special for the players and rightly so."

A win for England would give them a chance of lifting the Shield again, depending on the result of the match between Northern Ireland and Wales which takes place earlier in the evening, but Cooper admits that winning the competition is far from important at this stage.

With the squad just taking their first steps on the international ladder, it’s all about the experience at this stage and a taste of what could lie ahead in the future.

And after two trips away to Bangor and Dungannon in their opening games, the former Liverpool Academy coach is hoping to see a large crowd in Yeovil supporting his team.

"The last time an England team came to Yeovil there was a big crowd so it would be great if we could get just as many, or possibly even more for our game," he added.

"It would make for a great atmosphere and it would give the players the experience of playing in front of a sizeable crowd, something they won’t be that familiar with yet. 

"It will also give them a flavour of what it might be like for them in the future if they keep progressing, both with England and their clubs. 

"Hopefully we can treat the fans to some good football and show them what England teams are about at the moment."

Tickets are priced £3 for adults, £1 concessions and can be purchased by calling 01935 847888 or e-mailing ticketoffice@ytfc.net