Aidy Boothroyd says he is “excited and proud” to be working alongside the country's most promising youngsters as they ready themselves for a career in the game.
The former Watford, Coventry City and Northampton Town boss joined The FA as England U20s head coach in February – and assisted Noel Blake with the U19s for the remainder of the 2013-14 campaign.
Now that group has graduated to U20 level and many are with Boothroyd at St. George's Park, preparing to take on Romania in their first game of the new season on Friday.
England v Romania
U20 international match
7.30pm, Friday 5 September 2014
New Bucks Head Stadium, AFC Telford United
Call 01952 640064 for tickets
“I am both excited and proud to be working for my country in such an important age group,” said Boothroyd.
“I see my job as bridging the gap between development and professional football.
The U20s were denied the opportunity to qualify for the 2015 U20 World Cup after a last-minute own-goal in the final Elite Round qualification game cost them a place at the U19 European Championship, a tournament that doubles up as the U20 World Cup qualification competition.
But despite the disappointment, Boothroyd is upbeat and energetic about the task in hand.
“We have a programme in place to add to the player’s club experience and to have an international schedule against top opposition so that they can challenge themselves against the very best of their age group from Europe and around the world,” he added.
“Our U20 team is part of a system from U16 to U21 and I have been fortunate to witness over the last six months the ambition and dedication of our national coaches.
“These are great experiences for individual players, from which mean both club and country will benefit.
“The Romania match is the beginning of a full programme of international fixtures for this group, finishing with the Toulon Tournament in May.
“Romania will be well organised, strong and we will have to break them down”
Aidy Boothroyd England U20 head coach
“The aim of any federation must be to produce players for its senior team and the manager."
And on Friday’s opponents in Telford, Boothroyd says his side will be in for a stern test against a nation with a rich footballing pedigree.
“Romania have a strong history of producing senior international players from their youth teams,” he continued.
“The game will be a good challenge for our current U20 England team.
"They will be well organised, strong and it will be up to our boys to break them down."
England U20 squad to face Romania
Goalkeepers: Christy Pym (Exeter City), Christian Walton (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Defenders: Dominic Ball (Tottenham Hotspur), Shay Facey (Manchester City), Lloyd Jones (Liverpool), Fankaty Dabo (Chelsea), Isaac Hayden (Arsenal), Matt Targett (Southampton)
Midfielders: Paul Digby (Barnsley), Lewis Baker (Chelsea), Ben Pearson (Manchester United)*, John Swift (Rotherham, on loan from Chelsea), Harrison Reed (Southampton), Matty Grimes (Exeter City).
Forwards: Josh Murphy (Norwich City), Callum Robinson (Aston Villa), Jordon Ibe (Liverpool), Rolando Aarons (Newcastle United), Chuba Akpom (Arsenal), Chris Long (Everton), Kwame Thomas (Derby County), Josh Harrop (Manchester United)^.
* Replaces Diego Poyet (West Ham United),
** Replaces James Wilson (Manchester United)
^ Replaces Adam Campbell (Newcastle United)
Tickets for the game cost £3 and £1.50 and can be purchased at the ticket office at the New Bucks Head Stadium, by calling 01952 640064 or clicking here.
And if you're a booking for a group or from a Charter Standard club or league, you can get tickets for even less!
Click here for group booking form.
Click here for Charter Standard booking form.
