Members of the England Supporters Travel Club were treated to an evening with Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate on Tuesday.
Southgate took time out from his World Cup planning schedule to speak to over 70 of his side’s most loyal supporters at the Banks’s Stadium, home of Walsall FC.
And the England manager is hoping World Cup fever arrives early in the West Midlands – so that the region’s fans get behind a Young Lions side competing at a major tournament on their very doorstep.
Just 40 days before Russia 2018 gets underway, England will begin hosting the UEFA European Under-17 Championship for the first time, from May 4-20.
The Banks’s Stadium is one of six tournament venues and will stage England’s eye-catching Group A showdown with Italy on Bank Holiday Monday 7 May, with ESTC members being given free tickets to all U17 Euro games.
“I know just how passionate the fans in this region are about their football and I really hope they turn out in numbers at Walsall to support England against Italy,” said Southgate, who knows the region well having spent six years with Aston Villa in his playing days.
“It’s a rare occurrence to play in a tournament at home, so it will be a real honour for our U17s. I’ve been to the Banks’s Stadium many times to watch our development teams in action and it’s a great venue for the Italy match.”
Although his primary focus over the next two months will be preparing his team for June’s extravaganza, he is taking a keen interest in how Steve Cooper’s U17s progress on home soil.
And Southgate is urging the passionate Midlands fanbase he knows well from his playing days to come out in force for the Young Lions.
“I had six very happy years at Villa Park so it’s great to be spending some time back in the area,” he added.
“Last October we had three million people watching our U17s win the World Cup in India and there’s a real excitement about the players we’ve got coming through.
“These tournaments are part of the pathway for us getting players ready for the senior team, and U17 Euro has been the starting point for so many world class players down the years.
“Supporters will be watching the stars of tomorrow playing today.”
England, runners-up in last year’s U17 Euro, face an Italy side that reached the finals as one of seven best runners-up. The Young Lions get the tournament underway against Israel at Chesterfield on 4 May before completing their Group A fixtures against Switzerland at Rotherham on May 10. The other host venues are St.George’s Park, Burton Albion and Loughborough University.
Tickets for all of England’s games are priced at just £5 adults and £2.50 concessions and on sale now
The Banks’s Stadium is also hosting Portugal’s Group B meeting with Norway on 4 May (1pm), Germany’s Group D dates with Netherlands on 5 May (3pm) and Spain on 11 May (7pm), plus a quarter-final on 14 May (1pm). For non-England group matches, tickets are only £4 adults and £2 concessions.
Do you fancy an invite to future England Supporters Club forums such as this? Find out more about the benefits and sign up now.
See the stars of tomorrow in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship as England take on Italy at Walsall FC on 7 May, KO 3pm. Visit for tickets and further information.
