You can from time to time see players being listed with England C caps. England C is in real the national team of players being seen as amateurs or if you like non-league, though many of these players are far from amateurs. This national team is mostly playing friendlies against nations or independant regions of nations, latest playing Nepal and Wales C. One of the players in action was forward Paul McCallum. McCallum (31) is one that has been the elevator between different tiers of football. He was in his early years playing at West Ham and has also represented Leyton Orient, currently with Eastleigh, being one the top goalscorers in Non League action.
Formed in 1979 as the England Non-League team, it features players who play for clubs outside the Premier League and English Football League. Currently, the majority of selected players are full-time professionals with National League clubs.
Home matches are played at various League and non-league grounds around the country. Friendly matches are played with equivalent teams from other nations, and between 1979 and 2008, competed in the Four Nations Tournament each season, along with Scotland, Wales, and the full Gibraltar teams. In the tournament in 1980, held in Veenendaal in the Netherlands, the opposition was Scotland (players outside the Premier Division, notably Ally McCoist, then playing for St Johnstone), Netherlands Amateurs and Italy under-21. They have more recently begun playing against under-23 teams from the likes of Belgium and Turkey which have included players capped at full international level.
They won the Four Nations tournament for the seventh time in May 2008, winning all three of their matches without conceding a goal. Since January 2003, the team has been managed by Paul Fairclough, who used to manage Barnet until he left the club by mutual consent in December 2008. Fairclough has been in charge of England C since 2003, being appointed for the job almost 22 years ago. The team has played in three International Challenge Trophy finals.
Great to have you on board, @nickekabamba 🤝#WeAreBromley pic.twitter.com/6cIAVLN0GV
— Bromley FC (@bromleyfc) January 11, 2025
Looking at the list of players who have represented England C, you will find a group of players that has gone all the way and also represented England at full international level. Former Leicester and Arsenal striker Alan Smith holds the record for winning the most full England international caps (13) after turning out for the England C. Smith made three appearances in 1982 whilst he was at Alvechurch, before moving to Leicester. Smith did not score in any of his England C games, but did manage to score twice for the senior team, as well as scoring four goals in four England B appearances. All of Smith’s senior England caps came during his time at Arsenal.
Barry Hayles, represented England C while on the books at Stevenage. Hayles is an iconic figure in football, playing on all into his 50’s. He climbed the tiers into the top flight, playing for Fulham at the highest level. He also have a 100% record for England C, scoring two goals in two games. He later played for Jamaica at full international level. Andre Gray is another player with the same path as Hayles, playing for England C and later becoming a Jamaica international. Gray got his England C call back in 2011, then playing in non-league with Luton. He later represented Jamaica and has to date 13 caps for the nation. Gray was last seen in action for Plymouth in Championship action, the 33 year old is at present a free agent.
George Boyd is back in the non-league game after a long and special career taking a switch from playing for England C to become a full Scotland international. Boyd is best known for his time at Peterborough, Hull and Burnley, playing most tiers in the English league system.
Strangely enough Jamie Vardy is not among the players who have represented England C, despite being the most special player ever to come out of non-league football, being signed by Leicester from Fleetwood back in 2012. He was possibly a bit too far down in the system, playing most of his non-league games for Stocksbridge Park Steel.
You have a few others that also taken the steps to the top of football, having a life in the non-league tiers, but they as Jamie Vardy, never given England C caps. Jordan Pickford, Ollie Watkins, Che Adams, Tyrone Mings and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are such examples.
In the latest England C outing, back in March 2024, you will of course find a number of players who have now entered league action again. Such are long time Chesterfield servant, defender Jamie Grimes and Bromley goalkeeper Grant Smith.
Among opponents are Wales C, being represented by players who are at present playing in the semi-pro top flight league in Wales. Wales C won the battle 1-0.
Looking through the list of the current England C squad you will find more players with an interesting path in football, possibly also having talent more or less overlooked by league clubs. Tall forward Nicke Kabamba is one to watch. The 31 year old attacker as just made a move to Bromley and a return to English league football. He has previously played for Portsmouth, Colchester, Kilmarnock and Northampton.
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