Nicky Wroe Picked For England..

Rather suspected you might have been at that one, Merse. The Byrne (West Ham) is the very same Johnny Byrne who played against us for Crystal Palace in that 1959 match featured on another thread.

England played Under-23 games from 1954 to 1976 when the age limit changed to Under-21. Three of those Under-23 internationals were played at Home Park:







Norman Piper of Argyle played in the 1970 game whilst another Plymouth player Colin Sullivan played in 1973 (Piper was born in North Tawton, Sullivan in Saltash). The "Francis" in the 1973 match was Plymouth-born Trevor Francis rather than Gerry Francis who famously later steered Exeter City to relegation.

Incidently the 1973 game was the prelude to the following night's infamous World Cup qualifier between England and Poland.