England C

Perhaps it's a shame but the whole England C thing seems to be losing its way.

Historically it all dates from the England Amateur team which existed from 1906 to the abolition of the amateur/professional distinction in 1974. In response, an England Semi-Professional side was established in 1979. This served a purpose for many years - and meant something to senior non-league players and their clubs - but once the Conference became more of a pro league the name became inappropriate. Hence the team was renamed the England National Game XI. This meant bugger all to anybody so the rather odd - and totally misleading - England C title was introduced a year or two ago.

Meanwhile the Conference has changed: a second promotion place; play-offs; expansion of the league to 24 clubs. The England team now gets in the way. This may explain why the FA pacifies the big BSP clubs by making the in-season games for under 23 players only. Selecting a squad is akin to walking on egg shells so the FA has to resort to limiting the number of players selected from any one club.

If the Non League Paper is to be believed, the England C concept retains the support of the FA and more opponents are being sought to expand the (under 23) International Challenge Trophy (Bosnia being on the list at the moment). Essentially this is something driven by the English FA rather than UEFA or FIIFA.

But there seems to be a problem with the open-age team - for which Kevin Nicholson has played - now the end-of-season Four Nations Tournament is in doubt. One solution may be more tours to places like the West Indies which may just revive the interest of some of the better BSP players (beats a trip to Rhyl, doesn't it?).