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England U18 Schoolboys’ matches to be broadcast live on the BBC!

The ESFA is pleased to announce that the 2022 Centenary Shield for under 18 Schoolboys’, will be broadcast across the BBC. SAFIB, the hosts of the Centenary Shield competition, have secured a broadcast deal with the BBC that will see teams from all the Home Nations and the Republic of Ireland play in the Centenary Shield in March and April 2022. Games will be shown live across BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport app and Connected Red Button.

This new broadcast deal means that all four of the England U18 Schoolboys Centenary Shield fixtures will be broadcast live across the BBC’s digital platforms. This exciting new opportunity will help raise the profile of schools’ football whilst showcasing the commitment and abilities of all the players involved.

ESFA Chairman, Mark Hignett, commented: “The ESFA is delighted to announce that all of England’s U18 Centenary Shield fixtures in 2022 will be broadcast live, online by the BBC.  

Anyone that has represented their country at this level or who has watched as a spectator will testify to the quality of football as well as the extremely competitive nature of the games that viewers will be treated to in March and April.

All the players selected to wear the three lions will continue to combine their commitment to education with the pursuit of football at the highest level. The opportunity for their talent to be accessible to a television audience is long overdue and full deserved.

This is an exciting opportunity to raise the profile of schools’ football in its entirety and allows the U18 England Squad’s Centenary shield to be viewed and enjoyed by a new and broader audience. For those not able to get to the games in person, I urge you to tune in via the BBC to whom we are incredibly thankful for making this possible.”

England’s first match will be away to Northern Ireland on the 25th of March with the fixture being played at Portadown Football Club from 7pm. The Squad will then host Scotland at Spennymoor Town FC before traveling South to host the Republic of Ireland at Eastleigh FC on Friday 8th April. They will then round off their Centenary Shield campaign with a trip to Penybont FC to face the Welsh on Friday 13th April.

A full fixture schedule for the SAFIB Centenary Shield 2022 can be viewed below.

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