The ESFA is delighted to announce the 18 players chosen to represent the England U18 Schoolboys for the 2022-2023 season, following the final Pro:Direct Trial this weekend.
The ESFA concluded their search for the best schools’ footballers that England has to offer yesterday (Sunday 22nd January) with the final England U18 Schoolboys’ Pro:Direct trial taking place at Thomas Telford School after the original venue Lilleshall National Sports Centre was unavailable due to the weather. The successful boys have progressed through a rigorous selection process from October until January to be finally selected to represent their country.
The players were first nominated by their county sides to attend regional trials that led to the construction of four regional squads, the North, Midlands, South East and South West. These squads then went head to head in step two of the trials process and formed the North and South squads that travelled to Thomas Telford School yesterday, for the final stage of the process.
Making the final stage of the trials is a huge personal achievement for all the boys who attended and something they can be very proud of.
Stuart Botham, ESFA Chair said: “We are delighted to be able to name this year’s England U18 Schoolboys’ Squad today. It’s a fantastic achievement for these players to have made it through what is a tough trials process, to be able to go on and represent their school, District, County and their Country for this year’s International Season. On behalf of the English Schools’ FA, I would like to congratulate each and every selected player on their achievement and also pass on my thanks to their parents and guardians for the commitment and support they have also shown. Finally, I would like to congratulate all the players that were selected to take part in this year’s trials process and wish them the very best for the rest of this season.”
Congratulations to the following players –
| Squad Number | Player Name | County |
| 1 | Jasper Sheik | Hampshire CSFA |
| 2 | Harvey Smith | Durham CSFA |
| 3 | Tyrease Hughes | West Midlands CSFA |
| 4 | Jacob Towns | Gloucestershire CSFA |
| 5 | George Wilkinson | Durham CSFA |
| 6 | Laiith Fairnie | Gloucestershire CSFA |
| 7 | Sam Johnson | Durham CSFA |
| 8 | Dylan Archer | Durham CSFA |
| 9 | Benjamin Wodskou | Leicestershire & Rutland CSFA |
| 10 | Oscar Fletcher | Cleveland CSFA |
| 11 | Ollie Fraser | Suffolk CSFA |
| 12 | Jack Bostock | Staffordshire CSFA |
| 13 | James Taylor | Bedfordshire CSFA |
| 14 | Luke Salter | Gloucestershire CSFA |
| 15 | Dominic Cupid | Hampshire CSFA |
| 16 | Jay Sangha | Shropshire CSFA |
| 17 | Arran Cocks | Leicestershire & Rutland CSFA |
| 18 | Rio Joisce | Northumberland CSFA |
This final squad will first get together in February for their preparatory training camp, thanks to inspiresport, where they will be presented with their brand new England shirts. The boys’ competitive fixtures will come in the form of the SAFIB Centenary Shield, which is played throughout March and April 2023. The home nations and the Republic of Ireland will compete for the prestigious Centenary Shield trophy, with this season’s England team hoping to bring the trophy home for the first time since it was shared with Northern Ireland, in 2017.
The ESFA would like to once more congratulate all the players that were put forward for England Schoolboys’ trials this season and wish those players that haven’t been selected the very best of luck with the rest of their season and footballing careers.
For any media enquiries, please contact Jacob Blades on [email protected] for more information
Photo credit: 353 Photography
The National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England.