The ESFA is delighted to announce the 18 players chosen to represent the England U18 Schoolboys for the 2023-2024 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 10th December) with the final England U18 Schoolboys’ Pro:Direct trial taking place at Castle Vale Stadium in Birmingham. The successful players have progressed through a rigorous selection process from October until December to be finally selected to represent their country.
The players were first nominated by their County Secretaries 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 Castle Vale yesterday, for the final stage of the process.
Making the final stage of these trials is a huge personal achievement for all the players who attended and something for them to be proud of.
Congratulations to the following players –
| Squad Number | Player’s Name | County |
| 1 | James Taylor | Bedfordshire |
| 2 | Archie Elsdon | Shropshire |
| 3 | Joshua Thynne | Durham |
| 4 | Deacon Smalley | Merseyside |
| 5 | James Sloan | Durham |
| 6 | Archie Small | Cleveland |
| 7 | Toby Nelson | Hampshire |
| 8 | Ashton Houlahan | Durham |
| 9 | Jude Entwistle | Lancashire |
| 10 | Oliver Spicer | Buckinghamshire |
| 11 | Arran Cocks | Leicestershire & Rutland |
| 12 | Macara McNulty – Hartnett | Shropshire |
| 13 | Ryan Johnson | Durham |
| 14 | Charlie Wooding | Dorset |
| 15 | Kai Adams | Shropshire |
| 16 | Joseph Smart | Oxfordshire |
| 17 | Freddie Haden | Somerset |
| 18 | Jonah Scutt | Staffordshire |
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 from February until April 2024. The home nations and the Republic of Ireland will compete for the prestigious Centenary Shield, with this season’s England team hoping to retain the shield which was shared with Northern Ireland in 22/23.
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.
