England v Republic of Ireland
Amateur International Friendly
7.30pm, Saturday 30 September 2006
St. Michael's FC

After a gap of 22 years, an England Amateur XI takes to the field in Tipperary on Saturday night against their counterparts from the Republic of Ireland.

The match, which kicks off at 7.30pm, will be played at St Michael’s FC and will feature the winners of the FA National League System Cup, the Isle of Man League, exchanging their shirts depicting “three legs” to the white shirts of England and the famous “Three Lions”

The game is being used as part of the preparation for the UEFA Regions Cup Group 4 matches to be played in the Czech Republic next April. Leagues Manager Mike Appleby commented “with UEFA and the Czech FA agreeing to the April 2007 dates for the qualifying group matches it provided a long period in which to maintain the momentum that the Isle of Man’s victory at Cambridge last May provided.

The match against the Republic will prove a good test for Kevin Manning’s side and we plan to follow this with a further run out in February”. The Isle of Man manager Kevin Manning said: "It is a great honour for the lads. It enables them to get used to representing England prior to the trip to the Czech Republic next spring.

"Having to wait almost a year for the UEFA competition was a little disappointing but arranging this game with a further fixture in the early part of next year keeps the interest going and provides a good build up for the Czech trip. It also enables me to have a look at a few playing options on the field"

The squad for the Tipperary test is: Mark Blair (Laxey FC), John Myers (St George’s FC), Chris Brown (Laxey FC), Robert Cottier (Peel FC), Liam Cowin (St Mary’s FC), Lee Dixon (St Mary’s FC), Nicky Hurt (Peel FC), Paul Jones (Rushen United FC), Danny Lace (Peel FC), Kevin Megson (Peel FC), Callum Morrisey, Sean Quaye, Julian Ringham (all St George’s FC), Nigel Shimmin (Peel FC), Mark Teare (Douglas Royals FC) and Jim Travers (Laxey FC)