England Daz-zlers

Darren Caskey was part of the greatest collection of young English talent in a generation.

The Under-18s side that beat Turkey to win the European Championship 10 years ago this month featured names like Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Sol Campbell, Julian Joachim, Robbie Fowler and Gary Neville.

An even more famous name couldn't even get into the squad.

"I remember David Beckham playing the trial but he didn't make it," recalls Caskey, who had already broken into the Spurs first-team at 18.

"David came from Leytonstone which isn't that far from where I was brought up so we had something in common.

"But at that age, he was very light. It was more to do with his build than his technical ability that he didn't make it.

"The big buzz was about Robbie Fowler. He had already played for Liverpool and he came on as sub in our first game against France and scored straight away. He then scored against Holland and hit a hat-trick in our final group game.

"Paul Scholes was so quiet he was almost overlooked by the pundits. But he was someone that I noticed in training and would think big things were going to happen for him."

The 1993 Final was held in Nottingham, the city which is currently staging The International Under-17s Tournament in Partnership with Pepsi, featuring Brazil, Portugal, USA alongside John McDermott's England.

Caskey plays his football with Second Division Notts County and was in the Sky Sports studios as a pundit on Thursday when England met Portugal in their second match.

"When I signed for Notts County it did bring back memories of the England final at Nottingham Forest's City Ground," says Caskey, who scored the winning goal against Turkey from the penalty spot.

"I was about six months older than some of the other England lads so when we got a penalty there was no way anyone would get the ball off me - even though I think Robbie also fancied it.

"I did the John Aldridge shuffle on my way to the ball and luckily the 'keeper started going one way so I sidefooted it the other way!"

England lifted the trophy in front of 23,000 fans by beating the Turks 1-0 and at that stage Caskey - who had played for England Schoolboys alongside a young whisp of a lad called Ryan Wilson (later to be Ryan Giggs) - was among those thought likeliest to succeed. 

Ossie Ardiles gave the teenager a run in the team alongside the likes of Teddy Sheringham and Jurgen Klinsmann but when he was replaced by Gerry Francis, Caskey's days at White Hart Lane were numbered.

"I think maybe things happened too early for me," admits the former graduate of the Lilleshall School of Excellence.

"Because I was playing frequently as a teenager, I couldn't handle it when Gerry Francis decided I wasn't in his full-strength team."

Midfielder Caskey, who has long since shorn his trademark locks, went to Reading and found it harder adjusting to lower division football than he thought.

"I put in a transfer request at Spurs but found when I got to Reading it isn't that easy to prove yourself straight away.

"We had a good team on paper at Reading but the first 18 months were difficult for me. We got relegated, Tommy Burns came in as manager and bought a whole new team but it didn't really work out.

"I was lucky to grow up with a lot of good players, and found in the Second Division the game was a lot faster and more physical."

Caskey has got the hang of it now as he looks forward to his second season at Notts County.

Like a lot of players who began early, he is younger than you think. "I am 29 but people assume I am 35," he laughs.

Like a lot of lower division clubs, Notts County have been in desperate financial straits with the players still waiting for certain bonus payments that were due on their contract.

Caskey isn't bleating though even if several of his former young England team-mates went on to become Premiership millionaires.

"The Under-17 players probably won't appreciate what it all means at the moment," he says.

"At that age you don't feel nerves but later on in life you realise what a big thing you've been through.

"I remember playing against Clarence Seedorf in our Under-18s game against Holland, and he has gone on to have an incredible career winning the European Cup with three different clubs.

"It isn't a good time for lots of clubs outside the Premiership now, everyone knows the wages went a little bit mad. But it will sort itself out. When a new season is about to begin, everyone should feel optimistic."

Darren Caskey was talking to Joe Bernstein

Darren Caskey

Nationality: English 
Date of Birth: 21 August 1974 
Place of Birth: Basildon 
Height: 5' 8''
Weight: 12 04 
Club:  Notts County 
Position: Midfielder

1993 EUROPEAN UNDER-18s CHAMPIONSHIP

Group 2
England 2 (Gallen, Fowler) France 0
England 4 (Fowler, Joachim 2, Gallen) Holland 1
England 5 (Tinkler, Fowler 3, Forrester) Spain 1

Final
England 1 (Caskey pen) Turkey 0