England Women Under-19s will be coming to Bedfordshire next month to play in a p
England Women Under-19s will be coming to Bedfordshire next month to play in a prestigious UEFA qualifying tournament to reach this summer's European Championship. Mo Marley's England side will play at three different venues in the County between 15-19th April as they face a tough battle with Denmark, Spain and Republic of Ireland to claim the single automatic qualifying spot to reach the July 2003 Finals.
The winner of the Second Group Stage will go through to the Finals, but three of the best four group runners-up will also go to the Finals.
Coach Mo Marley, the former England captain, said: "These are three important qualifying matches for us and this will be the first time we've played a tournament on home soil in four years. I hope the people of Bedfordshire will turn out in force to cheer the girls on to victory in all three of the games.
"Some of these girls are already playing in the senior team and there are players represented from some of the top teams in the country - Arsenal, Everton, Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City. This will be a good opportunity for local football fans to enjoy the upcoming stars of women's football."
England are one of the top sides in the world after reaching the semi-finals of the European U19 Women's Championship last year and also progressing to the quarter-finals of the first ever FIFA Under-19 Women's World Cup in Canada in August 2002.
The Under-19s have already played three sides in the opening qualifying round for the annual UEFA European Championship competition. England beat hosts Bulgaria, Faroe Islands and Lithuania in the First Group Qualifier in October 2002.
England will kick-off the tournament against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday 15th April and will finish with the toughest tie against old foes Denmark on Saturday 19th April. England lost to Denmark in both the qualifying stage and at the European Championship Finals in May 2002. Each game was lost by a single goal, 4-3 in Denmark and then 2-1 in Sweden at the Finals.
The Finals will be hosted by Germany, who England lost to by a single penalty in the semi-finals last year in Sweden.
Match schedule:
Tuesday 15th April 2003
Spain v Denmark at 2.00pm
England v Republic of Ireland at 6.00pm
Both matches at Bedford Town FC
Ticket details: £1 adults & concessions - entry on the gate
Thursday 17th April 2003
Denmark v Republic of Ireland at 2.00pm
Spain v England at 6.00pm
Both matches at Arlesey Town FC
Ticket details: £1 adults & concessions - in advance via phone/fax - 01462 734512 - or on the gate
Saturday 19th April 2003
Republic of Ireland v Spain at 3.00pm at Wootton Blue Cross FC
Denmark v England at 3.00pm at Barton Rovers FC
England ticket details: £1 adults & concessions - in advance via phone/fax - 01582 882398 - or on the gate