England's most talented young female footballers have descended on Colchester th
England's most talented young female footballers have descended on Colchester this week to prepare for their battle to become the best team in Europe...
England Under-19s are enjoying a five day training camp at the University of Essex in Wivenhoe Park ahead of next month's UEFA U19 Women's European Championship.
Manager Mo Marley will be putting the 22-strong squad through their paces at the university each competing for a place in the final 18 for the tournament. There are players from Arsenal, Birmingham City and Leeds United in the squad, as well as two trialists from the USA who will be keen to impress.
This is the second time an England women's team have used the facilities on offer at Wivenhoe Park, with an Under-15s training camp being held there in October 2002.
England have a strong reputation to uphold after reaching the semi-finals of last season's annual tournament, where they lost 0-1 to eventual winners Germany. The defending champions Germany will host the 2003 tournament and England have once again been drawn in the same group as their traditional foes.
The eight-nation tournament is split into two groups of four teams, with the top two from each group progressing to the semi-finals. The tournament begins for England with a match against Sweden on July 25th, before meeting Italy on July 27th and then playing Germany - in a game to be televised live on Eurosport on Tuesday July 29th. The subsequent semi-finals and Final will also be televised live on Eurosport.
Squad in full: Carly TELFORD (Sunderland), Karen BARDSLEY (California State University Fullerton/Infinity, USA), Shelly COX (Leeds United), Beth BAILEY (Birmingham City), Faye CARDIN (Birmingham City), Georgie ADAMS (Arsenal), Beth Ragdale (Everton),Hayley KEMP (Arsenal), Katie HOLTHAM (Lincoln City), Emily WARD (SC Blues, USA), Anita ASANTE (Arsenal), Sheuneen TA (Arsenal), Michelle HICKMOTT (Birmingham City), Lisa BURROWS (Arsenal), Emma THOMAS (Arsenal), Jodie McGUCKIN (Birmingham City), Fara WILLIAMS (Charlton Athletic), Kim HOLDEN (Tranmere Rovers), Alex SCOTT (Arsenal), Josanne POTTER (Birmingham City), Eniola ALUKO (Birmingham City), Michelle EVANS (Tranmere Rovers)
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