Forgotten England team faces uncertain future despite producing top-flight stars

There is plenty of adulation and well-wishes being sent the way of the England women's side right now.

And rightly so, given the fact they are just two wins away from what would be a historic European Championship victory on home soil.

But while the limelight and exposure is being afforded this particular England group, another team representing their country is struggling for relevance and most importantly, attention. The England C men's side was formed in 1979 with the aim of allowing players in non-league the opportunity to play international football.

Down the years ample names have pulled on the England shirt despite playing in the fifth tier or below. And for a large chunk of them, it has proved a springboard for their careers with many going on to become EFL and in some cases Premier League regulars.

A handful of names instantly roll off the tongue of Mick Payne, the team's long-serving goalkeeping coach.

Speaking to Mirror Football, Payne said: "Andre Gray, Kieffer Moore, Aden Flint, Scott Loach, George Boyd - there's been so many down the years that have gone on and progressed through the leagues, it's just unbelievable. Jamie Vardy should have played for us but was injured both times he was called up. I've got people coming out of my ear."

The exhaustive list also extends to players who have since gone on to forge successful managerial careers. Lee Johnson, formerly of Sunderland, and current Cardiff boss Steve Morison are just two examples of players who pulled on the England C shirt before progressing through the ranks.

Despite the rich bank of players who have represented the side, and although the FA would be loathe to admit as much, the England C team is threatening to become an afterthought.

Normally the side would play two or three fixtures each season but they played just once in 2021-22. That was a fixture against Wales back in March. Their previous game was June 2019. Even allowing for the Covid-enforced hiatus, the fact the team have played just once in more than three years is concerning.

When asked about the future schedule, Payne responded bluntly: "That's the million dollar question. We don't know.

"England C is an opportunity for non-league players to represent their country. That's the crux of it. Not everyone is going to captain England like Harry Kane, or play for the senior England side.

"These guys who are playing National League and below have the chance to play international football. It's a massive honour."

That last point was personified when Fraser Franks recently posted a tweet of a letter he wrote when he was aged 10. Franks, now retired, spent a large portion of his career in non-league but achieved a high point in 2013 when he was made captain of England C.

Writing on Twitter he put: "My mum found this letter that I'd written in school aged 10. I was so driven. Never the best player but completely obsessed by football. I dreamt of being the England captain and a professional footballer. I kind of got there! The England C captain will do me!"

It is stories like this that show just how important the England C set-up is. And Payne also tells of the many plaudits the team wins when on their travels.

He relays stories of tours down the years to Bermuda, Poland, Russia and Jordan. And each one acted as a shot in the arm for the English pyramid, highlighting the quality of players in the fifth, or in some cases sixth or seventh, tiers.

Payne added: "When we do go to these countries, they are in awe of the pyramid of English football - the fifth tier of countries like Spain or Belgium, the quality there would be nowhere what it is here. England C puts them in the shop window.

"There's been an incredible array of players who have donned the England shirt, and let's get that right, and then moved on. Because it's given them a massive platform and raised their profile."

After being contacted about this story by Mirror Football, and FA Spokesperson said: "The England C team is currently operating with one match per season. Their last fixture against Wales took place on 30 March 2022, with discussions ongoing between The FA and FAW regarding a potential fixture in March 2023."