Exclusive interview with Paul Fairclough (England C Manager)
We at Non-League South wanted to learn all we could about our country’s Non-League England Team, so we spoke exclusively to the England C manager, Paul Fairclough.
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Q: How important is the England C team for development of young non-league players?
“We’re an integral part of the DNA of non-league football, the FA, and eventually the full England team. Since I’ve been doing this we’ve had over 250 players go into the football league.
“Some players have even gone on to play as full internationals for other countries. We’ve had them for Scotland, Wales, Ireland. After playing for England C they might realise they aren’t going to quite make it to the full England team, so if their inheritance allows it they might play for another national team.”
Q: What does England C give players that their clubs don’t?
“There’s no question that most of the work is done at their clubs. They have to take a lot of credit for that. But when they come to England C, we have a look at players who I believe can move on. It’s an under-23 squad, so they’re still young enough to be coached by professional clubs.
“There might be some restrictions from their clubs as to what they can and can’t do, and I understand that because I’ve been a football league manager. I understand the difference between that and international football.
“When they play on a Saturday with their clubs it’s a case of the three points at stake, but we put them on an international stage against quality opposition, which really brings the best out of them.”
Q: Is the England C team a good platform for players to get their name out there?
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“We’ve had players just do a training session with England C, and that’s alerted clubs to come and take an interest. We had a player in just to do a training session. Before we played the game, which was two weeks later, he’d been signed by a football league club so wasn’t eligible.
“With the full England team, players often perform fantastically with their clubs, but not when it comes to their country. For us, we often get the reverse. We get them playing out of their skin when they come to the international scene.
“I like to think that we give them something that their clubs don’t always provide. The opportunity to play against quality international players, but also do things off the park as a group.”
Q: The squad changes a lot because once a player is excelling, they get signed by a football league club and are then ineligible. Is the ever-changing squad a problem?
“Never in all my experience running this team have I been able to play the same team twice for those reasons. We’ve had games where there’s scouts queueing up or managers waiting with contracts after a game of football.
“England C rubber stamps what players are doing at club level, but also gives chances to players who are ticking away at club level. I’ve got players in my squad who might not be identified by their managers as standout players at their club, but they’re right for what we’ve got to do.”
Q: Andre Gray, Sam Clucas and George Boyd have all represented England C and gone on to play in the Premier League. Have they given you good feedback?
“We haven’t had a negative comment from any of the players who have been with us over the years. Recently Andre Gray commented on his time spent with England C, Sam Clucas the same. We’ve had England C players now who’ve got the potential to go on and make it to the full first England team.”
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Click here to visit our 'In The Spotlight' page to listen to the interview.
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