YOUNG ENGLAND

There was a representative team called Young England where Under 23s were blooded on the international stage. These days there is an U21 team, etc etc.

There has always been of course the full international side and last night Roy Hodgson selected the youngest XI to represent England since 1959, when manager Walter Winterbottom sent out a youthful group to play Wales at Ninian Park, Cardiff on October 17th. 

The team included Eddie Hopkinson in goal, Don Howe, Ronnie Clayton as captain, Ron Flowers, John Connelly, Jimmy Greaves (the goal scorer was the youngest in that side), Brian Clough, Bobby Charlton, and the lesser known, Edwin Holliday from Middlesbrough, Tony Allen of Stoke, Trevor Smith (Birmingham City).

 I would look up the ages of every player in both squads but enough is enough.

England drew 1-1 with Wales, beat Scotland 1-0 and beat N. Ireland 2-1 at Wembley, played Italy at home also (2-2), and lost to Sweden 2-3 (h) and had a shocking South American tour losing to Brazil, Peru and Mexico but they did thump the USA 8-1. Ron Flowers scored two goals in that game in Los Angeles, both 30 yarders.

Since we are on to ages, Peter Schmeichel is 52 today, so happy birthday to him and the well known Bobby Campbell's obituary appears in the papers today; he died on November 6 aged 78. God bless him.