England C to play Panjab FA in landmark friendly at Kidderminster Harriers

ENGLAND C will be back in action in May as they take on the Panjab FA at Kidderminster’s Aggborough ground in a landmark friendly.

Non-League’s Three Lions beat Estonia in Tallinn back in November to make it through to the International Challenge Trophy final against Slovakia.

That game, set to be hosted in Slovakia, is scheduled for this summer and Paul Fairclough’s side will warm up against the Panjab FA on Sunday, May 28.

The Panjab FA play under CONIFA – an organisation created to allow ‘national’ teams not allowed to join FIFA to represent themselves on a global stage.

The Panjab side is made up of players from Indian and Pakistani descent with many playing towards the top of the Non-League Pyramid.

The team, managed by ex-Tranmere Rovers and Oldham Athletic defender Reuben Hazell, have played games at Aggborough before and will return to Kidderminster to “celebrate inclusion, diversity and player opportunity for Asian football as a whole”.

The FA’s Head of Leagues and Clubs Laurence Jones said: “Enabling talented players from every diverse community to play in a match like this just one of the ways we hope to make football truly a game for all.

“Working with Kidderminster Harriers and Panjab FA we hope this is a well-competed game, a family-friendly spectacle and something fans will remember for a long time.”

Panjab FA chairman Harpreet Singh added: “The moment has come to celebrate a grand fixture for Panjab against England C.

“From the very first day, the objective of Panjab FA was to provide the canvas for the talents of the Panjabi community and British Asian footballers to progress through the football Pyramid.

“It’s also a proud moment for me, as a Panjabi, to promote the culture, heritage and identity. I want to take this opportunity to reach out to the whole Panjabi and the wider Asian community; the media and public figures to come together and celebrate this new evolution in football.”