ENGLAND C stars of the past have welcomed the return of Paul Fairclough's side and hailed the role Non-League's Three Lions played in their careers.
The C team play their first game since June 2019 on Wednesday when they take on rivals Wales C at Caernarfon Town – kick-off 7pm.
Originally the fixture had been due to take place in March 2020 but was postponed following the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.
Rearranging hasn't been straightforward with funding for England coming from the National League and the three Trident Leagues – Northern Premier League, Isthmian and Southern – rather than the FA.
An open-age squad meets across the border this week to take on Mark Jones' side made up of Cymru Premier players.
Ahead of the game, a host of England C legends spoke exclusively to The NLP about the positive impact earning international caps had on their careers.
Steve Morison, Cardiff City manager -8 caps
When you go down to Non-League you can feel like you're on your own. You've obviously got a job and go about your business trying to get back. So it's good because it's recognition of how well you're doing in Non-League.
It was a great experience. It takes you out of your comfort zone, you're around other elite players at your level and you get the chance to test yourself with the best of the best.
Out of my group a hell of a lot went on and had good League careers. It shows it's a good place to showcase your ability and talent – and puts you in the spotlight.
To get called up is a great honour and achievement. The shirts from those games are in the same bags as all my other shirts.
Aaron McLean, ex-Peterborough United and Hull City striker – 5 caps
It was a highlight of my career and an indication to me that I was doing the right things and to stick with it.
There were periods after I'd dropped out of the League and I questioned whether or not football would be what I would do or did I need to consider a different path. So that was massive.
It's no surprise to see how many players have played for England C and then go on and have good careers. For League clubs to be able to see you, and for you to be able to showcase your abilities in front of the people that matter, there is no better stage to really show people what you can do. And you're playing with the best players at that level.
I couldn't believe how good the set-up was. You go back to your club and you feel 10ft tall. We ended up getting to the play-off final with Aldershot that season. It massively helped me.
It's one of the highest honours for me. My school – Robert Clack in Dagenham – have my Premier League shirt up from Hull City alongside my England C shirt.
It shows where I was, playing Non-League and representing my country, and the springboard to move up the Pyramid and end up playing in the Premier League. There are a number of stories similar to mine. I played with Sam Ricketts, he went on and had an amazing career.
It's not just players who have played at the highest level, it's players who have gone on and had long careers in the Football League. It's such an important team.
England C is a platform that needs to stay alive. There needs to be the funding for it. It can't disappear. I can guarantee if you speak to any of the players who were capped, they will all look back and say, ‘That was a huge moment in my career'. I think it was a pivotal part of a lot of lads' careers. Being there and around the quality of player we were, it better prepares you for when you go in to a full-time League club.
The professionalism you have at the England camp helps to prepare you for League football. It was as good as when I played in the Premier League. It's top class. You feel so proud to pull on the shirt. It's a period of my life I can look back and say, ‘I represented my country'.
And the standard of football – it was brilliant. We played against Italy, who were unbelievable. That's what you want, the chance to play against top opposition and England C gave me that.
Russ Penn, Kidderminster Harriers manager – 9 caps
Paul Fairclough kept the majority of the squad together for the two or three years I was involved. We were really close and I've got some really good mates from it. We had good players – Shaun Harrad, Michael Morrison, John Brayford, Dean Moxey, Kev Nicholson, Andy Burgess good lads and good players. It was excellent.
I was 19 when I signed for Kidderminster Harriers. By the time I was 21 and we'd made the FA Trophy final, I started getting recognition and then I was in every squad – bar Bosnia away!
The experience was unbelievable. It was like you were in the senior team. You'd be picked up by an FA car at your house, a tie was sent to your house, flights out, everything was pukka. You really felt like a Premier League footballer. It was a real honour and a real privilege. It made you want to get picked again.
You were kind of more respected after playing, to be honest. The club would make a big thing of it – my cap is still hung up there now. You were well-known as one of the best players in Non-League at the time.
When we went to the Caribbean I always remember talking with Steve Burr and he said he'd take that squad in the Championship. I believed him.
Angus MacDonald, Rotherham United defender – 4 caps
I will cherish my England C caps for the rest of my life. They were proud moments for my family and friends.
I played in the England age groups – U16s, U18s, U19s – so when I dropped down you miss that opportunity to go away for internationals.
England C gives you a confidence boost and a platform. Paul Fairclough acts as a mentor as well as a coach. He helped me a lot when I went away with England.
I'd spent ten or 11 years at an academy and when you get released you don't turn into a bad player overnight. England C gives you a stepping stone to get back to where you want, obviously along with the hard work at your club.
I can't thank it enough. It probably helped me progress my career again. It would be a shame if that didn't continue.
James Constable, ex-Kidderminster Harriers and Oxford United striker – 3 caps
When you're presented with your cap it is so special. Even now the hairs on my neck stand up talking about it. It's great for a Non-League player to represent your country.
From my personal experience it raises your own standards. Walking in you imagine it's the same as the England senior team – just the best of the best from Non-League.
It always amazed me how quickly everyone bonded together and then they're mates for life. I roomed with John Brayford – and he keeps going at Burton Albion! At the time we didn't really know each other, you're put together, you train and eat together and you keep in contact with them for years.
I always remember my first trip away. I forgot my shoes! My mum and dad dropped me off at the hotel. I got up in the morning to fly, got ready and realised I didn't have my shoes! I just had my trainers – I couldn't really wear them with my suit! So I rang Mick Payne (goalkeeper coach) and amazingly he had a second pair of smart shoes on him.
They were way too big and I looked like something out of a comedy sketch. I joke about it with Mick to this day.
It was amazing to play at Wembley and captain Oxford, but when I look at my framed England C shirt it's right up there. I was fortunate to be part of it and I look back at it really fondly.
There were always whispers at league games if an England C scout was there. Really it was the only opportunity to do that sort of thing and really get in that shop window.
It was always different playing with England. You knew you were representing not just yourself and your club, there was more responsibility. I remember sitting there waiting to go out, the timings, the national anthem – things you've watched players do at World Cups and at Euro 96. To be doing it yourself was special and something you'd never imagine doing growing up.
England C is iconic. Look at the players who have come through it and where they've gone onto, some to the Premier League and Championship. It's a big deal.
James Norwood, Ipswich Town – 7 caps
Playing for England C was a big turning point. It solidified where I was at the time in terms of my football and how confident I was.
In professional football it's all about getting results and playing a certain way. Being told by Paul Fairclough you're able to play with freedom was almost like a throwback to being in the park with your mates.
Obviously everyone there is highly talented and has footballing IQ, but if you wanted to try something, you could.
As you get a bit older in football, you play against people dozens of times and you get to know faces. But at that age you may have only played against some once or twice. So for us to gel and get on really well is testament to how the whole thing was set-up to help us thrive as a unit. The bonding sessions we had made us a lot closer.
I had some really good trips away and would come back to my club with confidence. More often than not I would travel with someone from my club as well, so there was already connections and we'd come back talking about the trip.
The work off the pitch was great too. In Bermuda, we visited a school and in Jordan we did a session with refugees.
On the pitch, it's so important for players. The shop window is so big now. People are looking into Non-League for talent so if you're deemed as one of the best outside of the Football League, more often than not you'll be watched.
You get the pride of pulling on the England shirt, a sense of accomplishment and you're in the shop window for chasing your dream.
Wales C v England C at CAERNARFON TOWN, KICK-OFF 7.PM LIVE ON S4C ONLINE
