Young Lions hit the road with games in Chesterfield, Colchester, Rotherham and Walsall

England’s Young Lions will head to Chesterfield, Colchester, Rotherham and Walsall in March. 

The MU19s host a 2022 UEFA U19 EURO elite round group which includes Armenia, Portugal and Republic of Ireland as they bid to qualify for this summer’s finals in Slovakia. 

England’s qualifying campaign will begin against the Irish at Walsall on Wednesday 23 March (7.30pm kick-off). 

Ian Foster’s age group will then welcome Armenia to Rotherham United on Saturday 26 March (2pm kick-off) before rounding off the group against Portugal on Tuesday 29 March (7.30pm kick-off) at Chesterfield.

Only the group winners qualify for the U19 EURO finals, a tournament which England have won once in its current guise back in 2017.   

Foster said: “It’s great that we have home advantage for this final phase of our qualifying campaign and even better that it allows us to take our Young Lions around the country. 

“We’re looking forward to visiting Rotherham and Walsall where the backing will be vital in helping to get us over the line to qualify for the U19 EURO finals in Slovakia this summer.

“It’s rare that football fans get to witness the next crop of young England stars play in their region, so we hope to see plenty of all ages come out to enjoy the unique experience of watching international football.”

Elsewhere, the MU20s will welcome Germany at Colchester United on Tuesday 29 March (7.30pm kick-off), four days after a trip to Poland. 

Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Andy Edwards’ side have comfortably beaten Romania and Czech Republic, drew with Italy and lost to Portugal.  

Edwards said: “I know that Colchester is a venue that has served England teams well in the past with various men’s development and women’s fixtures having been staged there successfully.

“We look forward to returning to Essex with another exciting crop of Young Lions. As all England fans know, a fixture against Germany always stirs excitement and this occasion will be no different.”

Ticket details for all of the above fixtures can be found at TheFA.com/tickets. Group booking rate tickets are available from just £1 and England Accredited Clubs able to apply for up to 10 complimentary tickets per club.