Cymru C host England C in an International Challenge Match at Llanelli Town’s Stebonheath Park on Tuesday 19 March (KO 19:45). Here is everything you need to know.
The squad
Mark Jones has selected a 20-man for Tuesday night’s game, with representatives from nine different clubs in the JD Cymru Leagues.
All play in the JD Cymru Premier, except for Ethan Cann who is spearheading Llanelli Town’s promotion push in the JD Cymru South this season.
Ryan Harrington’s late call-up, replacing Danny Davies, means that Connah’s Quay Nomads have the most players in the squad with four. Harrington joins club team-mates Jordan Davies, Noah Edwards and Josh Williams.
Cann, Davies and Harrington are all first-time call-ups, along with Rhys Abbruzzese, Kelland Absalom and Alex Lang.
Edwards and Caernarfon Town midfielder Danny Gosset both return to Cymru C six years after being named in Jones’ very first squad in 2018.
The opposition
England manager Paul Fairclough has selected a 16-man squad for the fixture, with a ‘one player per club’ rule. It is almost all change from last year, with Southend United defender Gus Scott-Morriss the only survivor from the meeting in Altrincham.
13 of the squad ply their trade in the National League, England’s fifth tier, except for Wyll Stanway (Chester, National League North), Luke Jenkins (Chelmsford City, National League South) and Ollie Pearce (Worthing, National League South).
The standout inclusion is Eastleigh striker Paul McCallum, who is the top scorer in the National League this season with 30 goals to his name. The 30-year-old, who has EFL experience with the likes of AFC Wimbledon and Leyton Orient, has also netted against Reading and Newport County in the FA Cup this term.
Tickets
Tickets for the fixture are on general sale at faw.cymru/tickets, with online prices starting at £3 for U16s and £8 for adults. Tickets will be sent through the Cymru Tickets app and all seating is unreserved.
Tickets can also be purchased at Stebonheath on matchday at increased prices of £5 for U16s and £10 for adults. Please note that sales at the turnstiles will be cash only.
Last meeting
Cymru C were narrowly beaten 1-0 by England C at Altrincham FC’s Moss Lane last year. Ryan De Havilland, who scored the only goal on the stroke of half-time, joined EFL League One side Peterborough United three months later.
It was England’s first victory in the fixture since 2018, with a 2-2 draw played out at Salford City in 2019 before Cymru’s famous 4-0 win in Caernarfon in 2022.
Manager’s thoughts
Mark Jones: “Every year, they’re supposedly from a higher standard. They’re from the National League, they’re bringing around 16 professionals, we have none in our team.
“We’re going to have to be on the top of our game to get a result, but the challenge is a great one, and that’s why we enjoy these games so much.”
The venue
One of Wales’ most historic stadiums, Stebonheath has hosted a number of high-profile matches and was home to the Welsh national rugby league team in the 1930s.
Since the turn of the century, it has hosted Cymru age-grade internationals, UEFA Champions League qualifiers and three JD Welsh Cup finals.
How to get there
By car
Follow the A484 North of Llanelli. At the large roundabout take the third exit and turn into Frondeg Terrace. Take a right turn into Penallt Road, follow over the bridge back over the A484 and Stebonheath Park is on the right-hand side. The car park is not open to the general public but street parking is available.
By train
Llanelli Train Station is serviced by trains from Carmarthen, Swansea, Cardiff, London Paddington and Manchester Piccadilly. It is 1.2 miles from Stebonheath Park, with the walk taking just under half an hour.
Come out of the station building turn right into the approach road then turn left at the junction opposite the level crossing. Walk towards the town centre and after 10 minutes you will see a small park on your right hand aside in front of the Magistrates’ Court.
Take the road to the right to lead you into the pedestrianised High Street. Follow into Park Street then just before the road ends in a row of houses take a right turn to lead you to the bus station. Look to your left and you will see a large roundabout.
Take the 3rd exit leading into College Square, this will lead you into a suburban area, follow the road as is bares left into Glenalla Road, then at the crossroads turn right into Glenvering Street. Continue on the road for 5 minutes, go past the church and at the end of the junction turn left into Penallt Road. Stebonheath Park is on the left-hand side.
Live coverage
The match will be streamed live by S4C on Sgorio’s digital channels and your smart TV. Welsh language (accessed here) and English language (accessed here) commentary are both available.
