Students called up to England U18 schoolboys’ football squad

Two East Sussex College Hastings students have secured their place in the England U18 schoolboys’ football squad and will be part of the 18-man team for the 2021-22 season.

Freddie Legg and Jack Bates both study Level 3 Sport at East Sussex College and are in their second year of studies. The pair impressed the coaches throughout the intense stages of the England U18 schoolboys’ trials.

Speaking about the feeling of being included in the final squad, Jack said, “I felt very proud to be included in the England U18 schoolboys’ squad. It’s a great stepping stone for where I want to get to. It’s good quality, there’s a lot of good players.”

The English Schools FA hosted three trial sessions, two regional and then a later final trial at Lilleshall National Sports Centre in the closing stages of 2021, before the final 18-man squad was announced in January.

Jack said, “There were three stages to the trials. The first was a trial for all the players from the South East, so first you have to get into the East Sussex team, and then they choose four from that. There was then a game against the South West, and they then picked a team for the South. The South then played the North and a team was picked from that game. The trials were of a very high standard, especially the game against the North.”

Freddie adds, “We had a four-hour drive to the North Vs South game on a rainy, foggy day. I did score in the match but it was a tough game. But, we both got through in the end.”

Freddie and Jack are set to embark on a training camp in February, ahead of the team’s competitive fixtures in the SAFIB Centenary Shield in March and April that will see them coached as a squad for the first time under the English Schools FA coaches.

“I’m looking forward to properly meeting the North lads and the coaches as well. It’ll be good to learn from the new coach and see what he has to say,” said Jack.

The England U18 schoolboys’ squad is set to play their first competitive fixture on 25 March in Northern Ireland and some of their matches are set to be aired on various BBC platforms, including BBC iPlayer.

Ahead of the highly anticipated opener to the SAFIB Centenary Shield, Jack said, “I’m quite nervous [ahead of the first competitive fixtures] but I think when I actually get to the game I’ll forget about that and focus on the game.”

“Apart from on YouTube, I haven’t really played in front of many people, especially online. So it’ll be new [playing live on the BBC], but I’m looking forward to it,” said Freddie. “The first shield match is against Northern Ireland. I’ve never played against a country before so It’ll be my first, but I can’t wait for it.”

On the topic of studying Sport at East Sussex College, Freddie outlined the support from tutors and said, “Sometimes Craig [Ottley] and the other tutors will come down to our training and support our coaches when they need more people, they help in different ways. Hastings United is linked to the College so there’s great facilities, and there’s a learning side and a sport side - you get both elements of it.”

Jack added, “My tutors put me forward for the Sussex squad trials, which put me through to the school's team, so it’s through them that I’m actually playing for the team. If you want to play football, studying Sport at ESC is a good way to get into it and they give you a lot of time to play football. College runs alongside the football programme, so you get the most out of both sides of it.”

Jack was also one of three East Sussex College Hastings students to have been included in the 24-man squad for the 2021/22 AoC Sport England Colleges men’s football team last month.

Speaking in December about his inclusion in the 2021/22 AoC Sport England College’s squad, he said, “It felt good to see my name in the final squad. I’m very proud and can't wait to get started at St Georges Park. I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m looking forward to it. I found the qualifying stages alright, there’s obviously a lot of good players, but it was a good experience.”

If you’re interested in following in Freddie and Jack’s footsteps, find out more about studying Sport at East Sussex College here - www.escg.ac.uk/courses/sport-fitness.