Richards England call up MARC Richards celebrated his call-up to the England Under 18 squad with a goal for Blackburn Rovers reserves against Manchester City.

Richards has been named in the England squad for the first leg of the U18 European Championship Qualifier against Poland on 22nd March, to be played at White Hart Lane.

Marc, who scored at Under 18 level against the Faroe Islands in October, got the first goal in the 1-1 draw against City at Morecambe's Christie Park.

Against an experienced City side featuring full internationals such as Mark Kennedy, Kevin Horlock and Paulo Wanchope, the young Rovers side dominated the first half and deserved their 1-0 half-time lead.

But City came back into it in the second half and got the equaliser through Paul Dickov.

But the night belonged to Richards, who hopes to make his mark on the England Under 18 squad in the match against Poland. If England win the tie over two legs they qualify for the European Championships in Finland in July.

Richards said: "It's a great honour to be chosen for the squad. I'm really looking forward to getting a really big crowd to support us at the match which will hopefully help us on the way to a great win."

The England U18 team has an impressive track record against Poland. In the 12 internationals played so far at this level, England has won seven,

>>drawn three and lost only two! The last time England played Poland at this

>>level was in the 1992 European Championship Finals when the score was 6-1

>>to England.

>>

>> A victory for the team would put England in a strong position for the

>>away leg, to be played on 26th April in Poland. Progress from this stage

>>would see England qualify for this year's European Under-18 Championship

>>Finals in Finland. The 8-team competition will take place in 21st - 29th

>>July.

>>

>>

>>