FORMER Court Fields School student Brooke Aspin has been selected for the England U23s squad for two upcoming matches.
The 19-year-old Wellington footballer is a mainstay of England’s Under 19s squad where her performances were rewarded with a call-up for the Under 23 last year but she had to pull out because of injury.
England will begin the 2024/25 season with two fixtures in the WU23 European competition.
Manager Emma Coates’ side head to Netherlands on Thursday, 24 October before welcoming Portugal to the Croud Meadow Stadium, home of Shrewsbury Town, on 28 October.
The October international window presents familiar opposition for the Young Lionesses, who last played the Netherlands in a 1-1 draw in Marbella in February 2024, while they previously faced Portugal in 2-0 victory at Manchester City’s Joie Stadium in October of last year.
Coates said: “Over the summer we’ve been working with the other European nations to develop the WU23 competition.
“We wanted to make it a more competitive experience for our Young Lionesses which will be hugely important for their development, so they can feel that added level of pressure whilst playing and wearing an England shirt.
“Over the last year we’ve had four WU23s players transition to the seniors, with three making their debuts. It’s going to be a really exciting season, and I can’t wait to see who’s next to follow in their footsteps.”
Defender Aspin was a member of the England team which reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Under 19 Football Championship in Lithuania earlier this year.
She played in all three group matches in which England beat Portugal 1-0, Lithuania 10-0 and France 1-0. They lost 3-1 to Spain in the semi final.
She played for Bristol City last season, having come up through the Robins Academy, and made her debut as the age of 16.
She signed for Chelsea on a permanent contract in July of last year with a loan-back clause for the 2023/24 season.
She has now signed on loan for Crystal palace in the WSL.
England squad: Goalkeepers: Fran Bentley (Bristol City), Katie Cox (Chelsea), Fran Stenson (Southampton), Kayla Rendell (Southampton). Defenders: Brooke Aspin (Crystal Palace, on loan from Chelsea), Tara Bourne (Southampton), Anouk Denton (West Ham), Teyah Goldie (London City Lionessses, on loan from Arsenal), Freya Gregory (Southampton), Lucy Parry (Liverpool), Hannah Silcock (Liverpool). Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Ruby Grant (Bk Hacken), Missy Bo Kearns (Aston Villa), Lucia Kendall (Southampton), Olivia McLoughlin (Rangers), Ruby Mace (Leicester City) Maisie Symonds (Brighton & Hove). Forwards: Michelle Agyemang (Brighton & Hove, on loan from Arsenal), Mia Enderby (Liverpool), Isobel Goodwin (London City Lionesses), Lenna Gunning-Williams (Tottenham Hotspur) Katie Robinson (Aston Villa), Missy Goodwin (Leicester City)