Bicester Community College’s Jordan Ayris can’t wait to represent his country after being selected for the England Under 18s squad.
The 18-year-old striker earned his call-up after impressing in a series of trial games.
“I was pleased,” he said. “It will be good to represent my country, and I am looking forward to it.
“I was just put forward for the trials and went along and carried on going through. It was not a long-term goal to go for it.”
Now Ayris, who also plays for Ardley United, will meet up with the 18-strong squad on the weekend of January 28-30 when they will face Loughborough University.
They then head to Malaga for a training camp, before the first Under 18 Centenary Shield international against Northern Ireland at AFC Telford United on Friday, March 4 (7pm).
Games follow against Wales at Yeovil Town on Friday, March 25, Scotland at Inverness on Thursday, April 21 and Republic of Ireland on Thursday, April 28 – with the last two live on Sky Sports.
Dean Woodham, head of PE at Bicester Community College, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Jordan and the college.”
Ayris was on schoolboy forms with Oxford United from under nine to 15, before being released.
The teenager has received a football scholarship, and plans to continue his studies in the USA next year.
l CHERWELL (Oxford) suffered a heartbreaking exit in the ESFA Under 15 Schools’ Cup with a 4-3 defeat on penalties at home to Northampton School For Boys after their sixth-round tie finished 1-1 after extra time.
OTHER SCORERS
Boys
ESFA Under 13 Schools’ Cup 6th round: Kingsdown (Swindon) 3, Cherwell 2.
ESFA Under 14 Premier League Schools’ Cup 6th round: Mangotsfield 4, King Alfred’s (Wantage) 2.
Girls
ESFA Under 16 Schools’ Cup 6th round: Cherwell 0, Countesthorpe Community College (Leics) 5.
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