Para Lions focusing on CP EURO glory on home soil

After a decade-long wait, this summer the England Cerebral Palsy team will host the 2025 International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football European Championships at Loughborough University.

For many, playing for England on home soil is a dream, but for the 14 selected, it’s a dream about to become a reality.

Captaining the side will be Matt Crossen, one of the few remaining players to have featured in the 2015 home World Cup which was staged at St. George's Park.

With the potential that this could be Crossen’s final tournament for England before hanging up his boots, he's stated that leading the team out on home soil would be “the pinnacle of my career, especially with all the home fans there as well”.

After coming off the back of a silver medal in the last European Championship in 2023 in Italy, England are be looking to take the next step up with home advantage on their side and become champions to which Crossen described: “would be the best thing, then I can retire happy”.

Working hard to make that possible is Para Lions' head coach, Andy Smith.

Just a few months ago, the cerebral palsy squad participated in the IFCPF World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals but unfortunately lost on penalties. 

They have since worked with their training partners, Loughborough University, to try and reach their best ahead of the summer.

Every second week, six or seven students from the university come to train with the squad and their job is to replicate the world’s best.

A player that has found this approach beneficial is Sam Dewhirst, who explained: “Whereas we’ve got impairments, we struggle with certain things, they’re mainstream players.

"I think if we’re playing against these mainstream players and they’re sharp, when it comes to playing against people with your impairment you’re sharper from playing against the higher level of mobility and physicality and it makes you more prepared for a tournament.”

The squad's most recent training session consisted of the development players facing the senior players in a match and Smith was impressed with the talent on display from both sides.

“Some of the development lads did really well, standing up to the first team players," he said.

"And some of the first team players really showed their class in certain parts of the game as well.”

Ahead of the tournament, scheduled to take place between 8-22 August, the team will play six fixtures traveling to both Scotland and the Netherlands before Smith and his staff have to pick their final 14.

The head coach has stressed and laid down the challenge that: “There’s plenty of opportunities, so it’s up to the players to go and grab it!”.

One thing abundantly clear was the excitement of playing in front of a home crowd again.

Having featured in the 2015 tournament, Harry Baker shared how “playing in front of fans was amazing” and he hopes this tournament will attract as many fans as the 2015 edition.