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| England's Class of '93. Back Row (L to R) Kevin Gallen, Kevin Sharp, Chris Day, Andy Marshall, Sol Campbell, Rob Bowman Nicky Butt. Front Row (L to R) Julian Joachim, Paul Scholes, Noel Whelan, Jamie Forrester, Chris Casper, Darren Caskey, Robbie Fowler, Mark Tinkler, Gary Neville. |
As England arrive in Miami this morning ahead of their final World Cup warmup matches before their first match against Italy in just under two weeks time, The Lone Striker takes a look back at one of England's most celebrated sides, England's victorious Class of '93.
At the end of the inaugural Premier League Season, England hosted The Uefa Under 18 European Championships, a competition no England side had won for over a decade.
Whilst the senior England team were hurtling headlong into oblivion under the misguidance of Graham Taylor, during one of the most shambolic qualifying campaigns in the history of The English National team, England's Class of '93 squad had been moulded by the visionary figure that was Ted Powell. When asked to describe his ideal style of play for his England team, what is now in inflated terms described as a coache's 'Philosophy', Powell railed out against the Long ball, Kick and Rush that was Taylor's England, "Player's are not encouraged to pass to each other but to hit balls into channels, which isn't appropriate for international football."
It was a view not heeded by The FA until the appointment of Terry Venables, who accepted the unenviable job of rebuilding The English National team from the smoldering embers of Taylor's catastrophic reign. My England team, Powell told press interviewers "will get the ball down and play."
The core of Powell's England came from Manchester United's 'Class of '92' all conquering FA Youth Cup winning side, that would go on to dominate English football for the next decade. (Scholes, Gary Neville, Butt and Casper) and Leeds United, whose Youth setup had claimed the title from United a year later. (Whelan, Tinker, Forrester, Bowman and Sharp). Three players came from Tottenham (Campbell, Goalkeeper Chris Day and captain Darren Caskey) the remainder from Norwich, backup keeper Andy Marshal, Liverpools Robbie fowler and Kevin Gallen of QPR.
Powell told the press days before the tournamnet began that "This is an exceptionally gifted group of players, and i'll be very disappointed if a number of them dont eventually make it to the full National XI" Powell was not to be dissapinted. What marks the England class of '93 Under 18 team out from other England youth sides is the level of success enjoyed by its players. But that was all in the future.
For now, this team of young English talent wold provide a cause for optimism. Less than a month before the start of the tournament, Taylor's England had reached a new low, in the space of a week, England were outplayed and outclassed in Oslo, beaten by Norway in a convincing 2-0 defeat, before plummeting to a new low under the beleaguered Taylor, a humiliating 2-0 defeat in the 'US Cup' an invitational tournament created as a precursor to the World Cup in 1994. England needn't have worried, with their chances all but dead and buried they were finished off in Rotterdam in September as The Dutch all but ended England's World Cup dreams.
But for eight days in July 1993, Ted Powell's England team offered England fans a brighter alternative, with one journalist describing his team as one who played with "a stlye and panache" so very rarely seen in any English National team.
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| Sol Campbell challenges Goalkeeper Murat Turksoy during England's final against Turkey. |
The Tournament
As tournament hosts, England were spared qualifying, but were drawn in an extraordinarily tough group B, pitted alongside France, Spain and Holland. Meanwhile, defending Champions Turkey were drawn in Group A alongside Hungary, Portugal and Romania. As expected, Group A proved a tight proposition, with Portugal and reigning Champions Turkey separated by just one goal going into their final game against one another with the winner progressing to the final.
The Turks had drawn their opening game with Hungary 1-1 as Portugal played out a goalless draw against Romania. In the second round of group matches both had had come out on top with The Portuguese beating Hungary 2-0 and Turkey running out 3-0 winners against Romania. In the decisive final group matchup, The Turks emerged as convincing winners over The Portuguese beating them 2-0 to reach their second consecutive Under 18 European Championship Final.
Group A’s final standings looked like this:
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
GD
|
Points
|
1
|
Turkey
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
6
|
1
|
+5
|
5
|
2
|
Portugal
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
Hungary
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
-1
|
3
|
4
|
Romania
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
4
|
-4
|
1
|
England’s Young Lions
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| Paul Scholes |
England’s midfield were set up in a pyramid de rigueur of the period, with Tottenham’s Darren Caskey, Captain and deep lying playmaker masked alongside another Leeds youngster, enforcer Mark Tinkler. These two were joined by a Manchester United pair of striker Paul Scholes, (used as a number 10 by Powell) or Nicky Butt, with Liverpool’s Robbie Fowler eventually deployed at the tip of the pyramid behind a front two of QPR’s Kevin Gallen and the hugely talented Julian Joachim of Leicester City.
England's Campaign
England struggled in their opening game, against a France side which included future Leeds and Everton star Olivier Dacourt, Lille youngster Antoine Sibierski, who would later play for Newcastle, Manchester City and Wigan, and Martin Djetou who had a two year spell at Craven Cottage.
The match was headed for a goalless stalemate until Powell made an inspired late double substitution bringing on QPR youngster Kevin Gallen and Liverpool’s Robbie Fowler. Both grabbed goals in the final ten minutes, with Fowler scoring a brilliant thirty yard lob on his weaker right foot to get England off to a superb start in the tournament.
Two days later, with Fowler and Gallen now included in Powell’s starting eleven, England put on the performance of the tournament, demolishing a much fancied Dutch side 4-1. Holland included in their ranks genuine future superstars Patrick Kluivert and Clarence Seedorf alongside future Arsenal and Barca star Giovanni Van Bronckhurst. (Van Bronckhurst captained Holland in the 2010 World Cup Final in South Africa)
England were outstanding, playing with a pace and power that completely overran a Dutch side focused on possession football. But in Caskey and Scholes, England had players with genuine international class who were equally adept at maintaining possession, and dictating the tempo of play through midfield, but with players like the outstanding Joachim and Robbie Fowler, England possessed an explosive attacking element that no other team in the possessed.
A goal apiece from Fowler and Gallen and a brace from the tournament’s best player, the pacy and diminutive Julian Joachim gave England a magnificent 4-1 win, leaving them needing only to gain a point in their final game against Spain to qualify for the final.
A typically inventive and technically superior Spanish side proved a difficult prospect for an England team still high on confidence following the destruction of the Dutch. As expected, Spain began much the better side, frustrating England and dominating possession, but England scored late in the first half against the run of play through Leeds youngster Mark Tinkler to go in 1-0 up at the break.
In the second half Spain were reduced to ten men after a bizarre incident involving future Bolton Striker Javi Moreno (then a promising youngster From Barca’s Cantera, before a nomadic career across Spain, also taking in a spell at AC Milan). Moreno had been brought on at the break and had managed just three minutes on the pitch before collecting two yellow cards, one for a barge on the referee barely thirty seconds into his arrival, followed by a second booking two minutes later for an horrific two footed challenge on Gary Neville.
Spain equalized in the 70th minute, but just minutes later Fowler grabbed the first of what became a hattrick. Spain found themselves reduced to nine men after their goalscorer, Real Madrid youngster Carlos Sierra was sent off for dissent. In the dying minutes, another Leeds youngster, Jamie Forrester scored a fifth for England, setting up a final against defending Champions Turkey at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.
Englands final Group B Standings looked like this:
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
GD
|
Points
|
1
|
England
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
2
|
+9
|
6
|
2
|
Spain
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
8
|
8
|
0
|
4
|
3
|
Holland
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
8
|
-4
|
1
|
4
|
France
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
7
|
-5
|
1
|
The Final
England struggled to replicate their blistering goal scoring form at the Group stages into the final. England looked nervous in a tense first half played out in front of 25,000 supporters at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground. Sky TV’S extensive coverage of the tournament had whipped up a frenzy of support, lapped up by an English viewing public increasingly exacerbated by the traumas of Graham Taylor’s shambolic England reign.
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| Paul Scholes fires a shot from just outside the box against Turkey during the final. |
In the final, it was the excellent Joachim who proved the difference. Throughout the second half, his influence grew in the game. He had already come close to breaking the deadlock on two or three occasions when, in the 75th minute, following a typical explosive burst of pace into the Turkish box, Joachim was hauled down by the Turkish Sweeper; Fenerbaches's Serkan Recber, and England were awarded the penalty. Darren Caskey cooly converted to win the game 1-0, and see England crowned Under-18 European Champions, for the first time since 1980.
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| Gary Neville, Mark Tinkler, Robbie Fowler and Sol Campbell celebreate with goalscorer Darren Caskey after he fires England into the lead from The Penalty Spot. |
What Became of Englands Class of '93?
Julian Joachim
The outstanding England player during the ’93 European Championships, Joachim was one of the hottest properties in English Football in the early 90’s. Left Leicester City in 1996 to move across the midlands to Aston Villa. Spent five years at Villa Park, reaching the FA Cup Final in 2000, before spells at Coventry and Leeds. Still playng at non league Oadby Town.
Darren Caskey
Captain of the Euro ’93 team. Caskey was a product of the same Tottenham Youth setup as future England internationals Sol Campbell and Nick Barmby. He became a victim of the turmoil at mid 90’s Spurs, playing under four different managers during his time at Tottenham. Finding opportunities increasingly limited, Caskey dropped down two divisions in 1996 To join Reading, finishing top scorer in his first season and reaching The Division 2 play off final in 2001, where Reading lost out to Walsall. After spells at Notts County and Peterborough, fell out of League football in 2005 to pursue a career in non league.
Now assistant manager at Conference Premier outfit Gateshead.
Gary Neville
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| Gary Neville (far right) with his Manchester United teammates Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Chris Casper with pose with the European Championship trophy. |
Won everything that could be won in a Manchester United shirt.
The mouthpiece of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. Rose from being an oft- ridiculed figure during his early years at United, to become one of the greatest and most respected defensive players in world football. What he lacked in technical ability he made up for in a raw commitment and desire, and an inner drive that saw him become a fearless competitor.
Best remembered in an England shirt for his attempts to organize a players strike in retaliation for The FA’S ban handed out to Rio Ferdinand for failing to attend a drugs test in 2004. Neville was talked down by Sir Alex Ferguson who feared a vicious backlash against Manchester United.
Retired from playing in 2011, Neville is now English football’s Leading technical pundit on Sky Sports and an assistant coach to Roy Hodgson for the England team headed to Brazil.
Robbie Fowler
The most Idolized Liverpool player of his generation. Won consecutive PFA Young Player of the year awards in 1994 and ‘95. England’s most naturally gifted goalscorer since Jimmy Greaves, Fowler was never given an extended run in the national team that allowed him to replicate his goal scoring exploits for Liverpool in an England Shirt. Sadly for Fowler, he found his international opportunities limited during a ‘golden age’ of English strikers, finding himself down the pecking order behind the likes of Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand, Andy Cole and Ian Wright.
How Roy Hodgson must weep.
Part of The Liverpool squad that won a unique FA, League and UEFA Cup treble in 2001. Left Anfield in a £12m pound transfer to Leeds before moving to Manchester City. Briefly returned to Anfield, before spells at Cardiff and Blackburn. Ended his playing career in Australia’s A-League.
Now back at Anfield as a coach at The Liverpool academy.
Sol Campbell
Broke Tottenham hearts in 2001 by crossing the North London divide to join arch rivals Arsenal where he won two league titles and three FA cups under Arsene Wenger. Scored Arsenal’s goal in their Champions League Final against Barcelona in 2006 in his last game for The Gunners before joining Portsmouth in 2006. In the twilight of his career he continued to pick up silverware, helping Pompey to win their first FA Cup in nearly fifty years in 2008. An England fixture for over a decade, Campbell became the first player to represent England in six consecutive international tournaments in the World Cup in Germany in 2006. Returned to Asrenal in 2010 in between spells at Notts County and Newcastle.
Recently seen in multiple media outlets promoting a controversial autobiography.
Paul Scholes
Described by coach Ted Powell as my ‘Ginger haired livewire,’ Scholes became the greatest English player of his generation, perhaps any generation. Won everything there was to win at elite club level, in a twenty year career with Manchester United, winning eleven league titles, three FA cups and two Champions League titles. Despite being widely considered as the most complete footballer of his generation, personal accolades alluded Scholes. Rarely gave interviews and shunned the trappings of the modern day celebrity footballer, perhaps as a consequence, he never received the individual awards his talent so richly deserved.
In 2000, after winning The European Championships with France, Zinedine Zidane was asked “How does it feel to be the best midfielder in the world?,” Zidane’s reply?
“I don’t know, ask Paul Scholes.”
After his final game (before being coaxed out of retirement seven months later) for Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League Final, Barca’s Xavi and Andres Iniesta (who had idolized Scholes growing up) fought over who got to swap shirts with him.
Iniesta won.
Mark Tinkler
Part of Leeds’ FA Youth Cup triumph in 1993, Tinkler suffered an horrendous injury midway through the 93-94 season that he never fully recovered from. Leaving Leeds in 1997 to join York , followed by a period at Southend United, it is at Hartlepool, where Tinkler is best remembered, becoming a fans favourite during the most successful run in the clubs history, playing in four playoff campaigns and two promotion seasons in his seven years at the club.
Now an under 16 youth coach at Middlesbrough.
Noel Whelan
Another part of Leeds 1993 FA Youth Cup winning squad, became one of the most exciting young players in the early years of The Premier League. Made over 250 appearances during a decade playing in the highest division after leaving Leeds in 1995. Coventry paid £2 million to secure his services, before moving on once again to Middlesbrough in 2000. Quit football for a period in 2003, amid mounting personal problems, Whelan spent time in rehab for treatment for alcoholism and was declared bankrupt in 2010. Spent the remainder of his career making brief appearences for a number of league clubs and a season spent in the SPL in Aberdeen.
Now working as a youth coach at Derby County.
Chris Casper
After loan Spells at Bournemouth and Swindon Town, Casper left Manchester United in 1998 after failing to break into the United First Team to Join Reading. Things started well, with Casper cementing a regular place in The Royal’s starting line-up before he suffered an horrific double leg break on Boxing Day 1999 which ended his playing career at just 24. Casper then took up coaching a coaching role at Bury that eventually saw Casper spend two and a half years as manager, before being sacked, and finding coaching roles at Bradford and Grimsby
Now employed by The Premier League as a club Support Manager, working with clubs in The North West to implement educational programmes and provide advice to Youth academies.
Nicky Butt
Another of United’s Class of ’92, left Old Trafford in 2004 after signing for Bobby Robson’s Newcastle, where he remained, (apart from a season long loan to Birmingham in 2005-06) until the end of his playing career in England. After Winning 39 for caps for England, Butt Suffered Relegation to The Championship in 2009, and called time on his playing career at the end of the following campaign, in which Newcastle regained promotion to The Premier League. Had a brief spell six month spell in China which ended in May 2011.
Returned to Manchester United in 2012 to coach the Reserve side and assisted Ryan Giggs alongside Paul Scholes at the end of last season in following Giggs’ appointment as caretaker manager.
Kevin Gallen
Gallen became one of the most popular QPR players in the club’s history.Scored just shy of a century of goals in over 300 games in two spells at the club. As well as notable spells at Huddersfield and Luton Town, Gallen starred for MK Dons during their double winning squad of 2008 when they were crowned Champions of League Two alongside winning The League Football Trophy.
Now a youth development coach at QPR’s youth academy.
Chris Day
The Goalkeeper left Tottenham in 1996 to join Crystal Palace, before spells at Watford and Lincoln City. Played briefly in the Premiership again while at Watford during their one year stay in the top flight during which they finished rock bottom of the table and were relegated. Joined QPR IN 2001 where he spent four years, before loan spells at Aylesbury and Preston North End. Signed for Stevenage in 2008, Day helped them win The FA Trophy in his first season before gaining promotion from the Conference Premier and promotion to League One following Stevenage’s playoff success in 2011.
Has Just signed a new one year deal at Stevenage.
Kevin Sharp
Like the rest of The Leeds contingent, Sharp left Leeds in 1995 after failing to be given any first team opportunities under Howard Wilkinson. In 1995 Sharp signed for Wigan and in 1997 won promotion from Division three with The Latics. Between 2001 and 2004, Sharp achieved an unenviable hattrick of successive relegations with Wrexham, Huddersfield and Scunthorpe. After working as a youth coach at Wigan, Sharp is now a football consultant for a Sports management company.
Jamie Forrester
The dimunitive Striker scored in both legs of Leeds’ 1993 FA Youth Cup Triumph over Manchester United before leaving Elland Road in a career that took in all four divisons of The English Football League. Forrester won a hattrick of promotions from League two with three different clubs, Scunthorpe in 1999, Northampton Town in 2000 and Hull City in 2004. Forrester now runs his own business in Lincoln and is a youth coach.
Rob Bowman
Another member of Leeds' 1993 FA Youth Cup winning team, the highlight of Bowman's career at club level was being part of the Carlisle side that escaped relegation form the football league due to Goalkeeper Jimmy Glass' final day heroics in 1999. Bowman retired from football in 2001.
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| The Leeds United contingent of the winning under 18 Euro's side, who also won The FA Youth Cup in 1993. Rob Bowman, Kevin Sharp, Noel Whelan, Jamie Forrester and Mark Tinkler. |
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