Andy McCann has barely settled back into his routine after a brief hiatus. By day, he holds the position of assistant headteacher at Great Sankey High School in Warrington, and with the summer break now over, the academic term is in full swing once again. Yet, in the coming days, McCann will step away from the classroom for an eight‑day spell to take on a very different role – that of England’s manager, albeit in a modest, amateur capacity.
McCann also oversees the Cheshire League representative side, a squad assembled from the standout players of the Cheshire League Premier Division. This team clinched the FA Inter‑League Cup by defeating the Herts Senior County League at Leicester’s King Power Stadium on May 9. That victory secured them a place to represent England in the UEFA Regions Cup, a competition that pits amateur regional selections from across Europe against each other.
The Regions Cup, inaugurated in 1996 and held biennially since 1999 (with the 2021 edition cancelled due to Covid), is an amateur tournament where national associations either qualify or are nominated. The entrants are divided into eight groups in an intermediate stage, and the group winners advance to the finals. Historically, Spain have dominated with four titles, Italy follow with three, Poland with two, and the Republic of Ireland, Portugal, Croatia and the Czech Republic each have one.
On Sunday, 6 September, McCann and his squad will depart for Sweden, where they will play three matches with the aim of becoming the first English side ever to reach the Regions Cup final. Reflecting on the journey, McCann told Sky Sports, “During the Inter‑League Cup, the chairman Rob Goodwin‑Davey – who is the Cheshire League chairman – kept mentioning the possibility of us representing England, but I was solely focused on winning the cup at the time.” He added, “Our management team met a few times to fine‑tune tactics, set‑pieces and final details, and that’s when the magnitude of the opportunity sank in. After we lifted the trophy, people in the pub were joking, ‘When the World Cup is over, you’ll be England manager!’ It’s a bit of a tongue‑in‑cheek comparison, but the experience feels like managing an international side, just at a much lower level.” McCann smiles at the notion of being “England manager for a week,” noting that the squad will be billed as England’s D team – a label they have embraced.
"When we arrive at the airport, we’ll be handed the full England kit – the same tracksuits, shirts, shorts and socks worn by the senior national team. For many of the lads, just pulling on that shirt in a competitive match is a massive thrill," he explained. Unlike professional squads, the Cheshire League team is composed entirely of amateurs who juggle day jobs alongside football.
The roster includes players such as AJ Atherton, George Anthony, Callum Burgess, Matt Dixon, Niall Dolan, Amir Hajri, Harry Johnston, Tim Kinsella, Harrison Mather, Liam McDowell, Rob Payne, Rhys Peers, Ben Powell, Matt Saunders, Bailey Sherlock, Lee Simmons, Walker Stone and Arron Woodward. Captain Tim Kinsella works as an electrician, while vice‑captain Liam McDowell is a quantity surveyor.
Two squad members are qualified PE teachers, and several others are pursuing PGCEs to become teachers. Many of the players are taking unpaid leave to join the trip, though most are using regular holiday time, treating the eight‑day adventure as a well‑earned break. "We haven’t encountered any travel‑related issues, but it was a concern initially," McCann said.
He also confirmed that his promise to the squad – that the team winning the Inter‑League Cup would be the one to travel to Sweden – had been kept. The only absentee is Juliano Rosa Silva, who played every minute of the cup run but is sidelined with injury and is understandably disappointed. Scouting opponents at this level is a challenge. "For our first match we have an FA‑registered coach whose primary job will be to observe the other two teams while we focus on our own game.
By the second and third fixtures we’ll have gathered more intelligence, and we’ll be better prepared," McCann explained. He emphasized that the team’s identity is built around a blend of technical ability, power and pace, tailored to the strengths of the players selected. The Cheshire League side will face representative teams from Finland (Jarvenpää United), Portugal (Algarve) and Sweden (Gothenburg) in the group stage. Of the 34 teams in the competition, the Finnish, Portuguese and Swedish squads are ranked 11th, 7th and 30th respectively, while the Cheshire League sit at 17th.
Despite their amateur status, the preparation has been as professional as possible. "We have a detailed eight‑day schedule covering rest, recovery, meals and training aligned with match times. If you’re going to do this, you do it to the best of your ability," McCann asserted.
He also arranged for three members of the Mid‑Cheshire team that won the Inter‑League Cup in 2004 to give a motivational speech after the final training session, incorporating their advice into the current plan. McCann is clear that the aim is not simply to enjoy a week wearing the England badge but to compete fiercely. "Our focus is winning all three games and reaching the finals, but we also see this as an opportunity to raise the profile of amateur football for the next generation.
It’s massive," he said. After the Swedish campaign concludes, McCann will return to his school duties at the crack of dawn, ready to teach and inspire the next generation – perhaps now with the added distinction of having been an England manager, however briefly, for a week.