Andy McCann has only just gotten back to his regular duties, but a very unusual week lies ahead for him. By day he serves as an assistant headteacher at Great Sankey High School in Warrington, guiding pupils through lessons and school life as the new term gets underway after the summer break. Yet, within the next eight days he will step away from the classroom to take on a very different role – that of "England manager" – albeit at an amateur level. McCann’s secondary job is the manager of the Cheshire League representative side, a squad assembled from the standout players of the Cheshire League Premier Division.
This team recently clinched the FA Inter‑League Cup, defeating the Herts Senior County League at Leicester’s King Power Stadium on 9 May. That victory earned them the honour of representing England in the UEFA Regions Cup, a competition that pits the best amateur regional teams from across Europe against one another. The Regions Cup was launched in 1996 and, apart from a COVID‑induced cancellation in 2021, has been staged every two years since 1999. National associations either qualify their regional sides or nominate them directly, after which the teams enter an intermediate stage divided into eight groups.
The group winners progress to a final tournament. Historically, Spain have dominated with four titles, Italy have three, Poland two, while the Republic of Ireland, Portugal, Croatia and the Czech Republic have each won once. On Sunday 6 September, McCann and his squad will fly to Sweden for a three‑match mini‑tournament that offers the chance to become the first English side ever to reach the Regions Cup finals.
"During the Inter‑League Cup, the chairman Rob Goodwin‑Davey – who is essentially the chairman of the Cheshire League – kept mentioning the possibility of us representing England, but I was just focused on winning the cup," McCann told Sky Sports. "After we lifted the trophy, people in the pub started joking that once the World Cup was over I’d be England manager!" He quickly added that, while the comparison is tongue‑in‑cheek, the experience feels akin to managing a national side, just on a much smaller scale. "When we board the plane I’ll realise it’s a real privilege to be England manager for a week, even if it’s at a lower level. We’ve decided we’re the England D team and we’ll embrace that," he said.
The team will be fully kitted out in the official England strip – the same tracksuits, training shirts, shorts and socks worn by the senior national team. "The lads are buzzing just to put on the England shirt in a competitive match. For many it’s a massive moment," McCann explained.
Unlike professional internationals, the Cheshire League players are amateurs who juggle football with full‑time jobs. The squad includes names 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 physical‑education teachers, and several others are studying PGCEs to become teachers themselves.
Because the tournament falls during the school term, many players are taking unpaid or normal leave to travel. "Some lads are using unpaid leave, but most are treating it as a chance for eight days off and enjoying it," McCann noted. He promised the final squad that a victory would secure their place in Sweden, a pledge he has kept.
The only absentee is Juliano Rosa Silva, who featured in every minute of the Inter‑League Cup but is sidelined with injury and is understandably disappointed. Scouting opponents at this level is a challenge. "We have an FA‑registered coach whose primary job during the tournament will be to observe the other teams. For our opening game he’ll watch the two other sides, and by the second and third matches we’ll have a clearer picture of what we’re up against," McCann said.
He emphasized that the team’s identity is built on a blend of technical ability, power and pace, tailored to their strengths rather than trying to copy a more professional style. Cheshire League will face representative sides from Finland (Jarvenpää United), Portugal (Algarve) and Sweden (Gothenburg). In the overall ranking of the 34 participating teams, Finland sit 11th, Portugal 7th, Sweden 30th, while the Cheshire League are placed 17th – a respectable mid‑table position. Preparation for the Swedish trip has been as meticulous as possible for an amateur outfit.
"We’ve planned every hour of the eight‑day window – rest, recovery, meals, training and match‑day routines. If you’re going to do it, 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 talk after the final training session.
Their insights helped shape the squad’s approach. The ultimate goal is not merely to enjoy a week of wearing the England badge, but to win all three games, reach the finals and raise the profile of grassroots football for future generations. "We’re not going just for the experience; we want to win and show that amateur football can compete on a European stage," McCann said. After the Sweden adventure, McCann will return to the school early in the morning, ready to resume teaching and, perhaps, to be remembered by his pupils as a brief England manager – a unique badge of honour that bridges his two passions: education and football.