Oaks players win EPFA Home Nations

In early April, Kyle Alexander and Gregg Baxter represented an England development squad in Newtonards, Northern Ireland.

Alexander and Baxter are part of The FA's National Emerging Talent Pathway (NETP) for powerchair football, alongside Myles Miller. The programme is seen as a key link to bridge the gap between national league football and senior England national representation.

Powerchair Footballs European body, the European Powerchair Football Association (EPFA), held a home nations event in partnership with the Irish Football Association, featuring Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and England.

England sent a strong squad, with players aged between 17-21. Alexander and Baxter, as previously capped senior internationals, were seen as the most experienced within the squad and took on the roles of captain and vice captain respectively.

England opened the competition against the Republic of Ireland and secured a 2-0 victory. Alexander got on the scoresheet, scoring the second of the game. They then followed this up with a 3-0 victory against Northern Ireland. Baxter, playing as a goalkeeper, picked up two clean sheets on the opening day. With these two victories, the team secured their place in the final the following afternoon, regardless of results.

The following morning, England demolished Scotland 7-0, with Alexander scoring a brace and another clean sheet for Baxter.

England subsequently went into the final, against Northern Ireland as firm favourites. They delivered on this with a convincing 4-0 victory. Alexander himself opened the scoring early, firing in two goals in succession from corner kicks. Baxter kept his fourth clean sheet and the team were crowned as the inaugural EPFA Home Nations winners.

Alexander lifted the trophy to huge applause and celebrations. Many congratulations to them both from everyone at SPFC.