England soccer success for Bradford College student

A Bradford College student has been selected to represent England at football.

Robbie Cliffe, a Level 2 Sport student, has been named in the England Mencap squad for this summer’s European Football Championship in Switzerland.

The 20-year-old from Queensbury, who plays with Bradford Disability Football Club, will be part of the national team that will compete in Geneva in the first week of June.

He was selected to play for his country after attending trials in Harrogate, along with more than 60 other players from across the country.

He was thrilled to make the cut to the final 15 and book his place on the trip to the Swiss tournament.

“When they announced at the end of the day that I had made the team I felt great,” said Robbie, an attacking midfielder.

“A lot of the other players play in League 1 and League 2 whereas I play at League 3 so I was very proud to have made it.

“I think it was thanks to my communication that I got selected.

“I am very excited about going to Switzerland and experiencing it.

“I have never been picked for England before so I am really looking forward to it.”

The European Championship is just the first event of what promises to be a hectic sporting summer for the talented soccer player.

Within days of returning from Geneva he is set to return to the continent to play with his club in Rotterdam.

Then, at the end of June, the club will head over to Northern Ireland to play in the George Best Community Cup, a disability football tournament that attracts more than 500 players from various clubs across Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England and Guernsey.

Bradford College offers a host of sports courses at various levels. Anyone interested is invited to attend the college’s Open Event on Saturday March 18 between 11am and 2om at the David Hockney Building on Great Horton Road.