Wembley stadium is the home of English international football.
It is underneath that famous arch where the men’s senior national side play their home matches, attracting around 90,000 fans to watch the three lions roar to success (especially since the summer).
However, in recent years the national team have toured around the country, playing at different stadiums like Sunderland’s Stadium of Light or Leicester’s King Power, bringing international football to other areas of England.
While it is a relatively new idea for the senior side to travel around the country, it’s been happening for years with England’s other teams, as the women’s and youth sides visit grounds all over England to play their home games.
In fact, St James Park has hosted international football, notably on the 22nd November 2006, when England’s women’s under-21s drew 1-1 with France.
Over 4,000 people were in the Park that evening – breaking the attendance record for an England women’s under-21 game. However, that wasn’t the first time international football had been played at Exeter City.
In April 1976, the English police force took on their Scottish counterparts at SJP as the coppers shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. St James Park was hosting international football again just two years later, as England’s women’s side won a friendly against the Republic of Ireland 6-1 in May 1978, damning the Republic to their first defeat in five years.
The most recent international match at the Park was in February 2008 when England C played against Wales’ semi-pro side in the International Challenge Trophy. Dean Moxey started for the Three Lions and Adam Stansfield was on the bench as England overcame Wales 2-1, with goals from Cambridge United centre-back Michael Morrison (now of Birmingham City) and striker Mitchell Cole.
Exeter City themselves have also played against an international side at SJP as, on the 90th anniversary of City’s legendary match against Brazil, the five-times world champions sent over a legends team to play the Grecians. The Seleção won 1-0 thanks to a penalty from former UEFA Cup and Serie A winner Careca, who sent high to goalkeeper Martin Rice’s right-hand side.