Marc Bircham and Martin Rowlands have both enjoyed representing their countries this week.
Bircham came on as a 51st minute substitute for Canada in their 1-0 defeat to Wales at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham on Sunday.
Birch did have an opportunity to equalise late in the game but for an outstanding save by Welsh keeper Martyn Margetson.Rowlands meanwhile as reported last week by QPR MAD made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland against Romania at Lansdowne Road. The Irish won that game 1-0 thanks to a Matt Holland strike.
Since then the Irish have taken part in the Unity Cup, a 3-way friendly tournament including themselves, Jamaica and Nigeria. The games have been held at Charlton Athletic’s ground The Valley over the week.
Rowlands won his second cap in the 3-0 defeat to Nigeria (the eventual winners) playing 45 minutes. He won praise from boss Brian Kerr who said "Martin Rowlands has played in a couple of games and done reasonably well, if we hadn't had this group of games, people like him wouldn't have got the opportunity."
Ireland finished runners-up thanks to a 1-0 victory over Jamaica last night (Wednesday), the goal scored by Coventry youngster Graham Barrett.
Ex-Ranger Richard Langley was ready to represent Jamaica and line-up against Rowlands’ on the opposite flank but for both players to be named amongst the substitutes.
Rowly joined the game in the 75th minute. He didn’t put a foot wrong and will hopefully be named in the team to take on the Dutch on Saturday. At the final whistle it was nice to see Langers go over to him and swap shirts.
Congratulations go to Rowly and Birch on their international appearances over the week, more to follow hopefully.