BT Sport have secured a new four-year deal to screen live coverage of England development team matches, starting with the crucial European Championship play-off match for the Under-21s against Croatia on October 10.
The deal continues BT Sport’s coverage of all Under-21s home qualifiers for their Euro 2015 qualification campaign so far and extends to the Young Lions’ future home competitive and friendly matches until 2018.
BT Sport will also cover one England Under-17s game and one England Under-19s game each season over this four-year period, providing a huge boost in exposure to the national development teams.
Commenting on the new four-year deal, Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “We’re delighted to be showing the Young Lions on BT Sport.
“Youth development is important to the future of our national game and now our viewers will be able to watch the stars of the future in action, exclusively live, on BT Sport.”
BT Sport has covered home England Under-21 matches since inheriting the rights from ESPN in August 2013, with the previous deal tied to its former FA Cup contract.
Gareth Southgate, England Under-21 Head Coach, added: “BT Sport’s continued support of the England Under-21s is great news and by including younger development teams in their coverage it means fans will be able to watch some of the country’s most exciting prospects even further down the age groups.”
Southgate’s side take on Croatia in their Euro 2015 play-off first leg encounter on Friday, October 10 at Molineux, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers, kicking off at 5.45pm, exclusively live on BT Sport, with the return fixture taking place in Croatia on October 14.
The former England defender has overseen a qualification campaign which has witnessed nine wins and one draw from ten matches, securing top place in England’s group.
A place in next year’s UEFA European Under-21 Championship Finals in the Czech Republic rests on success over two legs against Croatia.
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