Brighton and Hove to host international football match

By Tim Embleton

Brighton and Hove is to host international football at the Amex later this month when England’s Under-21 team plays Austria.

The match on Monday 25 March will be the Under-21s’ final game before the Euro 2013 U21 finals in Israel in June.

This is the second time the Brighton and Hove Albion ground has been used for a football international.

The last one was the England Under-19s’ victory over Denmark in November 2011.

Blackpool’s Tom Ince, who hopes to play on 25 March, praised the Amex:

“Brighton has fantastic facilities at the Amex. The pitch is a brilliant service and they get great crowds down there.”

Ince is seen as one of the up and coming stars of English football and relishes the opportunity to play for England.

“It’s always an honour to represent your country at any level.

“Not many people get to represent their country and it’s a fantastic feeling when pulling on the shirt,” he said.

England’s Under-21s have won seven matches in a row without conceding a goal.

The team has played Austria four times before, winning three of their four previous encounters.

Tickets for the match are available from the Albion ticket offices at the stadium and on Queen’s Road, via the ticket line 0844 327 1901 or online at www.seagulls.co.uk.