Manchester FA is delighted to announce that three of its young match officials will be refereeing an international fixture at St. George’s Park on Thursday 15 February.

Jacob Graham, Ben Cotton and Yasmin Saeed all attend regular training and development events as part of their involvement in the Manchester FA Referee Academy.

The fixture in question is England U15 v Belgium U15, which will give referee Jacob (pictured) his first taste of international football and he is hoping it won’t be his last;

"I’m really pleased to receive my first international appointment. This year I have been a part of The FA Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE) programme and worked hard to develop my skills. It will be a great feeling to represent both The FA and Manchester FA on such a prestigious occasion."

The occasion is also a coup for the Manchester FA Referee Academy, which is run by Senior Tutor, Mike Sutcliffe;

"These young officials embody what it means to be part of our Referee Academy. There are some incredible opportunities for referees in Greater Manchester and this shows the quality in the group we have. I’m delighted they have the opportunity to showcase their ability on such a grand stage."