Chester youngster Tom Crawford has capped a superb breakthrough season by earning international recognition with England C.

The 18-year-old midfielder, a product of Chester’s thriving youth academy, was given his first-team opportunity in January when former manager Marcus Bignot gave him a run in the side, and Crawford went on to make 17 appearances during the campaign, impressing with his range of passing and scoring the winning goal in the final day 2-1 win at Barrow.

The performances of the Blues crop of talented teenagers have been a major positive in an otherwise disastrous campaign ending in relegation to National League North, and Crawford’s fine form secured him a call-up to Paul Fairclough’s England team to take on Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

The England team, made up of the best players in non-league, were beaten 4-2 by their Irish counterparts, despite goals from Dagenham’s Luke Pennell and Salford’s Tom Walker.

Crawford came on as a 67th minute replacement for Sutton United’s Tom Wright, to become the Blues second academy graduate to earn an England C cap after James Jones played against Wales C two months earlier. Jones was called into the current squad but not involved on matchday.

Chester academy head coach Calum McIntyre travelled to Dublin to watch Crawford on debut and is proud of the efforts of his youngsters this season, with Chester’s Under-19s having won five trophies in a fantastic campaign.

"I've seen Matty Waters score at Gateshead, I've seen Tom Crawford score the winner at Barrow and make his England debut, James Jones come into the first-team and called into England C, Cain Noble scoring on his debut,” McIntyre said.

"This ends a difficult 12 months. For a football club with our resources to do what we’ve done, is unbelievable and I hope they celebrate it properly.

"There's now a chance to galvanise this football club and it starts with this youth team.”

McIntyre, 24, took charge of the first-team for the final three matches of the season, delivering a long-awaited away win at Barrow and blooding six players from the club’s youth set-up during the 3-1 defeat against Maidstone United.

McIntyre praised his players and backroom staff for their efforts in recent months after their recent success in National League Alliance League Cup, defeating Halifax Town 3-0 in the final at the Bescot Stadium, home of League One outfit Walsall.

“What we’ve managed to achieve is to punch above our weight,” he added.

“It doesn’t happen without my backroom staff, everyone who has shown me their loyalty in the most challenging of seasons, I can’t demonstrate how much gratitude I owe them.

“Remember them, remember the players’ names because they made history. We’re all in it together.”