THE York Minster Engineering League are just two wins away from representing England in Europe.

Having reached the semi-finals of the FA Inter-League Cup, the York team will host the Kent County League a week on Saturday at Harrogate Town Football Club, who have provided their facilities in two previous rounds of the tournament.

A victory in that match would see the Minster League XI take on either the North Riding League or London’s Amateur Combination League in the national final, which has provisionally been scheduled for Saturday, April 28 at a venue to be confirmed.

Whichever league emerges triumphant from that contest will go on to compete in Slovakia against the hosts in a group that will also consist of the Republic of Ireland’s representatives and the winners of a preliminary group that includes sides from Romania, Slovenia, Georgia and Scotland.

If the York team went on to top that group, they would then be one of eight qualifying sides that would battle for the overall UEFA Regions’ Cup title in June 2019.

That tournament would take place at one of the countries who have made the final stages.

The York team, managed by Osbaldwick boss Chris Smith and Tadcaster Magnets chief Simon Wood, have already beaten West Riding (2-1), Cheshire & Wirral (8-1) and the Staffordshire County Senior League (4-0) domestically, with Danny Andrew, Jonny Andrew, Damon Cox and Chris Dyson all set to return from injury against the Kent visitors.

Commenting on the team’s continued success, league vice-president Bill Pearce said: “Chris and Simon have done a cracking job with the squad this season and they are a really good partnership with their mix of skills. Chris also manages Nomads on a Sunday and has a great pull on players.

“Simon, meanwhile, has the coaching knowledge and there’s a really good atmosphere in the changing room now. Everyone on the league management committee is chuffed to bits the team has got this far and we would like to thank Harrogate Town for the use of their facilities, as well as the clubs for releasing players, which is not easy for them as they have to postpone matches and we appreciate their assistance.”