With England back in 2026 FIFA World Cup action tonight against Ghana at the Gillette Stadium in Boston, we have a deep dive in to our current and former Macclesfield FC connections to the England National Team.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson
Borthwick-Jackson recently renewed his stay with the Silkmen following a successful second half of the 2025/26 season at the Leasing.com Stadium. Cam spent the early years of his career progressing through the ranks with England, featuring for each age group from U16’s – U20’s, making a total of twelve appearances in the famous white shirt.
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts
Isaac has represented his country at U18, U19, and U20 level, making a total of 23 appearances for the Three Lions, scoring twice for the U20’s against Netherlands and Italy and once for the U19’s against Belarus. Buckley-Ricketts made 55 appearances for the Silkmen in the 2025/26 season in the number 7 shirt, scoring on nine occasions in all competitions.
Ezekiel Fryers
Zeki made 15 appearances for England across three age groups, and was due to feature for Gareth Southgate’s U21 side in 2014, though was forced to pull out through injury. Fryers had a short stint with the Silkmen in 2022, featuring three times in a blue shirt before departing in October later that year. The full back now plays for Swedish side AFC Eskilstuna.
Alex Kiwomya
Alex progressed through four age groups for the national side from U16 – U19’s, making 17 appearances in white and scoring two goals, one a piece for the 17’s and 18’s. Kiwomya signed for the Silkmen for a short period in 2022, and was part of the side that won promotion to the Northern Premier League. The now 30 year-old plays for local Northern Premier League side Warrington Rylands.
Luke Matheson
Our number two, who has recently committed to another twelve months with the Silkmen made his England debut in 2019 at the age of 16 for the England U17 side, making a singular appearance at that level before featuring a further five times for the Three Lions’ U18 outfit. Matheson now prepares for a second season with Macc in the Enterprise National League North still only at the age of 23.
Ethan McLeod
Ethan’s legacy lives on both here at Macclesfield, as the inspiration for our brand new initiative that is our Emerging Talent Group, and within the England set-up, having been invited to various youth training camps during his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers. We lost Ethan in tragic circumstances at the age of just 21 in December last year. EM20 forever.
Jon Nolan
The midfielder gained one cap for the England C team back in 2014 against Estonia in the International Challenge Trophy at Halifax’s Shay, from which the Three Lions emerged victorious, defeating the Northern Europeans 4-2. Nolan finished his playing career with the Silkmen in the 2023/24 season, in which we fell narrowly short of promotion to the National League North following defeat to Marine in the Northern Premier League play-off final.
James Hardy
The attacking midfielder made five appearances for the England C team over a period of three years between 2016 – 2019, providing two assists on his International debut in a 2-1 win against Estonia, similarly to Nolan. Hardy was also awarded the England C Player of the Year by The FA at the National Game Awards in 2019 before joining Macclesfield in 2022 on loan from Buxton, making his move permanent the following season. James moved on to Ashton United from the Silkmen and remains with the Robins presently.
Andy Owens
Andy made two appearances for the England C team in 2012, making his debut against Italy at Fleetwood’s Highbury. Owens joined the Silkmen on dual registration terms from Chorley for the second half of our inaugural 2021/22 season in the North West Counties, winning promotion at the first time of asking to the Northern Premier League Division West, scoring once in twelve appearances in blue.
Elliott Whitehouse
Whitehouse made two appearances for the England C team in 2016, making his debut against Slovakia, before scoring in his second and final appearance for the national side against Estonia in the International Challenge Trophy, assisted by Hardy. Elliott joined Macc ahead of the 2024/25 season, making six appearances for the Silkmen before joining Matlock Town on loan midway through the season ahead of a further loan move to Peterborough Sports for the duration of the 2025/26 campaign.
Wyll Stanway
Stanway made his England debut in 2024 for the C team against Wales, entering as a substitute with eight minutes to play at Llanelli Town’s Stebonheath Park, falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat, though with the goal conceded prior to his introduction. Wyll joined Macc on loan from Chester midway through the 2022/23 season, making 20 appearances between the sticks and going on to secure promotion to the Northern Premier League. Stanway moved on to Barrow, where he won Young Player of the Season in his first season. Wyll remains with the now National League side following relegation from EFL League Two last season. Stanway’s sister Georgia is also a prominent member of the Lionesses side, winning the Euros in both 2022 and 2025.
Tom Thorpe
Last but no means least is Tom Thorpe, a well respected member of the England youth-set up, representing the nation 29 times across all age groups besides the First Team. Thorpe’s U17 side won the 2010 Euro’s before being named as Captain of the U19’s for their European Championship campaign in 2012. Tom was named in the 2013 U20 World Cup squad aswell as featuring for the 21’s against Scotland in 2013. Thorpe featured ten times in Macc’s 2023/24 side that won promotion to the Northern Premier League before finishing his playing career at Stalybridge Celtic in the season before last.
We’d like to wish England all the very best of luck in tonight’s second World Cup group stage match against Ghana, shown live in Bar Twenty Seven at 9pm, and hope to see many more England x Macclesfield link ups in years to come!
