From England to First Division North in 24 hours!

Northwich Victoria’s loan star Russell Griffiths could be back between the sticks in the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League against Burscough next Tuesday night, twenty four hours after playing for England.

The Everton keeper, who spent pre-season with the Vics and is officially on loan with the First Division North leaders until September 12, has been called up by England U20 head coach Keith Downing to face Czechoslovakia at Shrewsbury’s Greenhous Meadow on Monday night.

The 19-year-old, pictured, was rewarded with a contract by the Premier Division club last summer after captaining their young Toffees side to glory in the U18 Barclays Premier League.

Griffiths, who joined Everton’s Academy at the age of 14, was named on the bench for Everton's first-team game against FC Krasnodar in the Europa League last December and found himself on the substitutes bench again later in the campaign when US keeper Tim Howard was sidelined with a calf injury.

Griffiths missed Northwich’s 2-1 win at Witton Albion on Bank Holiday Monday after heading to St George’s Park to link up with the 20 man Three Lions squad and he is set to miss their home game with Ossett Albion this weekend.

Before his call-up, the teenager stopper played a key role in taking Jim Gannon’s side to the top of the table, keeping three clean sheets and conceding just one goal in his fourth and final outing, an injury time strike for Radcliffe Borough in last Saturday's 2-1 win for Northwich at Stainton Park.

Proud club secretary and spokesman Dave Thomas said: “It’s not every day that your keeper gets called up to play for England so we're delighted.

"He’s only conceded the once and he wasn’t at fault for that either so we’ve been very grateful to have him and are hoping we can persuade Everton to let him extend his stay with us.”

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Where next?

Saturday's Transfer List Confirmed player movements registered with the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League from Sunday 30 August to 11am on Saturday 5 September 2015.
Loan star signed to lift rock-bottom Rams After taking a single point from their opening five encounters in the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League, Ramsbottom United manager Jon Robinson has brought in attacking midfielder Charlie Russell on loan from Stockport County.

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