NORTH-EAST players figure at several levels in national team squads for end of season gettogethers and fixtures.

In the senior side Sunderland's Steph Houghton played in both of England's final two matches of the season, 4-0 wins against both Northern Ireland, in a Euro 2009 qualifier, at Gillingham, and in a friendly against Iceland, at Southend.

Team-mate Carly Telford was substitute goalkeeper in Hope Powell's team for the Northern Ireland game.

Returning to home ground, old girl Telford was guest of honour to perform the opening of new football and multi-sports facilities at Stanley School of Technology, in County Durham, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, her rival for the number one shirt at club level, Helen Alderson, was named among four goalkeepers in Mo Marley's 30-strong England Under- 19s training squad, for a gettogether in the east Midlands in the build up to July's European Under- 19s Championship, in Iceland, in July.

At Under-17s level, Sunderland's Lucy Bronze and Demi Stokes, plus Middlesbrough's Jordan Nobbs are in Lois Fidler's England squad for today's Four Nation Tournament opener, against hosts Finland, at Eerikkika, and Sunday's play-off with either Sweden or Norway.