BOOTHAM Crescent is to be over the international moon yet again with another top youth fixture hosted at England's lucky York City ground.

England's Under-18s side will entertain Sweden on Thursday, April 29 when they will bid to seal a seventh successive international success at Bootham Crescent.

City's ground - save by the club's football board in a dramatic deal only last month - has proved to be a fortress for England's youth squads, including the likes of current England first-team stars Michael Owen and Rio Ferdinand, in recent years.

Since 1996 the ground has played host to six England victories. Now England U18 manager Martin Hunter is bringing his next generation of England stars to the Minstermen's base to try to extend the grounds run of international victories to seven.

Fantastic support has always been a major factor in England's victories at York and the city's football fans are being urged to come out and show their support for England's young stars-in-the-making for the visit of Sweden.

Enthused Hunter: "York has always been a great place for England to come to with Bootham Crescent having a fantastic record for England sides and we are hoping that against Sweden we can continue that record."

York's unblemished international record began with two victories inside a matter of days for England U18s in 1996.

A 1-0 defeat of Finland was quickly followed by a four-goal to nothing victory over Northern Ireland, with a then 16-year-old Michael Owen grabbing all four goals - a header, a right-foot shot, one with his left-foot and a penalty. Also in the England team that day were Rio Ferdinand, the world's costliest defender after he moved from Leeds United to Manchester United two seasons ago for £30million, and Glasgow Rangers left-back Michael Ball.

Since Owen's four-goal blitz a number of now-household names have tasted victory with England's youth sides at the Crescent with Newcastle United and England star Jermaine Jenas helping England U19s beat Georgia 4-1 with a goal in the last outing there for an England side in 2001.

Tickets for the England U18 v Sweden U18 tussle go on sale from this Thursday at the City ticket office. The cost is £3 for adults (£5 on the night) and £1 for children under the age of 16 and old age pensioners.

There are also family tickets at £5 for two adults and two children (additional children at £1 each). Group discounts are also available by contacting the ticket hot-line (tel 01904 624447).

Updated: 10:51 Tuesday, March 30, 2004