Manx International Football Alliance’s Ellan Vannin side begins its preperations in earnest for this summer’s ConIFA World Football Cup this Sunday.

Chris Bass Sr’s Manx travel to the outskirks of Pontefract to take on the newly-formed Yorkshire International Football Association’s rep team in a eagerly-anticipated friendly.

The match at Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC’s Nu Builds Stadium is expected to draw a bumper crowd, with YIFA’s recent trials to find squad members for this game featuring in the national media.

Although Premier League and England stars like Jamie Vardy and John Stones qualify to represent the Yorkshire side, coaches Micky Long and Ryan Farrell’s 19-man squad is mainly made up of players the Northern Premier League’s Division One North and South.

One of Vardy’s old clubs, Stocksbridge Park Steels, contribute three players to the squad and they ply their trade in Division One South which is four tiers below League Two.

This will be a tough game for Bass Sr’s men, but good preparation for late May’s World Football Cup in London where the Manx will come up against hosts Barawa, Tamil Eelam and Cascadia in the competition’s group stages.

St George’s centre-back Sean Quaye is among the Manx travelling party and said: ’I’m really looking forward to playing for Ellan Vannin again.

’It’s been a little while since we last played in Cyprus so it will be great to get all the lads and staff back together playing a competitive game once more.

’There has been quite a lot of media attention surrounding the game against Yorkshire, so hopefully this attention will get a good crowd there watching!

’I know the game is being covered live by livesportsfm.co.uk from 3pm on Sunday which shows just how seriously these teams we are playing are taking this.

’The coverage is great for CONIFA and we all hope this will lead to bigger and better things at the World Cup being held in London in the summer.

’It’s going to be a busy weekend for the majority of the Ellan Vannin squad, as most of the lads will be playing on Saturday then we fly out Sunday morning to play at 3.30pm the same day.

’It’s not great preparation playing one day before this match and not something we would choose to do if given the choice.

’I’m sure the Yorkshire team will be of a good standard so will need to be on our game from the off.

’Taking all this in to account though, we have a strong fit squad so hopefully we can get a good result and build on this ready for the World Cup.’

Commentary of the game, which kicks off at 3.30pm, will be streamed at livesportsfm.co.uk

Ellan Vannin squad to face Yorkshire IFA: Dean Kearns, Sam Caine, Adam Cregeen, Tom Wood, Sean Quaye, Joey Quayle, Jack McVey, Daniel Bell, Furo Davies, Ciaran McNulty, Mike Williams, Frank Jones, Rhys Oates, Alex Holden, Sean Doyle.