Simon Francis has been called up by England for next month's under-18s international competition in Portugal.

City's young player of the year is in the national squad for the Lisbon tournament which runs from June 1 to 9.

His success follows that of team-mate Danny Forrest who came on as a substitute in the recent friendly in Germany.

Francis, who featured in an under-18 trial game against France in November, has enjoyed an outstanding first season. After breaking into the senior side he quickly established a regular place and signed a professional contract last week which ties him to the Bantams until the end of the 2005-2006 season.

Meanwhile, City will be scouring this week's play-off results ahead of the centenary match.

The club kick off their celebrations with a game between the promotion sides from 1996 and 1999 on May 24, to mark the date they became a league club 100 years ago.

But team plans have been hampered because of the number of one-time Bantams still involved in play-off action.

Stuart McCall, pencilled in to lead the 1999 Premiership-reaching team, heads a list of six former players who have all indicated they would play - but only if they are not involved in play-off finals.

Gareth Whalley and Des Hamilton are already ruled out after Cardiff last night made it through to the Division Two showpiece that weekend.

McCall and Dean Windass (Sheffield United), Lee Duxbury (Oldham) and Scunthorpe's Peter Beagrie could also be missing.

Wembley skipper Eddie Youds is definitely playing and the 1996 side will be coached by Ian Ormondroyd.