SWINDON Town’s Energy Check County Ground home will host international football in the spring when the England women’s team play at SN1 as part of their preparations for this summer’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Phil Neville’s Lionesses will take on Spain at the County Ground on Tuesday, April 9 (kick-off 7pm) as part of their ‘Road to France’ series as they look to build momentum ahead of the tournament in France this summer.

This is not the first time the England women’s side have visited SN1.

Back in 2009, they beat Denmark 1-0 in a friendly, while the Lionesses were last in action at the County Ground in September 2013 when they defeated Slovenia 4-0.

Swindon Town CEO Steve Anderson said: “We’re delighted to be hosting the Lionesses in such an important year for them.

“Over the last few years, it’s obvious to see how much the women’s game has grown since the last time an England game was hosted here.

“The last World Cup was a fantastic spectacle and the team’s passion and pride to play for their country was obvious.

“We can’t wait to see as many people as possible at the County Ground to support our national team on their road to France.”

The ‘Road to France’ series serves part of England’s preparations for the World Cup and includes four home internationals played across the country.

The squad will prepare for the finals in France with two games in early April and a double-header just before the tournament, which begins in June.

Matches will be played at four different venues, giving plenty of fans the chance to see the Lionesses up close before the big send-off at the American Express Community Stadium – home of Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion – on Saturday, June 1.

That series begins with a meeting against Canada at Manchester City’s Academy Stadium on Friday, April 5, before the match against Spain in Swindon on April 9.

Walsall’s Banks’ Stadium is the venue for England v Denmark on Saturday, May 25 before the ‘Road to France’ series concludes when the Lionesses hosts New Zealand in Brighton.

Tickets for all four games are on sale now, priced at only £1 for concessions and £10 for adults – reduced to £7.50 if booked before 28 February (Canada & Spain) and 10 March (Denmark & New Zealand). To buy, go to TheFA.com/LionessesTickets.

Before the ‘Road to France Series’, England begin the 2019 fixture schedule with the SheBelieves Cup in the United States later this month.

Manager Neville said: “The World Cup is firmly in sight now and I’m really happy with this group of fixtures to complement the games that we have played in recent months plus the ones to come at SheBelieves.

“It’s great that we can visit four different parts of the country and I have no doubt the players will get fantastic support as ever. I also want to thank my colleagues at The FA and the clubs for making this exciting series of games possible.

“We have already played Australia and Sweden in our last two matches in 2018 and being up against three more fellow finalists and the last EURO runners-up is just what we need. We will certainly hit the ground running when we get to France.

“This is a huge year for my players and staff, and we are raring to go. Every single day spent working at St. George’s Park is with the World Cup in mind, and we are going to France with the aim of making the country proud.”