Following a busy summer of European heartbreak the England Ladies football team known as the Lionesses will be coming to Essex.

The women are due to play the second of two World Cup Qualifying games against Kazakhstan at the home of Colchester United, the Weston Homes Community Stadium next week.

The chief executive of Essex County FA, Brendan Walshe, said: “It’s naturally a true honour for Essex that Colchester United FC have been selected to stage an England Women’s international, and there’s been a noticeable buzz and anticipation in the area that the Lionesses are coming to our county!

“We’re proud of the women’s and girls’ football networks we have here in Essex and this match is a reward to all of those trying to help The FA double female football participation by 2020.”

A spokesperson from Essex FA said; “The Football Association take the Lionesses to all areas of the country and this will be the first time they have visited in a while with the senior women’s team.

“The FA have held various UEFA and FIFA qualifiers at the stadium and they know what a great club Colchester United are to deal with.”

Over 8,700 tickets have been sold for the game with Colchester United having to release extra seats in some blocks to meet demand.

The game will be a homecoming for Basildon’s Casey Stoney who has been a stalwart for the senior team for over 10 years and currently plays for Liverpool Ladies.

Stoney currently boasts 129 caps for the national side having previously captained the team between 2012 and 2014 as well as leading the Great Britain team at the 2012 London Olympics.

England reached the Women’s Euros semi finals this summer losing out to the eventual winners the Netherlands. Striker Jodie Tayor was awarded the tournament’s Golden Boot.

Kazakhstan are currently ranked 66th in the FIFA World Rankings with England placed at number three.

The meeting in Colchester will be the first time the two sides have met.

England currently sit third in their qualifying group having beaten Russia earlier this year, they will play Bosnia on Friday before heading to Colchester.