AS a football fan, my first thought on hearing that the EU referendum is to be held on June 23 was that it clashes with Euro 2016.

Wales play their three group between June 11 and June 20 with thousands of fans planning on making the short trip over to France to cheer on Chris Coleman’s men.

And if Gareth Bale and teammates can get through the group stages it means most Welsh fans will still be in France come polling day.

The same goes for England and Northern Ireland supporters who will be over there in their thousands.

Surely it can’t be right that football fans will miss their chance to have their say on such an important issue?

And it seems an odd date for David Cameron to choose unless he’s banking on a Euros feel-good factor swaying the vote in favour of the ‘In’ campaign.

If so that’s a dangerous game to play – as history shows.

Back in the summer of 1970, England’s shock World Cup exit at the hands of West Germany in Mexico was seen by many as the reason for prime minister Harold Wilson’s surprise defeat to Edward Heath's Conservatives just four days later.

Tony Crosland, then local government minister and later foreign secretary, blamed the defeat on “a mix of party complacency and the disgruntled Match of the Day millions.”

And Wilson's minister of sport, former League referee Denis Howell, said: "The moment goalkeeper Bonetti made his third and final hash of it on the Sunday, everything simultaneously began to go wrong for Labour for the following Thursday.”

Forget Boris Johnson’s intervention, could a Gary Cahill own goal in Saint-Étienne or even a Bale hat-trick in Lens send England out of the Euros, Britain out of the EU and Cameron out of Downing Street?

South Wales Argus: BRACE: Conor Washington in action against Portsmouth

I’m lucky enough to be going to France to cover the Euros and I’m hoping to see at least one and possibly two former Newport County AFC stars in action.

The inexorable rise of Conor Washington (above) – from the Southern League to the Championship via the Exiles and Peterborough United – looks likely to continue apace.

The Chatham-born striker looks set to make his Northern Ireland debut in next month’s friendly against Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Washington qualifies through the grandparent rule and after his big money move to Queens Park Rangers last month he seems certain to be on the plane to France.

The national journalists will be brushing off those postman references that served us so well during his time at Rodney Parade.

And any County fan who was there to see him deliver his first goal in the Capital One Cup win at Brighton in August 2013 will be delighted for him if he makes it.

Conor is a first class professional and gets my stamp of approval as one of the nicest, most down to earth footballers I’ve encountered.

At one point a year or two ago it looked as if Lee Evans, who like Washington is also a great player to deal with, may sneak into the Welsh squad.

Injury prevented him winning a first cap in the autumn of 2014 and he’s since fallen out of favour at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

But he’s making a success of a loan spell at Bradford City and hopefully his time will come again.

South Wales Argus:

This summer may well come too soon for teenage sensation Regan Poole (above) as well.

When he was named on the bench for Manchester United’s Europa League defeat to Midtjylland last week it sparked speculation is some quarters that he could make a late charge for Coleman’s squad.

Having witnessed his Football League debut at Shrewsbury Town as a 16-year-old in September 2014 and the majority of his incredibly mature performances at the heart of the Exiles defence I don’t doubt his talent.

And I’d be pleased personally and professionally for Poole, another great kid, if he were to go.

But whether he’s ready to take on Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy this summer is an altogether different question.

If he did bag a place on the plane it would likely be with an eye to the future – allowing him to gain experience of a major tournament like Ronaldo did with Brazil at the 1994 World Cup and Theo Walcott, less successfully, with England in 2006.

But I can’t see Coleman wanting to take anyone who isn’t ready to play if called upon.

And we must remember that Poole is still just 17 – he will only turn 18 during the tournament.

He was born during the 1998 World Cup – the day Zinedine Zidane got sent off in France’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia to be exact.

Time is very much on his side and for now he should probably be left to enjoy rising through the ranks at Old Trafford, training with the likes of Rooney, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial and learning from that football mastermind Louis Van Gaal.