English Schools' Football Association: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Governing body for school football}}

The English Schools Football Association is the governing body of schools football and is responsible for the running and development of schools competitions and festivals for primary and secondary aged boys and girls.

{{Refimprove|date=February 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox Organization

| name = English Schools' Football Association

| image =

| image_border =

| size =

| caption =

| abbreviation = ESFA

| founded = {{start date and age|1904}}

| logo =

| motto =

| headquarters = 4, Parker Court<br/>Staffordshire Technology Park

| ___location = [[Stafford]], [[Staffordshire]]

| coords =

| leader_title = Chairman

| leader_name = Phil Harding

| leader_title2 = Chief Executive

| leader_name2 = Andrea Chilton

| website = [https://schoolsfootball.org/ schoolsfootball.org]

}}

The '''English Schools' Football Association''' was founded in 1904 and is the governing body of schools' [[association football|football]] in [[England]]. It is responsible for the running and development of schools competitions and festivals at primary and secondary school age.<ref>{{cite web|author=Other Sports |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/2371229/Talking-Schools-Sport-ESFA-owe-it-all-to-a-Welshman.html |title=Talking Schools Sport: ESFA owe it all to a Welshman |work=The Telegraph|date=14 January 2004 |access-date=2012-11-09}}</ref> The ESFA headquarters is in [[Stafford]].

The FA works with ESFA to support high quality, administered and co-ordinated inter-school football competition programmes for all young people.

[[The Football Association]] (FA) works with ESFA to support high quality, coordinated inter school football competition programmes for all young people.<ref>Fox, Norman (21 November 1993). [https://web.archive.org/web/20131220174824/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-can-we-have-our-ball-games-back-please-school-sport-is-out-as-britain-absorbs-the-impact-of-world-cup-humiliation-a-crisis-on-our-playing-fields-underlies-a-pressing-need-to-return-to-basics-norman-fox-explains-how-national-failure-reflects-a-deeper-social-malaise-1505652.html "Football: Can we have our ball games back, please?: School sport is out. As Britain absorbs the impact of World Cup humiliation a crisis on our playing fields underlies a pressing need to return to basics: Norman Fox explains how national failure reflects a deeper social malaise"]. ''[[The Independent]]''. Retrieved on 2012-08-13.</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Davies |first=Gareth A |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2993563/Schools-Football-Initative-to-kick-start-distaff-coaching-scheme.html |title=Schools Football: Initative [sic] to kick-start distaff coaching scheme |work=The Telegraph|date=2000-11-29 |access-date=2012-11-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Judith Judd |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/new-football-academies-block-schoolboy-talent-1176254.html |title=New football academies 'block schoolboy talent' – News |work=The Independent|date=1998-10-05 |access-date=2012-11-09}}</ref><ref>Jones, Ken (16 March 1998). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-coaching-the-best-out-of-the-next-pele-1150566.html "Football: Coaching the best out of the next Pele"] ''[[The Independent]]''. Retrieved on 2012-08-13.</ref> The association run national competitions from under-11 to under-19 age groups. This provides opportunities for young people to have the experience of playing at a higher level by representing their schools in a national recognised competition with all of the finals taking place at professional stadia. In the last few seasons, the ESFA has had finals at the Etihad Stadium, Old Trafford, Anfield, Stamford Bridge, Craven Cottage, Goodison Park, the Hawthorns and even Wembley Stadium.

The Association run a programme of national competitions from U11 to U19. District and County Associations as well as providing locally co-ordinated competitions also provide opportunities for young people to have the experience of playing at a higher level by representing their District or County team.

The ESFA's centenary year was in 2004. England Schoolboys v Rest of World was played at [[Aston Villa F.C.]] to celebrate this. The game saw over 10,000 spectators attend.

==Competitions==

Here is the list of the main competitions the ESFA is currently running:

== England Schoolboys and England Schoolgirls==

{|

The ESFA also co-ordinate the advancement of players all the way to International level, for England Schoolboys (Under 18) and England Schoolgirls (Under 15) teams. The process for representation follows this pattern; School teams nominate the best few players to go forward for County (or District) trials, from these a County team is formed. The [[County Schools' Associations]] will then nominate players to go forward to regional (North, Midlands, South West, South East) trials and from these players an International squad is selected.

!Name of Competition!!Sponsor!!Holders

|-

The '''England Schoolboys''' represent their Country by playing in the Centenary Shield. Teams in the competition include England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. The Boys also play in friendly matches and in the past they have faced New Zealand, Australia, France and Belgium.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esfa.co.uk/international/?2013/Boys |title=English Schools' Football Association (ESFA) – Boys International Fixtures 2013–2014 – Under 18 Centenary Shield |publisher=ESFA |date=2013-09-01 |access-date=2013-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705151538/http://www.esfa.co.uk/international/?2013%2Fboys |archive-date=5 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

|U12 Specialist Schools Cup||None||N/A

|-

The '''England Schoolgirls''' play in the Bob Docherty Cup and the Lloyds TSB Cup. Season 2011/12 was the first time this team was run to help with the development in Girls' Football.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esfa.co.uk/international/?2012/Girls |title=English Schools' Football Association (ESFA) – Girls International Fixtures 2012–2013 |publisher=ESFA |access-date=2013-12-11}}</ref>

|U12 Boys Indoor 5-a-side Cup||[[Jetix]]||St Bedes (Redditch)

|-

== National Schools' Football Week ==

|U12 Girls Indoor 5-a-side Cup||[[Jetix]]||Durham Johnston (Bishop Auckland)

Schools' Football Week is a national campaign organised by the English Schools' Football Association encouraging schools' across England to engage in footballing activities.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-15|title=Schools' Football Week: 24 – 30 May 2021|url=https://schoolsfootball.org/schools-football-week-2021/|access-date=2021-07-16|website=English Schools' Football Association|language=en-US}}</ref> The week runs in the last week of February but had to be postponed until May in 2021 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The initiative was first introduced by the ESFA back in 2016 and has grown in stature and participation over the four years since its introduction.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-15|title=Schools' Football Week: 24 – 30 May 2021|url=https://schoolsfootball.org/schools-football-week-2021/|access-date=2021-07-16|website=English Schools' Football Association|language=en-US}}</ref> The Week includes an initiative called SFW GameOn! with the aim of getting as many school pupils as possible to play on one day creating the worlds biggest football match.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-29|title=Schools' Football Week – Game On|url=https://schoolsfootball.org/schools-football-week-2021/schools-football-week-game-on/|access-date=2021-07-16|website=English Schools' Football Association|language=en-US}}</ref> Schools Football Week 2021 saw over 8000 schools register their activity and 105,000 school pupils actively involved in the initiative. <ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-15|title=Schools' Football Week: 24 – 30 May 2021|url=https://schoolsfootball.org/schools-football-week-2021/|access-date=2021-07-16|website=English Schools' Football Association|language=en-US}}</ref>

|-

|U13 National Cup - Boys||[[Coca Cola]]||Archbishop Beck (Liverpool)

|-

A highlight from Schools Football Week 2017 was [[Chris Kamara]] attending Lymm High School, running some coaching sessions with the pupils and answering the students questions.<ref>{{Cite web|last=FA|first=The English Schools'|date=2019-02-14|title=Schools football week ft. Chris Kamara|url=https://schoolsfootball.org/2019/02/14/schools-football-week-ft-chris-kamara/|access-date=2021-07-16|website=English Schools' Football Association|language=en-US}}</ref>

|U13 National Cup - Girls||[[Coca Cola]]||St Bernard's (Essex)

|-

==National competitions==

|U14 Schools Cup||None||Whitgift School (Croydon)

Here is the list of the main competitions<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esfa.co.uk/competitions/?2012/Boys |title=English Schools' Football Association (ESFA) – Competitions – 2012–2013 Boys |publisher=ESFA |access-date=2013-12-11}}</ref> the ESFA is currently running:

|-

|U14 Schools Cup - Girls||None||None

* U11 Small Sided Competitions (Boys, Girls, Small Schools & Districts)

|-

* U12 Schools' Cup for Boys

|U15 Inter Association Cup||[[National Union of Teachers|NUT]]||Readng

* U12 Indoor 5-a-side Cup for Boys

|-

* U12 Indoor 5-a-side Cup for Girls

|U15 Specialist Schools - Boys||None||None

* U13 Schools' Cup for Boys

|-

|U15* SpecialistU13 Schools' -Cup for Girls||None||None

* U13 Small Schools' Cup for Boys

|-

* U13 Inter Association Trophy

|U16 Schools Cup||[[Royal Air Force]]||Weston Park Boys School

* U14 Inter County Trophy for Boys

|-

* U14 Inter County Trophy for Girls

|U16 Schools Cup - Girls||[[Royal Air Force]]||Frome College (Somerset)

* U14 Schools' Cup for Boys

|-

* U14 Small Schools' Trophy for Boys

|U16 Inter County Trophy Girls||[[National Union of Teachers|NUT]]||Hampshire & Merseyside

* U15 Schools' Cup for Boys

|-

* U15 Schools' Cup for Girls

|U16 Inter County Trophy Boys||[[Premier League]]||Greater Manchester & Hampshire

* U15 Inter Association Trophy

|-

|U18* U16 Schools' Trophy||None||Barking AbbeyCup Schoolfor (Barking)Boys

* U16 Schools' Cup for Girls

|-

* U16 Inter County Trophy for Boys

|U18 Colleges' Trophy||None||Cirencester College & Middlesbrough College

* U16 Inter County Trophy for Girls

|-

* U18 Schools' Trophy for Boys

|U18 Inter County Trophy||[[Premier League]]||Merseyside & Kent

* U18 Schools' Trophy for Girls

* U18 Inter County Trophy for Boys

*U18 Super League for Boys

*U18 Super League for Girls

==National finals==

The National Competitions Department arrange the Final venues throughout the year to ensure that the players who make it to the final are given an experience that they will never forget.

The Final Venues that the ESFA have been to in the past include:

{{flatlist}}

* [[Accrington Stanley F.C.]]

* [[AFC Bournemouth]]

* [[AFC Telford United]]

* [[Aldershot Town F.C.]]

* [[Arsenal F.C.]]

* [[Aston Villa F.C.]]

* [[Barnsley F.C.]]

* [[Birmingham City F.C.]]

* [[Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre]]

* [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.]]

* [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.]]

* [[Boston United F.C.]]

* [[Brentford F.C.]]

* [[Bristol City F.C.]]

* [[Bristol Rovers F.C.]]

* [[Burton Albion F.C.]]

* [[Bury F.C.]]

* [[Burnley F.C.]]

* [[Cambridge United F.C.]]

* [[Carlisle United F.C.]]

* [[Charlton Athletic F.C.]]

* [[Chelsea F.C.]]

* [[Cheltenham Town F.C.]]

* [[Chesterfield F.C.]]

* [[Cirencester Town F.C.]]

* [[Colchester United F.C.]]

* [[Coventry City F.C.]]

* [[Crystal Palace F.C.]]

* [[Dagenham and Redbridge F.C.]]

* [[Darlington F.C.]]

* [[Derby County F.C.]]

* [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.]]

* [[Durham City AFC]]

* [[Eastleigh F.C.]]

* [[Everton F.C.]]

* [[Exeter City F.C.]]

* [[Fleetwood Town F.C.]]

* [[Fulham F.C.]]

* [[Hereford United F.C.]]

* [[Hull City F.C.]]

* [[Ipswich Town F.C.]]

* [[Leicester City F.C.]]

* [[Leyton Orient F.C.]]

* [[Lilleshall National Sports Centre]]

* [[Lincoln City F.C.]]

* [[Liverpool F.C.]]

* [[Luton Town F.C.]]

* [[Macclesfield Town F.C.]]

* [[Manchester City F.C.]]

* [[Manchester United F.C.]]

* [[Marine F.C.]]

* [[Middlesbrough F.C.]]

* [[Millwall F.C.]]

* [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.]]

* [[Morecambe F.C.]]

* [[Newcastle United F.C.]]

* [[Northampton Town F.C.]]

* [[Northwich Victoria F.C.]]

* [[Norwich City F.C.]]

* [[Nottingham Forest F.C.]]

* [[Notts County F.C.]]

* [[Oldham Athletic F.C.]]

* [[Oxford United F.C.]]

* [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.]]

* [[Port Vale F.C.]]

* [[Portsmouth F.C.]]

* [[Preston North End F.C.]]

* [[Reading F.C.]]

* [[Rotherham United F.C.]]

* [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.]]

* [[Scunthorpe United F.C.]]

* [[Sheffield United F.C.]]

* [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.]]

* [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.]]

* [[Southampton F.C.]]

* [[Stockport County F.C.]]

* [[Stoke City F.C.]]

* [[Sunderland A.F.C.]]

* [[Swansea City A.F.C.]]

* [[Swindon Town F.C.]]

* [[Torquay United F.C.]]

* [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.]]

* [[University of Keele]]

* [[Walsall F.C.]]

* [[Watford F.C.]]

* [[Wembley Stadium]]

* [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.]]

* [[West Ham United F.C.]]

* [[Witton Albion F.C.]]

* [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.]]

* [[Worksop Town F.C.]]

* [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.]]

* [[Yeovil Town F.C.]]

{{endflatlist}}

==Festivals==

The ESFA also host four football festivals each year

* The Durham Festival (Under 13)

* The North Tyneside Festival (Under 11)

* The Jersey Festival (Under 11)

* The Isle of Wight Festival (Under 14)

==See also==

*[[ESFA Competitions 2003–2004]]

*[[ESFA Competitions 2004–2005]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*[http://www.esfa.co.uk/ Official website]

{{County Football Association}}

[[Category:1904 establishments in England]]

[[Category:English Schools' Football Association| ]]

[[Category:Football governing bodies in England]]

[[Category:Football in Staffordshire]]

[[Category:Organisations based in Staffordshire]]

[[Category:School sport in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1904]]

[[Category:Stafford]]

[[Category:Youth football in England]]