Abbreviation ESFA Chief Executive Andrea Chilton | Chairman Mike Spinks Website www.esfa.co.uk | |
Headquarters 4, Parker Court
Staffordshire Technology Park Location Stafford
Staffordshire ST18 0WP | ||
The English Schools' Football Association was founded in 1904 and is the governing body of Schools' Football in England, and is responsible for the running and development of Schools Competitions and Festivals for Boys and Girls at Primary and Secondary school age. The ESFA Headquarters is in Stafford.
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The Football Association (FA) works with ESFA to support high quality, coordinated Inter School Football competition programmes for all young people. 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 ESFA's Centenary year was in 2004. England Schoolboys v Rest of World was played at Aston Villa FC to celebrate this. The game saw over 10,000 spectators attend.
Wembley 2008
In 2008, the ESFA hosted an International game at Wembley Stadium which saw just over 20,000 spectators. The day started with the Under 11 Primary Finals with the pitch divided into 2 halves.
The second event was a Celebrity Match with celebrities from England and Scotland. The teams included:
England team manager: Sir David Frost, television presenter.
England players: Angus Deayton, comedy actor and TV presenter, Ralph Little, comedy actor; Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Sid Owen, screen actor; Eastenders, Big Bob from Al Murray's Happy Hour, Martin Toal, tenor, Des Comerford, Chris Hollins, TV presenter, BBC Breakfast, Chappers Mark Chapman, radio presenter, Radio 1 and Five Live, Colin Salmon, screen actor; Robinson in James Bond films, Alien vs Predator, Adam Woodyatt, screen actor; EastEnders, Ian Wills, vocals, Wills and the Willing (goalkeeper), Ross Millard, guitar and vocals, The Futureheads, Luke Simpkins, lead vocals, The Days, Harry Meads, drummer, The Days, Tim Ayers, lead guitar, The Days, Natty, solo artist, Paul Smith, lead vocals, Maximo Park, Danny Cipriani, Wasps and England.
Scotland team manager: Peter Mullan, screen actor
Scotland players: John Smeaton (captain), hero of Glasgow Airport bombing, Paul Riley, screen and comedy actor; Still Game, Chewin’ the Fat, Martin Compston, screen actor; Sweet Sixteen, Monarch of the Glen, Tom Craig, screen actor; Coronation Street, The Murdoch Mysteries, David McKay, screen actor and TV director; Shoebox Zoo, Braveheart, Tommy Sheridan, politician, Solidarity Party, Brian MacDonald, finalist X Factor 2006, Craig MacDonald, finalist X Factor 2006, Mark Guidi, presenter on Radio Clyde, sports editor for Sunday Mail (goalkeeper), Gerry McCulloch, TV presenter, STV’s 5.30 Show, Gordon Smith, chief executive Scottish FA; ex Rangers, Andy Walker, ex Scotland and Celtic, Darren Jackson, ex Scotland and Celtic, Joe Miller, ex Rangers, Tom McRae, singer-songwriter, Leon Jackson, X Factor winner 2007, David Tennant, screen actor; Dr Who, Martin Reilly, Arena Sports Management, Mark Donachy, Arena Sports Management.
The third event of the day saw England take on Scotland. World Cup Final referee Howard Webb took charge of this game and England went on to win 2-0.
International teams
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.
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.
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.
National competitions
Here is the list of the main competitions the ESFA is currently running:
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:
Festivals
The ESFA also host four football festivals each year