English Schools' Football Association

The FA, The FA Premier League, the Professional Footballers’ Association, the Football Foundation and the English Schools’ FA will be joining together on Monday 23^rd May to celebrate the power of football and its role as a positive force within communities.

The five football partners are staging a special conference to showcase the development of the game in meeting the social agenda and will be joined by Health Minister Caroline Flint, MP, to launch the Football and Health Guide, an ambitious manifesto using football to promote public health and activity.

Speakers will include:

• Brian Barwick, Chief Executive, The FA
• Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive, The FA Premier League
• Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive, the PFA
• Peter Lee, Chief Executive, the Football Foundation
• David Sheepshanks, Chairman, Ipswich Town FC
• John Read, Chief Executive, the English Schools’ Football Association

Football is our national game with over 37,000 clubs, 80,000 teams, 3,500 competitions, 32,000 schools, 12 million players and 26 million fans.

The Power of Football provides a unique chance for the football authorities and key partners to discuss the opportunities the game can offer across a number of government agenda.  The conference will outline football’s significant work to date through case studies and best practice in five areas:

• Increasing participation and widening access to the game
• Coaching and development, including building confidence, teamwork and leadership skills
• Promotion of healthier lifestyles
• Raising levels of educational attainment
• Social inclusion, including reducing crime and building stronger, safer communities

Issues covered in the conference will include:

• Football’s track record of delivering against key government policy objectives and the challenges ahead
• The Football Foundation – its role, its achievements and the partnership funding opportunities that enable it to deliver sporting and social objectives
• The launch of the Football and Health Guide and the possibilities of developing work in this area
• The Football Partnership – objectives of the Whole Sport Plan over the next four years, including the development of regional plans and partnerships