English Schools' Football Association

Little Canada, Isle of Wight

For the attention of District Schools’ FA Secretaries

The ESFA will be holding the next Under 14 Isle of Wight Festival from Sunday 5 April to Thursday 9 April 2009. The festival is open to District Association Representative teams, which provides ideal preparation to teams competing in the Under 15 Inter Association Trophy the following season. The festival also offers youngsters the opportunity to play football in a environment where results are less important and the emphasis is on developing skill, sportsmanship and teamwork.

The PGL Little Canada site in Wootton Creek will be the venue and is minutes away from the Fishbourne Ferry. This will be the 3rd Festival held at Little Canada and PGL have made improvements each year to the accommodation facilities.

It has amongst its excellent facilities an indoor swimming pool, an activity zone, a sports hall and outdoor facilities that include climbing and abseiling walls, high and low rope courses and zip wire. Use of the pool, activity zone and sports hall is free of charge to Associations. This site is set in 48 acres of woodland and is used exclusively for school activity visits. It has a security gate in and out of the centre, night security and is surrounded by a fence. If sufficient teams enter the Festival then the ESFA will have sole occupancy.

The charges to Associations for Players attending the 2009 Festival will be £160. This includes:

• Full Board from Sunday Dinner until Thursday Breakfast
• Accommodation in chalets with twin or bunk beds, all with en suite facilities.
• Ferry charges for vehicles and passengers to and from the Island.
• Use of a wide range of sports and activity facilities at the centre.
• Four football matches – one played each day on different Isle of Wight pitches

If you are interested in taking your U14 District Schools’ FA team to the festival please contact dawn.howard@schoolsfa.com or call 01785 785970.