English Schools' Football Association

Action from Hyndburn v East Cornwall

Fourteen District Schools’ FA representative teams were in residence at the PGL Centre at Little Canada, Wootton from April 6th to April 10th for the 23rd annual English Schools’ FA Under 14 Festival on the Isle of Wight. They were joined by the Isle of Wight SFA for three days and by Gosport and Fareham SFA, who travelled over on the Thursday, to ensure that all teams who had travelled to the Festival could have four fixtures.

Only one trophy is on offer during the week and that is the Bert Worrall Fair Play Trophy, presented in memory of one of the original founders of the festival, an ex-ESFA Council Member for the South-West. Behaviour both on and off the field during the week are the main criteria for this award which was won this season for the first by Derby Schools’ FA.

The focus of the Festival is on friendly competition with teams playing opponents they do not meet in the course of a normal season because of the distances involved. It also give those attending the opportunity not only of four matches but also coaching sessions, which this year were organised by Ben Lavelle and Simon Coleman, the opening and closing ceremonies, a sports quiz and the many activities offered by the PGL staff at the Centre. It was good to read some of the match reports that many of the players made new friends during the week which is another key aim of the festival

The Festival this year was blessed with dry weather throughout and on the last three days by early Summer sunshine. The pitches throughout the Island were generally in good condition and the many Clubs which offer their facilities to the English Schools’ FA were, as usual, most hospitable.

Luton, Coventry and Tameside won all their matches but every other team participating lost at least one of their games. Only two games ended in draws while only West Cornwall lost all four of their fixtures. In fact, they could easily have won two matches including a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Luton when only a fine display by Luton’s keeper Sean Ferguson kept them at bay. Possibly the most exciting match was between Luton and Isle of Wight which the former won 4-3 with a last minute penalty.

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