English Schools' Football Association

Please find below a brief report on the trials process and the selected representative squads:

North Trial: This was a great day, with 47 players on show. They were split into 3 teams, with 2 coaches per team. There was a welcome return for former manager Andy Williams as he took the reins of one of the teams. The games were competitive and the tempo was also good too. None of the games ended up 0-0, with some terrific goals scored by the attacking talent. Thank you to QEGS Blackburn for their wonderful facilities and to the parents/coaches who brought the boys from far and wide to participate. The North team will be a strong unit when they play the Midlands at Halton Stadium Nov 3rd.

Midlands Trial: Also a great day for Andy Blight (ESFA U18 assistant manager and myself, with 40 players on show. Belper Town FC always give us a warm welcome and this time it was no different. We are delighted to use their homely ground situated in beautiful surroundings. The tempo of these games was not as quick as at Blackburn, but nevertheless there were some excellent players to view. It is going to be very interesting to see which of the 2 regions have the best group at Halton. Thank you again to boys, parents and coaches who travelled to Belper. For me, it was a chance to catch up with an old football friend Colin Brooks Humberside U-18 manager (from my college days a long time ago!!), proving that football is as much about forming friendships as the game itself.

Good luck to all the boys who participated, we are sure of an exciting and memorable season ahead.

Midlands Region Successful Trialists:

Sam Hornby West Mids

Kieran Morris West Mids

Mayowa Balogun Derbyshire

Daniel Donavan Shropshire

Joe Mansfield Derbyshire

Reece Alexander Staffordshire

Nicolas Evangelinos Warwickshire

James O'Neill Shropshire

Ruhandulca Ombeni Humberside

Luke Molloy Worcestershire

Jack Wightwick Lincolnshire

Oliver Brown-Hill Leicestershire

Henry Bettany Staffordshire

Michael Smith Lancashire

Alex Hailles Cheshire

Jake Ratcliffe Staffordshire

Northern Region Successful Trialists:

Kieron O’Hara G. Manchester

Rob Walker Lancashire

Lewis Davidson Durham

Brad Halliday Cleveland

Kial Callacher G.Manchester

Rob Gilroy Merseyside

Elliot Goodwin Cheshire

Michael Taylor G.Manchester

Jack Owen Merseyside

Rhys Turner Lancashire

Nicholas Haughton G.Manchester

Curtis Coppen Durham

Callum Ross Northumberland

Nenad Smyanic South Yorkshire

Chris Bell Northumberland

Jack Barlow Cheshire

Liam Woodhouse Cleveland

Anthony Mackie South Yorkshire