English Schools' Football Association

John Read, ESFA Chief Executive

To continue the theme of the Chairman’s message it is now nearly the start of June and as I look out of the office window here in Stafford I see a dull grey day with rain lashing against the windows! Still, by the time you read this the forecasters say it will be warmer!

These days it seems that one season just rolls into another and as the Chairman states we are now looking towards next year and beyond. We will be sorry to see Neil Pont depart after the AGM later in June especially as his contribution during his Chairman’s year has been huge and all though he will not admit it, the Future Development Plan for ESFA is a very welcome move forward. The next few years are likely to be exciting ones as we move more and more into working with others to develop the fitness, welfare and talent of school age children. We will no longer just be a delivery agent for competitions and representative football but will also undertake development roles in providing more football, safer environments and better opportunities. The Development Plan published by Council, but with Neil as the driving force, now gives us a focus to move forward. This, however, cannot be done without an increase in financial and human resources. I have spent much of the last few months negotiating new commercial sponsorship arrangements (contracts about to be signed so more news next e-zine), working with the FA National Game Board to increase our annual grant and hopefully provide funding for a new full time Football Development Officer . Alongside these discussions have been complicated talks with the Premier League and the Government over the delivery of Primary School football.

I attach some notes for use during the coming season:

• Mixed football will be allowed up to and including Under 15 age group (Year 10 School Group).

• 9 v 9 will be the largest format that Under 11s can play. They can still play smaller formats of the game

• Goal post funding for 9 v 9 is available through the Football Foundation www.footballfoundation.org.uk Please see the web site for the next application window and appropriate information on applying. It must be stressed that schools making an application will be required to allow use of the goal posts by outside organisations. They may, of course, charge the outside organisation for the use of their pitches, changing rooms etc.

• A Youth review Booklet for Schools should be out before the end of the Summer School Term

• We will offer new B team cup and Small School competitions for next season and also an Open Cup for under 14 individual schools. There will be no restriction on players who are part of the FA’s Excellence Programme in the Open Cup, only 3 players from anyone Excellence programme can play in the schools Cup an no players from the Excellence Programmes will be allowed in the B team up competitions

• The FA has produced a new Safeguarding Children Policy which will soon appear on the ESFA website www.esfa.co.uk

• ESFA will run, in conjunction with the Summer Coaching Course for U18 County players (boys), a preliminary coaching course for Primary School teachers during the week 19-23 April 2013

Finally, before I wish you all a warm and sunny summer, in conjunction with the FA we will be making the development of girls’ football one of our priorities for 2013-2014. Currently we have little knowledge of female teachers who have coaching qualifications unless they have come through our own Bursary Grant Scheme (details on the web site). PLEASE CONTACT ME: john.read@schoolsfa.com if you are currently a female teacher who is a qualified FA coach at any level from Level 1 to 4 (UEFA A licence) or the Youth appropriate qualification. We need your help!

Best wishes, enjoy the summer and with any luck we will see you at the AGM in Stafford on 29^th June 2013.

John A Read

Chief Executive

30 May 2013