English Schools' Football Association

The Football Association will host the UEFA Women’s European Under 17 Championship Finals in England from 26 November - 8 December 2013.

England will kick off the tournament at the New Bucks Head stadium, home to AFC Telford United on Tuesday 26 November at 12.30pm.

Three days later, on Friday 29 November, the young lionesses will play at Chesterfield FC. This will be their first evening game with a 7.00pm kick off.

Their final group stage match will be at Burton Albion FC on Thursday 2 December, 12.30pm kick off.

England National Women’s Under-17 Coach, Lois Fidler said: “Holding the final tournament in England provides our young stars with a real chance to shine. This is a big stage for our players and they will embrace the opportunity.”

The final will take place at Chesterfield FC Stadium on Sunday 8 December and will round off a momentous 150 year of celebration for The Football Association including marking twenty years of running the women’s game.

Both daytime and evening kick offs will enable schools as well as all fans to experience a finals tournament. Full ticket details and fixture list will be released shortly.

AFC Telford United Chairman Ian Dosser said, “We are honoured to be chosen as a venue for such a prestigious tournament. The games will give the community of Telford and Wrekin the opportunity to view the best of European women’s football. We are delighted to be hosting the opening ceremony and the first England game; and hope that people will turn out in numbers to support the national team.”

St George’s Park

The eight national squads will be based at The FA’s new world class training facility, St. George’s Park, in Staffordshire. The central location is ideal for the teams, offering them access to outstanding technical, medical and coaching facilities.

The teams will have exclusive use of SGP from 24 November, including training pitches, both Hilton and Hampton Hotels, state of the art medical and post-match recovery equipment and treatment areas. For more information on St. George’s Park visit http://www.thefa.com/St-Georges-Park

Tournament Background

This is the seventh UEFA EuropeanWomen’s Under-17 final tournament but the first to be held outside Switzerland and the first to contain eight teams. Poland are the current holders.

The tournament consists of three distinct stages: two qualifying rounds and an eight-team final tournament. The competition is currently in the Elite Round stage where 24 teams are competing in 6 groups for seven places.

The Elite stage will be completed on 20 October and a finals draw will determine the match schedule on Thursday 24 October.

The two finalists and the winner of the third place play-off will proceed to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica between 15 March and 5 April 2014.

England 2013/14 Schedule

Group Stages – Tuesday 26 November, Thursday 29 November, Monday 2 December

Knockout Phase, Semi Final – Thursday 5 December

Final / Third Place Play-Off – Sunday 8 December

For full details of the tournament visit UEFA’s website: http://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/index.html

For further news on the tournament visit www.uefa.com/womensunder17/ or contact Tournament Marketing and Communications Manager Katherine.Knight@TheFA.com or John Stanley John.Stanley@TheFA.com