English Schools' Football Association

• PlayStation’s third year of its partnership with the English Schools’ FA (ESFA) marks the biggest schools’ football competition in the country
• Harry Kane, James Milner, Gary Cahill, Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw among leading names that have helped boost the highly acclaimed grassroots football initiative

The biggest grassroots football tournament in England will roll on onto a third season with the start of the 2015/16 PlayStation® Schools’ Cup kicking off at the beginning of September.

Since its launch in 2013, the partnership between PlayStation and the ESFA has attracted over 8,000 team entries and given nearly 150,000 children the chance to experience the pride of representing their school in competitive secondary school football tournaments.

It’s proved popular with the professionals too, with over 20 leading Premier League stars having supported this grassroots football competition, including the likes of Harry Kane, James Milner, Gary Cahill, Leighton Baines, Aaron Ramsey and Luke Shaw.

James Milner Making an Appearance at the East Manchester Academy in 2014

Accessibility is key to this highly acclaimed initiative, with 20 tournaments ranging from the main PlayStation Schools’ Cup competitions and District tournaments to a number of ‘B’ Team Cups and ‘Small School’ Trophy tournaments to ensure both boys and girls of all abilities can take part. Knockout rounds will take place from September 2015 to March 2016, with teams battling to reach this season’s PlayStation Schools’ Cup Festival, which marks a culmination of the various finals hosted at the stadium of a renowned football club in England.

Leading names from the Premier League will once again be recruited to help inspire the next generation of footballing stars, visiting schools up and down the country for the ‘Tie of the Round’ roadshows. Professional coaches also attend these series of events, which are staged on the day of a PlayStation Schools’ Cup fixture.

Leighton Baines Meeting Pupils of St Francis Xavier in Liverpool, Feb 2015

PlayStation UK Marketing Director Murray Pannell commented: “The ongoing popularity of the PlayStation Schools’ Cup has been great to see and we’re really pleased to continue our partnership with the ESFA. Giving so many kids of all ages and abilities the chance to play competitive football in national competitions has been a huge success, and we really hope the players both enjoy and benefit from the pride of representing their school in a high profile football tournament.”

ESFA Chairman Mike Spinks said: “We are delighted to be continuing our successful partnership with PlayStation. The PlayStation Schools’ Cup tournaments have proved to be incredibly popular and have given over 150,000 young players the chance to experience the pride of representing their school. PlayStation’s support has helped us further improve the professional structure we offer to schools across the country and we’re really looking forward to the season ahead.”

To keep up with all things PlayStation Schools' Cup visit the ESFA website or the PlayStation Schools' Cup website and follow @SchoolsFootball and @PSSchoolsCup on Twitter!

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