English Schools' International Season Kicks Off for 2016-17
Friday 18 November 2016By ESFA Office
Last Updated:
10/02/2021 10:49:55
New Staff Search for the New Squads and England U18 Boys and U15 Girls have big boots to fill following the success of last season's double Home Nation Champions title
Following the hugely successful 2015/16 Schools' Football season, the English Schools' FA (ESFA) has announced new key appointments to join its International Squads' Management Teams. The new team members have big boots to fill in 2016-17, following the outstanding success by both ESFA England U18 and U15 squads last season, both winners of their respective Home Nations competitions, the inspiresport Centenary Shield and Bob Docherty Trophy.
U18 Manager Ben Lavelle and Assistant Manager Richy Alderson will now be joined by Matt George, Goalkeeping Coach and Tony Harris, Physio and the U15 Girls will be under all new Management with Claire Robinson and Stephanie Libbey taking up the Managers and Assistant Manager's reins alongside Will Smith, Goalkeeping Coach and Gemma Hopkin, Physio.
Last Season's U18 England Schoolboys' with the previous Management Team, Steve Wilderspin, Andy Norwood, Andy Blight & Ben Lavelle
The early trial stages for both boys and girls have already begun with teams of girls from the North and South set to play each other in their final trial on 11 December at Stafford Town FC's Evans Park. The official England U15 Schoolgirls squad will be selected following this match and announced during December. The boys' selection process, now at the last 64 stage, continues with players from the North to play the Midlands on Saturday 19 November at Man City's old training ground at Carrington and the South East to play the South West at Rayners Lane FC in Harrow on Sunday 20th. The last 32 will then head to Lilleshall National Sports Centre in January to take part in the final selection weekend, including friendly matches against both the Royal Navy and the RAF.
The picturesque Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Shropshire will host a number of the ESFA's International Training Weekends this season
The ESFA, the National Governing Body for Schools' Football in England, has been running International representative teams since 1907 and at the height of their success, the ESFA U15 Schoolboys team brought in 95,000 spectators at Wembley, no less than three times. For some time, the ESFA ran both an U15 and U18 squad for boys', however since season 2003/04, the U15 boys' have been substituted for U15 Girls' in a conscious effort to help nurture and develop girls' football in England.
These International squads are made up, simply, of the best Schools' Football players in England. Players must already represent their County and be nominated by their local County Schools' FA based on their skills and talent. All players then face the grueling trials process in order to make it through to the England squad. It is an honour for these children to represent their Country at this level and furthermore, a privilege for the ESFA to reward, in particular the Boys' team, for choosing to remain in mainstream education whilst playing football as opposed to opting to join an academy. The ESFA's values are firmly rooted in an educational approach to football and this is a great way to celebrate those players that have made the decision to ensure they have a solid foundation of qualifications to support them, wherever their football career may take them.
Girls' U15 Midlands Trials at Stafford Town FC earlier in the Season
ESFA International Upcoming Trial & Fixture Dates
Boys
Saturday 19 November |
U18 Boys' Regional Games: North v Midlands |
Carrington |
Sunday 20 November |
U18 Boys' Regional Games: South East v South West |
Rayners Lane FC |
6th - 8th January 7 January 7 January |
U18 Boys' Last 32 Training Weekend U18 Boys v Royal Navy U18 Boys v RAF |
Lilleshall National Sports Centre |
27th - 28th January 28th January |
U18 Boys' International Squad Training Weekend U18 Boys' International v Australia (friendly) |
Lilleshall National Sports Centre |
3rd March |
Inspiresport Centenary Shield Match: Scotland v England |
St Mirren |
24th March |
Inspiresport Centenary Shield Match: England v Northern Ireland |
Torquay Utd FC |
13th March |
Inspiresport Centenary Shield Match: Republic of Ireland v England |
Dublin |
21st April |
Inspiresport Centenary Shield Match: England v Wales |
Bristol Rovers FC (TBC) |
Girls
11th December |
U15 Girls' Regional Games: North v South |
Stafford Town FC |
11th - 12th February |
U15 Girls' Squad Training Weekend |
Lilleshall National Sports Centre |
20th - 24th February |
U15 Girls' Squad Training Camp Courtesy of inspiresport |
Spain |
12th March |
U15 Girls' International Match: FAI Schools v England |
Home Farm FC, Dublin |
9th - 12th April |
U15 Girls' Bob Docherty Trophy |
Dublin |