ESFA Newsletter - Monday 2nd April 2007
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Mr. Nigel Brown
Chairman Nigel Brown
Since my last newsletter I am pleased to report that the new premises in Stafford were officially opened on the 26th of January 2007. These premises are truly excellent and I am sure will serve the Association well for many years to come. It also gives me great pleasure to inform you that the ESFA U-18 Team won their first match of the season 5-2 against a strong Belgium squad at Charterhouse School on 27th of February. This game had to be hastily rearranged after the Aldershot Town pitch was unfit due to heavy overnight rain.
Hopes of retaining the Centenary Shield are high after this victory but the games against Scotland (Stirling) the Republic of Ireland (Dublin) and Northern Ireland (Blackburn) will not be easy. Tickets for the game at Blackburn Rovers F.C. are available from the ticket office 08701 123456. I am sure it will be a great occasion, so why not organize a group to go and cheer our team on to victory. There are large discounts for groups!
During Easter ESFA Football Festivals will take place at Jersey (U-11), Isle of Wight (U-14), North Tyneside (U-11) and Durham (U-13). I wish to thank all the organizers for giving up their time to ensure that these events run smoothly and I am sure that all teams who attend these festivals will thoroughly enjoy the experience. I hope that the weather is good and look forward to visiting these venues.
The Competitions Department at Stafford is working very hard at this time as our various competitions reach their final stages and arrangements are being made to host the Finals at grounds around the country. Entering a National Competition is always exciting but the thrill of reaching a final is something truly special. I congratulate all teams who have tasted success and wish all those who reach a final the best of luck.
Arrangements are currently being made for this year’s A.G.M. in Manchester on 23rd June 2007. The venue will be Manchester United Football Club’s Trafford Suite. I look forward to seeing as many colleagues and friends as possible for what should be a most enjoyable occasion at a prestigious venue. Make a weekend of it and enjoy the hospitality of Greater Manchester Schools` F.A. Manchester is a fantastic city, but don’t just take my word for it: come and see for yourself. Further details will be sent out shortly.
Finally, can I express my appreciation to all who work in schools` football and wish you all a very happy and enjoyable Easter?
Nigel Brown
Chairman
Chief Executive’s Update
This General Newsletter has been delayed in going to print for two weeks awaiting a number of items that needed to be included in the mailing. My apologies to the Chairman if certain activities have now been completed but were unknown to him when he wrote his piece above.
As a reminder the new contact are:
English Schools’ FA
4 Parker Court,
Staffordshire Technology Park,
Stafford
ST18 0WP
Tel: 01785 785970
Fax: 01785 256246
Council Members
Despite letters and pleas to the country we have only had one nomination for a position on Council, that being for the vacant position in Area H. We still have retired teachers serving in Area A, Dennis Fulton who will have to come off Council in 2009 after completing his 3 years since retirement. Area D is in the same situation with Steve Abson having to leave Council in 2008 and Kevin Wilbur in 2009. Martin Duffield has to retire from Area C at the end of season 2007-2008 having also competed his three years since retirement.
The problem of replacing Council Members is becoming acute and is a major point on the next Council Agenda; however, you gentlemen in full time teaching, could solve the problem by volunteering. I appreciate the amount of work that current Council Members do, but with careful planning and perhaps a small team (to include the retiring Council Member) surrounding you, the task would not be too onerous. Please consider the position and if you want to discuss the implications of coming onto Council, do not hesitate to give me a call. Or speak directly with any of the Council Members mentioned above.
Annual General Meeting
The Working Group set up by Council has met again since the last Newsletter. The main item on the agenda was to look at the results of the survey sent out to you, to analyze them and to make any recommendations that came from them. I have enclosed with this Newsletter, the actual results of the survey. Once Council have further investigated costs, venues and formats we will report back to you with our ideas to be discussed at the 2007 AGM in Manchester.
Details of the 2007 AGM to held in Manchester can be found on our website www.esfa.co.uk . Actual hotel prices and the available packages will be distributed to members after the Easter Holidays. Details will also appear on the website.
ESFA Counties’ Meeting
The observations and comments ensuing from the ESFA Counties meeting in London last October have been distributed around the ESFA Counties. Further discussion will take place at the Council Meeting in May before Council make any recommendations to Membership. The first view of Council is that the results of the meeting are likely to be skewed without the input of the District Associations; therefore it is thought that a session during the AGM weekend might be valuable. If anyone has any comment to make on this please feel free to discuss with myself or the Chairman.
Competitions
May I take this opportunity to ask all Counties and Districts to pay particular attention to the rules of competitions for 2006/2007, especially the differing rules governing the age ranges of a number of competitions? May I also remind you that the ‘maximum 2 year age band’ is a National Governing Body regulation and MUST be adhered to? In some competitions, both local and national, we have allowed for a single year age group but under no circumstances can you play children from three or more age ranges in one team. Two girls’ teams were bitterly disappointed last season when they were withdrawn from finals at the last minute for the irregular use of players. I hope this is not repeated this season!
Yes, that is a repeat from the last 3 Newsletters, and again I make the plea to all our team managers, secretaries and teachers in charge of teams. This season has seen a startling increase in bad behaviour both on and off the pitch. May I remind you that under the Laws of the Game ESFA has the FA powers to fine schools and associations who fail to control their spectators (both adult and young people)? Additionally schools and associations may be banned from playing any competitive football.
Recently there has been an increased number of schools complaining about the organization of competitions at a local level. Whilst I am more than happy to advise and assist County and District Secretaries with any appeals you should note that schools’ must be advised to approach you first before coming here to Stafford with their appeal or complaint. I would also like to reiterate that we do not accept appeals or complaints from parents as these are more than often from a very biased source!
Once again the Competition’s Department has been under a great deal of strain, mainly in arbitrating between warring schools, despite the addition of Lisa onto the staff.
The very bad weather, coupled with two distinct week half terms has played havoc with the quarter and semi final scheduling in most competitions. In these circumstances we would ask schools and associations to be flexible with us, especially if a lucrative sponsorship deal is in the balance.
Please see the website for the ever changing position with respect to the semi and finals of the competitions. Many dates and venues have now been set and appear on the website. The Trophy, seen as our premier competition, comes to a conclusion at Worksop Town on 26th April (Kick off 6.45pm) and AFC Bournemouth on 3rd May (Kick off tbc after a meeting with the football club, likely to be 6.45pm). Worksop and Poole Schools’ F.A.s must be congratulated on reaching the final.
Two other finals are notable for their grandeur. The boys and girls U13 Minute Maid Cup finals will be played at Coventry City F.C on Tuesday 22 May and the RAF U16 boys and girls Cups come to an end amongst the RAF Parachute Display team (The Falcons – trained by yours truly in the 1980s) and the RAF police Dog Team at Manchester City on Thursday 10 May. If you are in the area, it would be good to see some support for these finals.
Again, we ask you the Associations to assist the Competition’s Department with their work by ensuring that all your correspondence is done electronically via email or through the ever popular web site: www.esfa.co.uk
Life Membership
Congratulations to Jack Tarr, Bassett Law P.S.F.A., on the award of Life Member.
Long Service Awards
Congratulations to the following members who have been awarded 50 Years Long Service Gold Award
- David Morey – Portsmouth
- Mike Simmonds – Nottinghamshire
- John Kay – Inner London
There were also 19 40 Year Awards, 7 25 Year Awards and 9 10 Year Awards. A full list will appear in the 2007-2008 Handbook
News from The Football Association
The Burns report
The Report will now not go to the Shareholders until the FA AGM on 29 May at Wembley Stadium.
Your Game Your Say
The results of the round England seminars and a copy of the draft report have been emailed to those associations who have registered an electronic address with the office. If you have not received a copy, do not have an email address registered with us or cannot download the document, it can be found on the FA’s web site www.TheFA.com
ESFA Coaching and International Selection
We continue to support the PUMA Coaching initiative, PUMA AFC. Please note that if you have any enquiries you should contact Phil Darren on phildarren@tiscali.co.uk and not the office.
At the time of writing we have played the Belgium under 17 professional team at Charterhouse Schools (the original being rained off at Aldershot Town FC) beating them with a superb performance 5-2. This was followed up by the two away Centenary Shield fixtures in Stirling against Scotland and Dublin against the Republic of Ireland. A very poor game in Scotland resulted in a 1-0 victory. The boys never came to terms with a thoroughly defensive Scotland team who had already lost to Northern Ireland 3-0 and to the Republic of Ireland 1-0. A much better game was seen in Dublin with the English team being slightly unlucky not to take all three points despite heavy Irish pressure for the final quarter of an hour in this 1-1 draw. Tony Martin and his team of management have put together a very good squad, as the games against Belgium and the Republic showed, so much is hoped for in our two final matches at home to Northern Ireland in the Centenary Shield at Blackburn Rovers F.C. on Friday night 20 April (kick off 7pm) and home to Wales in a Celebration International to mark 100 years of Schoolboy Internationals, at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 4 May, again a 7pm kick off. We would like to invite any past players of the England Schoolboy teams at under 15 and under 18 age group to be present with us to celebrate the centenary of International Schoolboy Football. If you or any members of your Associations are aware of any of these players living locally, please either ask them to get in touch with me here in Stafford or just let me know and I’ll contact them.
The match at Blackburn is sponsored by California Raisins and the match at Wolverhampton by Des Comerford’s
‘Fallen Hero’ brand of menswear.
Primary
The Primary Finals Festival will return to Keele University again this year on Saturday 16 June. This is always a wonderful day out with lots of football being played through the 4 different competitions.
Child Protection
You are reminded that all teachers, retired teachers and adults other than teachers require to have had a CRB check. The new cost of a CRB check is £15. Application forms for both CRB checks and AOTT registration are available from the office.
The Football Association has produced some very good and simple information on the use of photography with school age children. This information can be downloaded from the FA web site:
It is becoming increasingly obvious that a number of schools, districts and counties are ignoring the AOTT rule and allowing non-registered people to take charge of school teams. This will negate all insurance cover that we have taken out on your behalf. Please acquaint yourselves with the rules concerning who can and cannot look after school, district, county teams as printed in the Handbook on page 145. Martin Duffield and I are trying to simplify the system but due to the regulations set out by the government, are hands are very much tied.
Promotion & Development
(REPEAT) California Raisins have agreed to fund the first two issues of ‘KICKS’ for 2007 and are hopeful of continuing the contract beyond the 2006-2007 season. It would be nice to include a ‘local’ perspective, so please do not hesitate to send in articles and photographs telling us of the ‘good practices’ you perform in your Districts and Counties.
Have a look on our web site www.esfa.co.uk and you’ll be surprised at the range of saleable items that are now available. We now do a range of lambs’ wool sweaters in navy with the 3 Lions crest and ESFA embroidered in gold (M, L, XL and XXL) at £30 each. You can order this item from our office here in Stafford. And you can pay on line as well.
Grassroots Soccer Show
After a very successful introduction at EXCEL in London in 2005, the Grassroots Soccer Show is moving to Coventry City FC on 9th/10th June 2007. The organizers are keen to support schools’ football and assure me that the Show will be suitable for all ages. We are hoping to have an hour slot on each day to provide some top level coaching advice to any school children in attendance.
You have received a flyer advertising this event. If you are in the area please come along as the show has something to interest all football fans.
Insurance
District, County and national activities ARE covered by a £5m Third Party Liability cover. This includes the hiring of rooms for meetings and pitches and facilities. You can obtain a copy if the insurance certificate by calling Dawn on 01785 785970.
If you have any queries on insurance please contact Malcolm Alexander at SBJ UK Ltd, Sport & Leisure Division on 0117962 5888. In particular they are producing some very competitive rates for Public Liability cover for Individual Schools and Colleges. However, all affiliated associations come under our national policy for third party liability so long as they are acting as part of the ESFA.
We are still discussing player to player insurance cover with Linakers.
Adults other than Teachers (AOTTs)
See Child Protection above.
AOTT registration is currently only valid for one year; therefore you must re-register your AOTTs on an annual basis. There are new forms, simplified and more user friendly, this year and they are available through the office. The one big change is that so long as all the other criteria are completed AOTTs do not need to be members of FACA.
This is not a difficult procedure, so please do all you can to register your AOTTs. Being registered is also a safeguard to the individual and allows them access to good practice procedures.
Sponsorship
I have signed up a new agreement with SFi which is on the lines of the one we had previously. We will be entitled to 2.5% of the profit from affiliated schools having an SFi Football Day. Members of the Primary Associations may wish to push this activity so that we can make it a worthwhile venture. Please look at the new SFi web site for details of the scheme. www.theSFi.com
The California Raisins sponsorship arrangement has been extended for another 6 months which will allow us to produce another two editions of KICKS magazine, although one of these editions will only be 4 pages unless we pay the difference to make it up to 8 pages.
I have produced a ‘Heads of Agreement’ for E.ON, who have agreed to sponsor the under 12 indoor 5-a-side competition. Thank you to all of you who, at a very late stage, resurrected this competition. This was very important in sponsorship terms and should guarantee the competition for at least another 3 years.
‘Recycle for kit’ is a scheme that is very popular in Scotland and could have great financial implications for you our Associations. Basically a waste recycle company in Scotland are willing to exchange old mobile phones and printer cartridges for points which can be redeemed for free football kit through ERREA. Once an agreement has been made I will circulate all the details.
PASS4, a company I have mentioned before, has been accepted for charitable status and is in the business of placing students in US universities. I am working with the owner, Barry Poole, to see what is in it for ESFA. Currently he is offering a sponsorship fee for the use of our endorsement and logo.
SAFIB
We will jointly host the 2007 AGM in London with the FA on 15 September. The Thistle, Marble Arch has been chosen for the accommodation, but the actual AGM will be held at Wembley. David Woollaston will formally be voted in as Vice Chairman of SAFIB. Congratulations to Dave.
I look forward to meeting with as many of our Association Secretaries as possible through the year.
John A Read
Chief Executive
