ESFA Newsletter - 27th June 2008
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Chairman Stuart Inger
I am very proud and honoured to be invited to act as your chairman for the coming season, and to represent an association with more than 100 years history in providing soccer for boys and more recently for girls too. The ESFA has tried to maintain the highest standards of behaviour from players, staff and supporters throughout that time and whilst there will always be some setbacks along the way I shall do my best to ensure that only the very highest standards are fostered. As such one of the first tasks undertaken by council this year will be to review the ESFA Code of Conduct and to make sure that is widely known.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank my predecessor, Gerry Smith, for his most fruitful and productive year as Chairman of the ESFA, a year in which he carefully balanced his football commitments with his responsibilities in a senior post in his school. The pressures of a full time teaching job can be immense nowadays and I have been more than happy to fill in for Gerry when asked to during the season, and I know that my vice-chairman, Paul Rickard, will do the same for me.
ESFA Council have long bemoaned the situation that fewer and fewer members were willing to step forward and join council to fill the vacant positions, but following this year’s AGM we have suddenly found four new members and look forward to having a full complement for next season, something that has not existed in my 14 years on the national executive. I will introduce them to you and welcome them to council once the formalities of election or confirmation by their areas has been completed.
At the AGM it was of course a great pleasure to see everyone again, but these were the same faces I have been meeting for the past 14 years and the age profile of the meeting worryingly continues to grow. Maybe things will change now that we seem to have a more permanent base for the AGM in Stafford, right next to our office. Initial comments about the new arrangements have been positive, but any feedback would be appreciated and will assist in planning for next year’s event.
In attending AGMs in my area recently I have been really encouraged by the number of young, mostly PE, teachers who have not only turned up but have been keen to help with team management, competition secretaries etc. Some of these are PDMs, SSCos, and FA Development Officers who have a remit to ensure that school soccer along with other school sports develop to the benefit of children. They are committed to encouraging activities which work well, and offering support where help is needed. This is the way sport in schools is going forward and the ESFA needs to be on board.
Wembley was a very successful event last season, but was not well supported by schools, district and county associations, and consequently it made a loss. This can be sustained in the first year but must not happen again. Council will be looking at ways of making the 2009 Wembley fixture a more attractive proposition, but it will require a huge effort from the country for us to produce a decent profit so that the pot of money for supporting our associations can be increased.
Sadly my first duty as chairman this season will be to attend the funeral of John Wilkinson. John was a much loved member of the ESFA family, a larger than life character with a booming voice and a whole host of stories going back over 40 years. I first met John at the Skegness Festival way back in the early 80’s. John was also one of the ESFA’s honorary auditors for many years, and was meticulous in this task. John was elected to Life Membership of the ESFA at our AGM this year. He was an outstanding servant to his hometown of Sheffield and the county of South Yorkshire; he touched the lives of many thousands of schoolchildren, and will be sadly missed.
Finally let me thank you all for your efforts in the past season, and particularly for the support you give to your national body. With your support this association can go forward in strength. Do enjoy a well-earned break this summer, and return refreshed and ready for the challenge of 2008-2009, and I look forward to seeing many of you during the season.
Stuart Inger.
Chairman
Chief Executive’s Update
I would like to start the new season by thanking Gerry Smith for his support of myself and the office staff throughout his reign as Chairman. However, “the king is dead, long live the king” The staff and I hope that the new Chairman has a pleasant and not too taxing a year as Chairman.
As the Chairman has mentioned, it is with deep regret that we announce the death of our old friend and colleague, John Wilkinson. We, in the office had the great pleasure of knowing John and his wife Betty better than most because of his role as Honorary Auditor to the Association. Once a year, at Audit time, I have had the pleasure of taking John and Betty out for dinner. They were a delightful couple and our hearts go out to Betty and hope that she can get through this difficult time. I know all of John’s friends will rally round, especially Geoff Jennett who has lost an especially good friend. The two of them have managed to give me some of the best times I’ve had whilst serving the Association. The two Ronnies, Tom and Gerry and Geoff and John…John Wilkinson R.I.P.
As we say ‘goodbye’ to people at the end of the season we have the opportunity to say ‘hello’ to any new comers; but before that may I put on record our appreciation of the services of our three retiring Council Members. Martin Duffield leaves us after 23 years on Council, Dennis Fulton after 17 years and Steve Abson after 15 years. I know that they will all carry on the good work both in their local areas and if asked (they will be!!!) at a National level.
I shall pen a short history of our new Council Members after the next Council Meeting when they will have been formally elected onto Council.
As I write this our new staff acquisition, Ed Mitchell starts his first day with us. Welcome Ed, if you can work here you can work anywhere! Ed is a qualified referee and joins us fresh from taking his ‘A’ levels and will work with Mike and Darren as the Competition Administrator.
Annual General Meeting
Thank you to all the members who have thanked the staff for their contribution in organizing the AGM. We are happy to do so again next year, so the AGM will be held here in Stafford on Saturday 20th June 2009. Please feel free to contact myself or Lorna if you wish to make any suggestions. I am pleased to say that David Gent has recommended to the Trustees that the organizing association grant be raised from £350 to £700!
For those of you who attended the AGM you will recall the subject of Schools Sports Partnerships et al came up on a number of occasions. Now is the time for ALL membership to consider inviting their local Senior Competition Manager, Competition Manager or County Football Development Officer to the next AGM
Competition Department
Now at full strength I hope we will be able to improve the service given to our schools and associations. At this time of the year I always make the plea for you to help us by arranging your matches on time and not leave things until the last minute. There is now a comprehensive Competition Page on the website for your use www.esfa.co.uk
Coaching and Selection
The 2008-2009 season kicks off with the usual Keele Coaching Week at the university. Dave Woollaston, as Course Director, and Phil Nardiello (National Team Manager) will be putting 64 County selected players through their paces with the help of our team of 8 fully qualified (and also currently employed school teachers) coaches. International Selection trials start in October with the North trials on 25th October and the Midlands on Sunday 26th October. This is followed by the South East on Saturday 1st November and the South West on Sunday 2nd November.
The North will then play the Midlands on Saturday 15th November and the South East will play the South West on Sunday 16th November. From these two matches 32 players will be selected to attend further coaching and training at the National Sports Centre, Lilleshall during the weekend of 5th to 7th December. A further Lilleshall weekend has been arranged over the weekend of 9th to 11th January 2009. During the weekend two ESFA teams will be selected to play the Royal Navy under 21s and the Royal Air Force Junior Development Squad. From there 20 players will be selected to form the basis of the international squad and will have another weekend at Lilleshall at the end of January before going on a warm weather training trip to Spain during the February half term, courtesy of our sponsors INSPIRE SPORT.
The full programme of Centenary Shield and friendly internationals will be published after the Schools’ Association Football International Board (SAFIB) meeting in Glasgow on Saturday 13th September.
Primary Schools Activities
We were very sorry to have to cancel our 8 regional 5-7 year old Festivals of Football even though we had a sponsor on board. JETIX TV could not manage to put together 8 crews to televise the Festivals, mainly because we were unable to organise them in good time. No ones fault, but at least we tried to get them organized. To those associations who did deliver their Festival, “Thank You” I believe a great day was had by all. The good news is that JETIX TV should still be with us next year.
With any luck we will be able to stage our Primary School competition finals at the National Stadium, Wembley again in 2009.
Members are reminded that children must have attained their 7th birthday before they can play competitive matches. This means matches where leagues, points or winners are kept.
Under 11s may still play 11 a-side football.
Promotion & Development
The Chairman has asked me to Chair a committee to look in the direction we would like to take schools’ football. I shall be calling the first meeting at Keele University during the Coaching Course. There will be more to report after the next Council meeting.
Rules & Referees
This committee look after discipline as well. Let us hope for a trouble free 2008-2009. A number of Council Members will attend FA training to enable them to conduct disciplinary hearings around the country if necessary.
There are few rule changes this season, either from the FA or the ESFA. These will be communicated to Membership along with the annual Handbook.
Sponsorship
Having taken a ‘bashing’ at the AGM I am more than pleased to welcome an extended deal with the Premier League where they have committed themselves to sponsoring the boys’ individual schools under 14 cup. Match Magazine has also agreed to sponsor the boys’ under 12 individual schools’ cup.
We have also negotiated a special deal with “First Aid Warehouse” for the provision of medical equipment. I am hoping that this will extend to the Jersey and Isle of Wight Festivals.
County Senior Competition Managers
Enclosed with this General Newsletter is the contact list for the Youth Sports’ Trust Senior Competition Managers. I was fortunate enough to be invited by the YST to give a presentation to the Senior Competition Managers at their recent induction seminar. Without exception they understood that it was the primary role of the National Governing Body to deliver any particular sport. The FA are assisting with such initiatives as ‘School to Club Link’ and EON Schools’ Day. ESFA has the responsibility to deliver the competition structure at all levels, therefore it is of the utmost importance that our County Schools’ FAs take a leading role and invite the Senior Competition Managers and FA County Development Officers to discuss the delivery of football to the schools and districts within their County. With proper coordination and communication we can improve the service we deliver to our young footballers and with these new partners should come along a new generation of helpers, increased funding and the availability to tap into Sports Partnership kit and equipment for representative matches.
Womens and Girls FA Centres of Excellence
Membership is reminded that on non Excellence programmed weekends, girls may play for their school. The Centres have agreed to find available weekends without fixtures so that County football can still flourish.
May I wish you all a pleasant summer. I look forward to meeting up with many of you next season.
John A Read
Chief Executive
