The ESFA will continue their search for this season’s most talented Schools’ Footballers, with a view to presenting them with the opportunity to earn honours caps by representing their country in the 2019-2020 Schools’ Football season.
England U18 Boys’ regional trials will conclude this weekend with the South West trial taking place at Frys Club, Bristol on Sunday 3rd November. Last weekend, trialists from the South East travelled to Rectory Park, Middlesex to fight for their place in the regional squad which the ESFA hope to announce in the coming days. The Midland and North regional squads are live on the ESFA website following trials at Stafford Town (20th October) and Northfield School and Sports College (19th October).
These trials will present an opportunity for nominated players to impress selectors before heading to the next stage of the process. Simply by being nominated to take part in regional trials, players have already achieved the honour of being recognised by their county, having been put forward for the opportunity to play internationally by proving their capability of playing both individually and as part of a team.”¯
The international squads are made up of the best players in Schools’ Football in England. Players are chosen based upon their talent, after making their way through a strict trials process. Those who are successful in completing the entire trials process will go on to represent their country in 2020. Once selected, this season’s U18 England Schoolboys’ squad, following some friendly matches, will go on to play in the Centenary Shield against Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Since 1904 English Schools’ Football Association has been the governing body for Schools’ Football across England and has run International squads since 1907. The Association boasts crowds of 95,000 spectators at Wembley on multiple occasions at the height of the U15 international representative boys’ team.”¯ The ESFA are proud of their remit as an educational organisation, to be able to reward individuals, particularly at U18 level, who choose to remain in mainstream education as opposed to opting to join the academy system. There are deeply rooted values in education for ESFA and this is a way to celebrate players who have chosen to build a secure foundation for themselves with qualifications, wherever their football careers may take them.
Good Luck to all players taking part!
The National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England.