The ESFA are hosting the final England U18 Schoolboys’ trials this weekend at Rowley Park, Stafford, providing the nominated boys with a final chance to impress.
The ESFA host the final England U18 schoolboys’ trial this weekend with the intent of finding the best players that schools’ football has to offer. The successful trialists will be presented with the opportunity to earn honours caps by representing their country in the 2019-2020 schools football season.
The trial will see the best school footballers from the North and South of England play for a prestigious place in the final England U18 schoolboys’ squad. This will be the boys’ last chance to impress the ESFA selectors so the stakes couldn’t be higher! The North and South squads have been formed following a gruelling and thorough selection process, first being nominated by their county sides and then making their way through two prior stages of ESFA regional trials. 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.
Click here to view the selected North and South squad members taking part
Once selected, this season’s U18 England Schoolboys’ squad, following some friendly matches against UCFB squads and Australia, 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.
The National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England.