The ESFA is delighted to announce that their home SAFIB Centenary Shield fixture v Republic of Ireland Schoolboys will be hosted at Walsall FC on Friday 5th April 2024. The England U18 Schoolboys’ squad will be traveling to the Poundland Bescot Stadium, for their first home Centenary Shield fixture of the season.
The highly anticipated fixture against the Republic of Ireland, winners of the SAFIB Centenary Shield back in 2018, will kick off at 7pm and will be live-streamed on the night.
The fixture will be the first opportunity of 2024 for the ESFA to showcase their squad on home-turf in the Centenary Shield competition and will be the first time Walsall FC has hosted an ESFA England Schoolboys’ event at the Poundland Bescot Stadium. The event will create some schools’ football buzz in and around the town, as West Midlands Schools’ FA look to host some primary school competitions to tie into the fixture.
The SAFIB Centenary shield, which was first contested in 1973, is a competitive international competition between under 18 schoolboy squads from across the home nations. England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland all play each other in a round robin format and the team with the most points at the end of the tournament will lift the historic trophy. England shared the trophy with Wales last season, with this year’s squad looking to retain the title and take the first steps towards that at home in Walsall.
The England team will wear their new home shirts for the first time as they walk out onto the Poundland Bescot Stadium pitch this April. This year’s Nike kit has been provided by official ESFA kit suppliers, Pro:Direct and features new ESFA front of shirt sponsors, Arnold Clark. With the car company’s brand fast becoming synonymous with football at all levels, the England boys will be proud to be associated with such fantastic sponsors of the ESFA’s international programme.
Match tickets are priced at just £8 for adults and £5 for concessions and are available via Walsall FC’s website here. Further details and announcements will follow in the coming weeks – to make sure you stay up to date with all the England Schoolboys’ action, follow @schoolsfootball across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
ESFA Chair, Marvin Robinson said, “I am delighted to be welcoming the SAFIB Centenary Shield action between England and The Republic of Ireland to the West Midlands and Walsall FC this season. Walsall FC have already pulled out all the stops to secure this event at the Poundland Bescot Stadium and I am looking forward to the buzz this will create in and around the local area.
The ESFA’s international programme benefits from fantastic sponsorship from a number of big-name sponsors and their invaluable support allows us to create memorable opportunities for all of our England Schoolboys during their time representing their country for the ESFA. I hope they get the most from this fixture in Walsall and look forward to welcoming football fans from near and far to join us for this momentous occasion”
Stefan Gamble, CEO of Walsall FC, expressed the club’s enthusiasm for hosting this prestigious event: “We’re thrilled to welcome the ESFA’s SAFIB Centenary Shield fixture between England and The Republic of Ireland to the Poundland Bescot Stadium on 5th April. We are committed to providing a memorable experience, and look forward to welcoming fans from within the local community and further afield for this momentous occasion.”
The ESFA is hoping to see a bumper crowd for home international matches in 2024, with a view to creating a fantastic and memorable atmosphere and experience for the young three lions.
The National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England.