ESFA National Finals – Page 4 – English Schools' Football Association

The 10th year of ESFA PlayStation Schools’ Cup culminated with 20 National Finals at West Bromwich Albion FC, crowning 20 National Champions across the four day event

The biggest schools’ football tournament in the UK reached its conclusion for the 10th season, with 20 National Finals kicking off from 22nd-25th May. The competitions, which begun back in September, had over 5,400 teams enter and over 90,000 pupils taking part. The National Finals saw 40 teams travel to West Bromwich Albion FC with the aim of being crowned champions of England in their respective competitions. The PlayStation Schools’ Cup covers 20 competitions, providing Schools’ Cup, Small Schools’ Cup, Elite Cup, B Team Cup and Girls’ Cup competitions at the five U12 – U15 age groups.

This season’s Finals proved to be a week of fun and competition, with full, live coverage of all 20 matches, an in-house MC to entertain the crowds and special guest appearances from professional players, gamers, content creators and freestyle footballers adding to the atmosphere across the four days. England Lioness, Ella Toone, Freestyler Jack Downer and FIFA players Tom Leese and Alia Harvey all headed over to The Hawthorns to support the event and award some lucky players with their medals and trophies.

This year also saw the introduction of the PlayStation Zone, allowing spectators to enjoy a variety of PlayStation games in between matches. Alongside this, on Wednesday 24th May, the PlayStation Schools’ Cup FIFA Championship Finals returned with 32 girls and 32 boys battling it out to be crowned FIFA 23 National champions. These players qualified by winning a knockout tournament held by their respective schools earlier on in the year; and travelled to the Hawthorns for a chance to be crowned National Champions.

National Champions – Fixture Results 2023

Please find below a rundown of the 20 PlayStation Schools’ Cup Finals from the Hawthorns Stadium:

Monday 23rd May

ESFA Girls U12 9v9 PlayStation Schools’ Cup Final
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School (Leeds) 1-2 Eggbuckland Community College (Plymouth)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U12 9v9 Elite PlayStation Schools’ Cup Final
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School (Liverpool) 1-5 Northampton School for Boys (Northampton)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U12 9v9 PlayStation Small Schools’ Cup
Ovingham Middle School (West Tyne) 6-1 LVS Ascot( East Berkshire)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U12 9v9 PlayStation Schools’ Cup for B Teams
Northampton School for Boys (Northampton) 1-1 Shenfield High School (Chelmsford & Mid Essex)
Northampton School for Boys 4-3 Shenfield High School (Penalties)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U13 Girls’ 9v9 PlayStation Schools’ Cup
South Hunsley School ( East Riding) 2-1 Shenfield High School (Chelmsford & Mid Essex)
Watch the match highlights here

Tuesday 23rd May

ESFA U12 9v9 PlayStation Schools’ Cup
Great Sankey High School (Warrington) 2-1 Shenfield High School ( Chelmsford & Mid Essex)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U13 Elite PlayStation Schools’ Cup
Shenfield High School (Chelmsford & Mid Essex) 6-2 Canon Slade CofE School (Bolton)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U15 PlayStation Schools’ Cup for B Teams
The Taunton Academy (Taunton) 2-1 Thomas Telford (Telford & Wrekin)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U14 Girls’ PlayStation Schools’ Cup
Surbiton High School (Kingston) 3-0 South Hunsley School (East Riding)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U14 PlayStation Schools’ Cup
Halewood Academy (Knowlsey St Helens) 1-2 The Ashcombe School (Kingston)
Watch the match highlights here

Wednesday 23rd May

ESFA U14 PlayStation Small Schools’ Cup
LeAF Studio School (POOLE & EAST DORSET) 4-10 Moorland School (HYNDBURN & RIBBLE VALLEY)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U13 PlayStation Small Schools’ Cup
Mary Webb School & Science College (SHREWSBURY & DISTRICT) 2-2 St James Senior Boys’ School (SPELTHORNE)
Mary Webb School & Science College 10-11 St James Senior Boys’ School (Penalties)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U15 PlayStation Schools’ Cup
St Peter’s Catholic High School (WIGAN) 1-1 Hurstmere School (NORTH KENT)
St Peter’s Catholic High School 5-4 Hurstmere School
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U14 PlayStation Schools’ Cup for B Teams
Formby High School (SEFTON) 1-0 Kingsdale Foundation School (SOUTH LONDON)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U15 PlayStation Small Schools’ Cup
King James Academy Royston (NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE) 0-5 Brooke House College (Blaby & Harborough)
Watch the match highlights here

Thursday 25th May

ESFA U14 Elite PlayStation Schools’ Cup
St Bede’s RC School & Byron College (EAST DURHAM) 3-7 Whitgift School (CROYDON)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U15 Elite PlayStation Schools’ Cup
Horizon Community College (BARNSLEY) 0-3 The Aldenham Foundation (WATFORD & DISTRICT)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U13 PlayStation Schools’ Cup
Redden Court School (HAVERING) 3-2 West Derby School (LIVERPOOL)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA U13 PlayStation Schools’ Cup for B Teams
Ravens Wood School (BROMLEY) 1-1 Wright Robinson College (MANCHESTER)
Ravens Wood School 3-1 Wright Robinson College (Penalties)
Watch the match highlights here

ESFA Girls’ U15 PlayStation Schools’ Cup
St Joseph’s RC Academy (SOUTH TYNESIDE) 2-4 Surbiton High School (KINGSTON)
Watch the match highlights here

The ESFA would like to thank PlayStation for their ongoing support of the ESFA Schools’ Cup competitions. The Association would also like to thank West Bromwich Albion FC for their support in staging this fantastic event.

Congratulations go to all the National Finalists for 23/23 as well as all of the schools, teachers, parents, players and pupils that make the PlayStation Schools’ Cup the height of schools’ football competitions, season after season.

To enter the PlayStation Schools’ Cup competitions for 23/24, click here or email competitions@schoolsfa.com for more information.

All photos are credited to official ESFA photographer, 353 Photo. Pictures are available to purchase online via their website.

The English Schools' FA

The National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England.

Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup 2022/2023 inaugural tournament culminated on the 7^th June at Leicester City FC’s King Power Stadium, which saw teams from across the country compete to win in the U11 Schools’ Cup, U11 Girls’ Cup and U11 Small Schools’ Cup competitions.

The tournament gave over 50,000 players across the country the opportunity to develop their football skills, have fun with their friends and compete for a place in the national finals. We are delighted to announce the following schools as winners and runners up in each of the 3 Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup competitions –

U11 Schools’ Cup Winner: Harpur Hill Primary School (Derbyshire)

U11 Schools’ Cup Runners Up: Victoria College Prep (Jersey)

U11 Girls’ Cup Winner: St Walburga’s Primary School (Dorset)

U11 Girls’ Cup Runners Up: Tollerton Primary School (Nottinghamshire)

U11 Small Schools’ Cup Winner: Alma Primary School (Middlesex)

U11 Small Schools’ Cup Runners Up: Lindow Community School (Cheshire)

The Pokémon Company International is the official multi-year partner for the Schools’ Cup in collaboration with the English Schools’ FA (ESFA).

“This has been a memorable first tournament with the ESFA. It was great to see how the players worked together with their teammates, which is a core value at Pokémon, putting all of their energy into trying their best to progress through the competition and be crowned the national winners. Everyone who took part should be incredibly proud of themselves,” said Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at the Pokémon Company International. “Thank you to all the children, parents, schools, teachers, and coaches who made this competition such a success. We look forward to continuing to work alongside the ESFA and giving more children the opportunity to take part in the fun-packed competition for the 23/24 season.”

ESFA Chair, Stuart Botham said “I am delighted that the first season of the Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup has been such a success and that the ESFA is able to offer such a fantastic range of U11 competitions, thanks to the support of The Pokémon Company International. This partnership is providing the ESFA with the opportunity to grow, improve and enhance each of these three National Cup competitions, meaning that the tens of thousands of children that participate each year will have the best, possible experience at every stage of the tournament. This year’s National Finals at Leicester City FC were a fantastic showcase for the talent, skill and dedication of primary schools from across the country and, on behalf of the ESFA, I would like to thank each and every team for their participation and sportsmanship this season”.

The Pokémon Company International is on a mission to delight fans through excellent products and meaningful experiences, with the hope to help make the world a better place for everyone by creating opportunities to bond and grow through shared journeys and friendly competition.

The partnership includes the U11 Schools’ Cup, U11 Girls’ Cup and U11 Small Schools’ Cup categories which provide a pathway for teams to progress through three rounds of competition. Beginning in local, District rounds, successful teams then go on to compete in County rounds, then one of four Regional Finals, which take place in the North, Midlands, South East and South West of England. The top 6 teams from each Regional Final had the opportunity to travel to the National Finals, where the National Champion of each competition category was crowned.

You can watch footage from the National Finals back via the ESFA’s YouTube Channel, ESFA TV.