Category: ESFA National Finals

ESFA National Finals, featured, Girls' Football, PS Next Level

PlayStation Schools’ Cup Finals at West Bromwich Albion

The English Schools' FA

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming PlayStation Schools’ Cup National Finals at West Bromwich Albion’s Hawthorns stadium

The ESFA is delighted to be returning to the Hawthorns, home of West Bromwich Albion FC, for the PlayStation Schools’ Cup Finals 2023, taking place from Monday 22nd – Thursday 25th May. The finals will see 40 teams across the U12-U15 age groups compete for the chance to be crowned national champions!

West Bromwich Albion provides a fantastic venue to host the 20 finals, sponsored by PlayStation and by combining the use of the WBA Academy Dome as well as the main stadium, it provides every team with a fantastic match-day experience from warm up to their post-match meal.

Fixtures

You can see the full fixture schedule for the PlayStation Schools’ Cup Finals below, click left or right to see what games feature on which days.

Show your support

Entry is free of charge and no ticket will be required. Spectators will park in the East Stand Car Park and access the stadium via turnstiles located in the West Stand.  There is no cost to park in the stadium car park. There will be a refreshments kiosk available for spectators to purchase food and drinks.  Souvenir programmes will be available, free of charge.

All PlayStation Schools’ Cup Finals will be streamed live via the ESFA’s YouTube channel, ESFA TV. Each final will feature full commentary and provide a great viewing experience for all those supporters who are unable to travel to the stadium. A player of the match vote for each fixture will go live on the ESFA’s twitter page (@schoolsfootball) 10 minutes before full time so make sure you follow and get voting. Photographs of the day can also be purchased from the ESFA Official Photographer following the event.

The ESFA is delighted to be hosting these National Final events at such a fantastic venue and hope to welcome a number of spectators along to the event to cheer on this season’s finalists as they complete their schools’ football season.

ESFA Internationals, ESFA National Finals, Girls' Football, International Football

Match Report: England v Scotland Bob Docherty Tournament

The English Schools' FA

On Thursday 6th April , the winner of the Bob Docherty Tournament was decided in a clash between the two oldest rivals in international football, as Scotland and England went head to head in Glasgow.

Scotland were on the front foot from the off and came closest to scoring in the opening minutes with a free-kick that beat the outstretched finger tips of Ella Stowell, but rebounded back off the crossbar, with the defence clearing to safety.

At the other end, the visitors edged in front with a set piece of their own as Bryony Brodie curled a delightful free-kick over the wall and beyond the Scottish keeper into the net for a 1-0 lead. That goal lifted England from their slow start and they began to look more composed on the ball. Their opponents were giving them little time or space which kept scoring chances to a minimum.

England’s defence were then put under a spell of pressure before half time with Ocean Flanagan and Emily Walne combining to block a shot on the edge of the area, before Stowell was called upon to palm a shot away to safety. Scotland hit the bar again, this time from a header, and it looked like that would be the last opportunity of the half for the hosts to draw level. However, a corner kick in first half stoppage time was converted from close range to make it 1-1 at the interval.

The second half saw Scotland take control of the game as England struggled to create chances for the hard working Abi Conway up front. Jessica Anderson’s cross into the box almost found Brodie 10 yards out, but pressure from the Scottish defence saw her just fail to make a clean contact to trouble the keeper. Later in the game, substitute keeper Chiemela Ude, on for the injured Stowell, was beaten at full stretch by a shot that bounced back off the post and into the path of a Scotland player, with the rebound converted for a 2-1 lead.

England had a couple of chances to level almost immediately when Brodie was inches away from latching onto a cross into the penalty area, but the ball bounced kindly for Scotland to clear. Phoebe Cowley almost chased down a through ball that looked like it might cause a problem between the Scottish defence and keeper.

And so the score remained 2-1 as the hosts kept the ball well away from their own goal in the closing moments, with the final whistle signalling heartbreak for the English and pure joy for Scotland, who deservedly lifted the Bob Docherty for the first time since 2015.

Congratulations to all the players involved in the tournament, some excellent football on show and without a doubt, a number of players on show who will be featuring in senior international football in years to come.

A big thank you to Garry Griffiths, the ESFA’s official photographer for capturing the Bob Docherty action for the ESFA. Images available soon on the 353 photography website.