The English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) announce Zone Broadband as their Official Telecoms Partner
Zone Broadband are a UK Internet Service Provider that has been created by industry experienced members to provide customers with the level of service that they deserve. Since their creation in 2017, Zone Broadband is now the largest Block Management Broadband Provider in the UK with over 20,000 tenant Broadband connections spread all over the UK. They are also a traditional Residential and Business Internet Provider and also offer services to other Internet Providers through their Wholesale Partner program
ESFA Chairman, Mark Hignett said: “The English Schools’ FA is delighted to be partnering with Zone Broadband as the Association’s Official Telecoms Partner. As both Chairman of the Association and also an active teacher, it is a positive step to be partnering with an organisation that is putting the online safety of children and their learning environment, as a priority. We look forward to seeing what this partnership can bring in the coming seasons.”.
Chris Backhouse, Director of Zone Broadband, said: “Zone Broadband and the ESFA are a perfect fit, encapsulating both a safe and ethical offering. Zone broadband was created to be the future of connectivity being a customer focused and community-led Internet Service Provider. We see schools as an integral part and the future of every community, and we see football in schools, like all sports, as the glue generating a positive community spirit. Our partnerships are on-message now and for all future generations”
Zone Broadband branding will be present alongside the ESFA’s international programme for U15 Girls and U18 Boys this season. If you have an education sector project that you are currently working on, or would like to know more about the partnership and how it can benefit your offering, you can contact Account Manager, Luke Adams –
Schools’ Football Week (SFW) is an ongoing English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) initiative designed as an opportunity for schools, teams, Associations and clubs from across the country to embrace schools’ football and the wellbeing benefits it provides to pupils and players. It celebrates the importance of schools’ football, competitive or otherwise, to pupils across England and provides teachers and coaches with tools and a motivation to further discuss the benefits of schools’ football within their educational environment.
This year, the ESFA is delighted to announce a new partnership with Haier, the No.1 Global Major appliance brand who will support the Schools’ Football Week campaign and help raise more awareness of this initiative than ever before.
The focus for Schools’ Football Week 2021 was to provide an opportunity for children to get outside, have fun and enjoy being able to play sport with their school friends, after so much time spent in lockdown. The ESFA is sticking to these principles for 2022, but with the schools’ football season in full swing for 21/22, the ESFA has received a record number of girls’ team entries and SFW presents the perfect opportunity to focus in on highlighting and celebrating the continued growth of girls’ football.
The ESFA, in association with Haier, will be encouraging schools, Associations, clubs and teams to introduce some football-related activity into their environments throughout SFW, using their SFW guide. From football-themed lessons, to inter-house or intra-school tournaments, the campaign is designed to celebrate Schools’ Football, Girls’ Football and everything in between, in a way that is inclusive to all pupils and players.
SFW 2021 saw:
Over 100,000 school pupils in England take part in Schools’ Football Week activity
Over 500 schools register participation
Over 8,500 teams embrace SFW activity
The ESFA is hoping to engage in even more activity for the 2022 campaign and also looking to gather some positive feedback from participants regarding girls’ football activity in England. In the 2021/22 season, the English Schools’ FA has seen over 6,500 teams take part in ESFA National Cup competitions.
In addition to championing girls’ football this season, Schools’ Football Week is also focussing on:
Celebrating the ESFA’s first ever live draws for National Schools’ Cup quarter and semi-final matches on Monday 7 February
Celebrating and promoting the Deaf Schools’ Finals, which take place on Tuesday 8 February
The campaign isn’t designed to focus wholly on competitive football, but the wide-ranging benefits that being part of a team can have on school age children in England. For example, SFW aims to bring together opportunities for schools to bring football off the pitch and into classrooms, providing learning resources from other ESFA partners that can be useful tools to engage pupils in the wider world of football.
Mark Hignett, ESFA Chairman said“On behalf of the English Schools’ Football Association, I am delighted to welcome Haier on board for Schools’ Football Week. It is fantastic to see how this campaign has grown in popularity over the last few years and to now have the initiative backed by a worldwide brand is another positive step for our Association.
Schools’ Football Week provides an opportunity to showcase the importance of schools’ football in England and February 2022 will provide the next instalment of this wonderful initiative. Children missed out on so many opportunities throughout 2020 and 2021 due to the global pandemic and the ESFA has seen, first-hand, how much schools and associations had missed these opportunities to bring together children with a shared passion of football and all that it entails.
There is so much activity happening out there, be it within schools, districts, counties or internationally and with it comes a diverse range of opportunities for a diverse range of children. We want to highlight all of the wonderful work that goes on in England to nurture these young players and help them to continue on their journey with football, wherever it may take them.”
Antony Peart, Director of Brand and Communications UK and ROI at Haier said “We are pleased to have partnered with the ESFA. Their initiative is fantastic, helping and encouraging children to peruse healthy lifestyles, play football and enjoy team morale. At Haier we understand that 2020/21 was a very difficult time for all, which is one of the many reasons why we really wanted to support and work in partnership with an Association that can help bring sports and joy back into children’s daily routine.”
The ESFA and Haier will work together to create fantastic Schools’ Football Week opportunities in 2022.
The Importance of Schools’ Football Week:
To share the value and importance of Schools’ Football across England
To highlight the mental and physical health benefits of Schools’ Football
To celebrate the return of Schools’ Football
To further the profile of the English Schools’ FA and the activity they provide as the Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England
To elevate and promote participation numbers, particularly of girls within schools’ football
To showcase the talent and dedication shown by schools in England to support football as part of the curriculum
