ESFA Internationals, featured, International Football, Uncategorized

England U15 Schoolgirls vs ISFA Girls- Match Report

The England Schoolgirls got their international programme off to a positive start with a 2-2 draw against their Independent Schools’ FA counterparts.

English Schools Football Association U15 Girls v ISFA U16 at Charterhouse School on Sunday 12th January 2020 (c) Garry Griffiths | ThreeFiveThree Photography

After receiving their kits for the upcoming campaign, the squad took to the immaculate surface at Charterhouse School for their first match together since the final squad selection was made in December.

Rebecca Ferguson took the captain’s armband as the England girls settled into their stride early on, creating pressure down both flanks with Leoni Telford and Delphi Cole looking dangerous down the right hand side and Lucy Cooper testing the full back down the left hand side.

Although clear chances were few early on, it was Cole who saw her strike from just inside the box gathered by the home keeper, but shortly after, Megan Sofield stepped up to convert a penalty awarded after a foul just inside the area.

ISFA drew level shortly before the interval but early in the 2nd half Poppy Pritchard was quickest to a through ball in the box and slotted home into the empty net, leaving the defender and keeper stranded.

The home side drew level later in the half and that was the end of the scoring for the afternoon in what was a very competitive outing for both teams.

The girls will now prepare for their trip to Eindhoven for their half term training camp, a key part of the preparation for April’s Bob Docherty Cup tournament in Wales.

Thanks to ISFA and Charterhouse School for hosting the fixture and to all parents for their support on the day.

Thank you to 353 Photography for capturing the game, more images available over on their website

Uncategorized

ESFA England U15 Schoolgirls’- Official Squad Announcement

The ESFA have announced the 18 players chosen to represent the England U15 Schoolgirls’ for the 2019-2020 season!

The ESFA concluded their search for the best schools’ footballers that England has to offer yesterday (Sunday 1st December) with the final England U15 Schoolgirls’ trial taking place at Stafford Town F.C. The girls have progressed through a rigorous trial process from October until December to be finally selected to represent their country.

The players were first nominated by their county sides to attend regional trials that led to the construction of four regional squads, the North, Midlands, South East and South West. These squads then went head to head in step two of the trials process and formed the North and South Squads that traveled to Stafford Town yesterday for the final step of the process.

Making the final stage of the trials is a huge personal achievement for all the girls who attended and something they can be very proud of.

Phil Harding, ESFA Chairman said “We are delighted to be able to name this year’s England U15 Schoolgirls’ Squad today. It’s a fantastic achievement for these players to have made it through what is a tough trials process, to be able to go on and represent their school, their County and their Country for this year’s International Season. On behalf of the English Schools’ FA, I would like to congratulate each and every selected girl on their achievement and also pass on my thanks to their parents for the commitment and support they have also shown. Finally, I would like to congratulate each and every player that was selected to take part in this year’s trials process and wish them the very best for the rest of this season.”

A huge congratulations to the following girls:

Name

County

Name

County

Tori Almond

Northumberland

Kate Oakley

Cheshire

Macey Bannerman-Lloyd

Middlesex

Sophia Poor

Leicestershire

Delphi Cole

West Midlands

Poppy Pritchard

Northumberland

Lucy Cooper

Dorset

Jessica Simpson

Lancashire

Rebecca Ferguson

Northumberland

Megan Sofield

Lancashire

Aimee Flood

Northamptonshire

Leonie Telford

Essex

Olivia Lowe

Nottinghamshire

Isabelle Wade

Greater Manchester

Katie McClean

Essex

Gemma Whitchurch

Buckinghamshire

Niamh O’Neill

Kent

Mikayla Wildgoose

Leicestershire

This final selected squad will go on to compete in some friendly matches in the New Year, including a game against the ISFA U15 girls. They will then be involved in some preparatory training before their competitive fixtures at the end of the season in the Bob Docherty Cup.  

The ESFA would like to once more congratulate all the players that were put forward for England Schoolgirls trials this season and wish those players that haven’t been selected the very best of luck with the rest of their season and footballing careers.