A report on the ESFA’s 4th Somerset Football Festival.
The Somerset Festival ran over the
Easter holidays based at Millfield School Street. 14 Districts from the South
West ranging from the Vale of White Horse to West Cornwall competed in the U.14
and U.13 age groups.
The festival was as ever a
competitively high standard with a large number of academy players representing
their districts. Each team played 5 games over the course of the 4 days playing
at Millfield school pitches, which are of a very high standard, in the morning
and afternoon which was also where the teams stayed over the course of the
festival.
The Festival also worked with the
local referees association as well as the Welsh referees association to bring
on younger referees in a controlled environment which has allowed players and
managers to just watch the games without worrying about officiating. There were
trainee Physios and qualified first aiders in attendance to all games in case
of unfortunate injuries.
The first evening all the
travelling associations went ten pin bowling after an evening meal at two local
restaurants, who were keen to support the district schools festival. The second
night was a free night for the players and managers to relax.
The final night was the closing
ceremony which was held at Westland Sports and Social club. Over 400 players
and parents attended. The guest speaker was Ryan Seager of Southampton FC and Yeovil
Town FC and ex Yeovil and District
School boys, who were in attendance at the festival, who gave an inspirational
speech about his life and how district schools football helped his career as a
player.
After the final games in the mornings there
was very positive feedback from players, coaches and parents. Next year I have
already had interest from other associations so I can see the Festival growing
even further,
The fourth Somerset festival was
yet again a huge success. The Festival hopes as many players go on to make it
professionally but more importantly create that social and team cohesion which is
the main reason it is run.
The National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England.
