Secretary's Report 2018-2019
Northumberland Schools’ FA - Secretary’s Report 2018-19
ESFA Competitions
Congratulations to:
l John Spence - winners, ESFA U16 Premier League Schools Cup
l Newcastle School for Boys - runners up, Danone U11 Small Schools Sevens
International Honours
Congratulations to Ella Wilson (Cramlington LV), Rebecca Ferguson (St Mary’s Catholic School) and Georgina Spraggon (John Spence High School) on their selection for the ESFA England U15 Girls team.
County teams
Carl Chater led our U18 team for the first time and had a very successful season, culminating in the winning of the Northern Counties Championship with a 2-1 victory over South Yorkshire at Rotherham United FC. The U18s topped the Northern Counties East league and hosted Humberside in the semi-finals - a match they convincingly won, 7-0. In the ESFA Trophy they progressed to the semi-final stage where they bowed out to eventual National champions, Lancashire, on a foul day in Fleetwood. Unfortunately this was probably one of their poorer displays - but this cannot mar what has been an exciting season.
Kevin Hodgson’s second season as U16 Boys team manager had its ups and downs! They lost in the early rounds of the ESFA National trophy but did well in the Northern Counties Championship. They won the East League and so hosted Merseyside in the semi-finals. A horror show in this match, where a good lead was relinquished and 2 players were sent off, is best forgotten!
Michael Third’s U16 girls competed well but did not progress to the later stages of the competitions.
Paul Corney was manager of our Under 14 Girls team - which we ran for the first time this season. This was a talented group of girls who reached the Northern Counties final. They lost to Lancashire in a closely fought game. Previously they had lost heavily to Lancashire in the ESFA National Trophy when, unfortunately, they had to travel with a weakened team.
Our thanks are expressed to all those who have been involved with the management and coaching of our County teams. Young players still regard it as a great honour and privilege to play for their county and this is due, in no small way, to the way in which our teams are led and the high expectations that we have.
County competitions (results on separate sheet)
Congratulations to all those who progressed to the finals of our competitions and thanks to the teachers who led those teams. Thanks also to those who managed these competitions to a successful conclusion. But - the season goes on too long and, once again, there were unnecessary delays in playing some matches. This message has been continuing for several years. Hopefully next season will be the one when ALL competitions finish on time! (note: this is what I wrote last year!)
Northumberland FA
Our strong relationship with the Northumberland FA continues, but the role of Administrator, employed by NFA but paid for by ESFA grant funding, reached a bit of a hiatus when Andrew Smith changed roles within NFA to become Referee Development Officer. Recently his successor has been appointed and we are pleased to now welcome Andrew Neill on-board as our new Administrator.
We are grateful for the work that NFA does in arranging referees for us - and thank the referees for their commitment to school football.
ESFA
Owen Aiston continues to devote many hours to his work on ESFA Council and keeps us well abreast of national events. As ever, in recent years, there are concerns about funding at both national and local levels. There does not seem to be a ‘golden bullet’ on the horizon yet so we will have to continue to provide good footballing experiences within a tight budget.
Development
1. We were successful in bidding for funds to develop Futsal and we hosted competitions in 6 different categories - with the winners progressing to take part in ESFA competitions. The local events were well-received with over 50 teams participating. The next stage of the competitions was not so successful when ESFA passed on the oganisation to The FA. However, we must continue to build on the local success and hope that, at a national level, oganisation improves.
2. We were also successful in bidding for funds to develop an U11 Hub for district teams. The funding only became available mid-season and so planning was hampered because many activities were already planned in to teams’ timetables. However those activities that did take place were successful and we have secured further funding to take this idea forward into next season. Earlier planning will allow for better scheduling of activities.
3. It was good to see West Tyne SFA fielding a representative team again.
Executive Committee
I hope teachers (and even pupils) are aware of the work that is done by a few (and has been for many years) on their behalf. Chris Newman especially, over the past few years, has done more than count the money! As our new Administrator is bedded into his role we will be able to relieve Chris of some of the extra work he does. (I wrote this last year too!!).
John Farnie has done sterling work as Chairman and Andy Littleton’s minutes are still accurate as well as entertaining. Peter Tracey is always ready to support despite being over-worked trying to keep Northern Counties SFA on track! Thanks too to other Executive Committee members who are ready to ‘muck in’, especially at the time of County Finals.
Northumberland CSFA competition results 2018-19
|
School Competition |
Winners |
Runners Up |
|
U11 Laidler |
Highfield |
Valley Gardens |
|
U11 Girls Knockout Cup |
Ovingham |
St Alban’s |
|
U12 Wilks |
NCEA |
Gosforth JA |
|
U13 Dawson |
Cramlington |
Valley Gardens |
|
U14 Morgan |
St Benet Biscop’s |
Prudhoe |
|
U15 Blake |
Whitley Bay |
Ashington |
|
U16 Diball |
Prudhoe |
Newcastle School for Boys |
|
U19 Chronicle |
Tyne Met |
Monkseaton |
|
U19 Subsidiary Cup |
Cramlington |
RGS |
|
U13 Girls Berry |
Ovingham |
Cramlington |
|
U15 Girls Merchant Navy |
Bedlington |
KEVI, Morpeth |
|
U14 League |
Cramlington |
Astley |
|
U15 League |
Cramlington and Astley (shared) |
|
|
U14 Girls League |
John Spence |
|
|
U16 Girls League |
Ponteland |
|
|
U19 League Division 1 |
Prudhoe |
|
|
U19 League Division 2 |
Dame Allan’s |
|
|
U11 Sevens School Team |
Gosforth JA |
|
|
U11 Sevens Girls |
Ovingham |
|
|
U11 Sevens Association |
East Northumberland |
|
|
U11 Sevens Small Schools |
Newcastle School for Boys |
|
|
U12 5-a-side (boys) |
Churchill |
|
|
U12 5-a-side (girls) |
St Thomas More |
|
|
Inter Association Competition |
|
|
|
U11 TUC |
Newcastle |
|
|
U12 Pickworth |
Gateshead |
|
|
U13 Currey |
Newcastle |
|
|
U14 Johnson |
East Northumberland |
|
|
U15 Young |
North Tyneside |
|
|
U13 girls |
North Tyneside |
|
|
U13 Tyne and Wear |
Chester-le-Street, Washington and Derwentside |
|
|
U14 Tyne and Wear |
Sunderland |
|
|
U15 Tyne and Wear |
North Tyneside |
|