Northumberland Schools Football Association

Secretary's Report 2021-22

Secretay's Report, 2021-22

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS’ FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Annual Report, Season 2021-22

This was the season that saw our activities return to some sort of normality, with a full programme of school, association and county football.  The Executive Committee continued to meet monthly, though by Zoom rather than in person, to conduct the business of the Association. The support of colleagues for the hard-working trio myself, Chris Newman and Peter Tracey is much appreciated.  Peter stepped in to the role of Chairman when John Farnie decided to step aside from his involvement at County level.  Our sincere thanks are expressed for all of John’s work over many, many years.

The fact that work is undertaken by a shrinking number of volunteers at County level is reflected in our district Associations - and it is those willing workers who regularly attend County meetings.  Ian Beck and Nigel Shields not only are the backbone of Newcastle and East Northumberland / Berwick but also great advocates and organisers of girls’ football and inter-association activity. Andy Littleton continues as Minuting Secretary - and is close to his 60^th year of involvement.

County competitions were not supported as fully as pre-pandemic days but there was healthy competition at all age groups. There were 163 matches scheduled in our knockout competitions from U11 to U18. 31 (19% ) were conceded matches that were not played.

Many of us will look back with rose-tinted spectacles on the flourishing U18 football scene that has been such a feature of our history. But, times have changed.  In Division One of the league 56 matches were scheduled; 18 were played.  In Division Two the figures are: 27 played out of the scheduled 66.

Thanks to staff who gave their students the opportunity to participate in our activities in difficult and trying circumstances.  Perhaps in 2022-23, when the new normal is more normal, the level of consistent fixture involvement will improve.

A list of winners of our competitions is included in this report.

The season for our County representative teams was an interesting one! The introduction of the ESFA Champions Cup caused a type of chaos in fixture arrangements never before seen.  It had a deleterious affect on Northern Counties arrangements too - so much so that it seemed at one stage we would still be playing matches in June.

There is not enough space (nor energy) to explain all that happened - but, thankfully, the Champions Cup will not be with us next season.  Having said that, most of our players will have enjoyed some exciting football.  Our thanks go to team managers Martyn Clark, Kevin Hodgson, Paul Corney and Michael Third, and their support staff, for all their efforts with our elite players.

The U18 team had a very disjointed season with large gaps between matches and it became increasingly obvious that it is now difficult for players in this age group to commit to County Schools’ football on a Saturday. So much so that, I think for the first time ever, we had to concede a match in the Northern Counties KO Cup because we could not raise a team.  But the team did reach the final of the Northern Counties League competition, losing to South Yorkshire in a well-presented final at Doncaster Rovers ground. Matty Dopson (TyneMet College) played for the ESFA U18 England  team.

The U16 boys had a good season - which could have been better. A weakened team lost 2-3 to Durham in the NC KO Cup while some mad moments saw them losing 3-5 to Staffordshire in the ESFA Champions Cup.  They had a strong campaign in the NC League competition and travelled to Greater Manchester in the semi-final.  An epic match saw them win on penalties while, in the final, they played to their full potential and demolished South Yorkshire 7-0.

The U14 girls started their season well but then fell away.  Their ‘grassroots’ based team came up against some more experienced players but the experience will do them good as they move forward.

Our U16 girls had an exciting season with some long journeys (including to Oxfordshire!). At times they played some outstanding football, especially in tussles with Lancashire, the national champions.  They were looking forward to taking on Lancashire in the Northern Counties final - only to find that Durham eliminated them in the semi-final.  So the NC Final was the local derby - and here Northumberland triumphed 3-2 in a great game staged at Newcastle University's Cochrane Park.

All results can be found on our website: www.northumberlandcsfa.org.uk.

Cochrane Park also hosted the SAFIB Bob Docherty Trophy - played for by the 4 home nations and the Republic of Ireland.  The ‘6^th team’ at this tournament was a combined Durham / Northumberland team who acquitted themselves very well.

Cara Fisher (Ponteland HS) and Niamh Boothroyd (St Mary’s Catholic School) both represented ESFA during the season.

Mention of Cochrane Park leads me to thank Newcastle University, and Nick Beall in particular, for the ongoing positive relationship which means we can host so many of our events at excellent facilities.  Thanks are also expressed to Matt Sowerby, Northumberland FA Referee Development Officer, for his help in making appointments to our County matches and finals - and, of course, to all the referees who support school football.

Owen Aiston has kept us in touch with all ESFA activities and he has served ESFA Council with distinction since 2011 - including time as Chairman.  His resignation from that role breaks an incredibly long line of ‘Northumbrians’ who have served on ESFA Council: Bill Morgan (1922-54), Bill Dawson (1954-64), Bob Wilks (1969-79), Malcolm Berry (1979-2000), Alan Heads (1987-2003), Dennis Fulton (1991- 2003) Neil Pont (2003-08) - from 1922 to the present day, a 100 years of service. There must be a book there?

So, as I muse on longevity it may be time to advise all who read this that my time as a serving officer is coming to a close.  I ran my first school football team in 1973 and have been involved at all various levels ever since. 2023 would seem to be an apt time to stand back and just watch from the sidelines.

If there are teachers (or others) out there who think that school football at county level is worth preserving, they will surely step forward and take on the mantle. I sincerely hope so…

Neil Pont (June, 2022)

* formerly U11 Laidler

^ formerly U11 Inter-association TUC Cup