Essex County Schools Football Association

On 11 March we celebrated the 100th Anniversary of County Representative Football in Essex.

 

Since those early days, the Association has arranged matches for both boys and girls from U14 to 19 all over the country, in America and in France, winning Regional and National trophies and becoming one of the most successful County Schools

Associations in the country.

 

During this period, many players have worn the County shirt before progressing to the Professional game; some of the most notable of these include Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Jimmy Greaves and David Beckham. Eight boys have gone on to captain England, including Harry Kane, the current captain and a further three have managed our National team, namely Alf Ramsay, Terry Venables and Glenn Hoddle.

 

Alex Iwobi, the former Arsenal and now Everton player, who represented Nigeria at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, is the most recent player to progress to the Premiership.

 

Many boys and girls have had the honour of winning an England schools cap and many more have received a county cap but just as important, the majority have had the honour, enjoyment, and experience of representing Essex.

 

Throughout its long history, the Association has relied on teacher volunteers to

manage its affairs, this being a mix of retired and current teachers. As with all School Sports Associations there is no central government funding and the challenge of providing football for free becomes an ever increasing challenge.

 

By celebrating this landmark, we want to take the opportunity to highlight this

amazing achievement and to give past players, staff, parents, grandparents, family, and friends the opportunity to recall their memories of past experiences with the Essex County Schools teams.

 

This may have been an appearance in a final at Upton Park, St. James Park, Carrow Road, the Ricoh Arena or the Britannia Stadium, the Festival at Skegness, Morecambe or Lowestoft, the Dallas tournament, or on the many playing fields throughout the South-East where matches have been played.

 

To mark the Centenary, a special commemorative medal will be awarded to this season’s County Schools squads and at two events in May and June, to as many past players as is possible.

 

Go to facebook.com/EssexCountySchoolsFA and twitter.com/EssexSchoolsFA for daily updates from 100 years of County Representative Football in Essex. 1922-2022.

By making a small donation to the Essex County Schools FA you will be joining us in our celebrations and continuing to help provide the same opportunity for the next generation of schoolboys and girls representing Essex County Schools.