SUFFOLK County Schools’ FA (SCSFA) is using Schools’ Football Week to raise awareness of their provision within the county.

SCSFA consists of five representative teams – three boys’ teams (U14-U16) and two girls’ teams (U14 and U16).

These five teams compete within the South East England Schools’ Football Association league playing against other counties including Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

Trials take place towards the end of the school year and all students based within Suffolk schools are eligible to represent the county.

The managers for the teams are currently Jason Curtis / Roger Oakley – U14 Boys, Brian Sutton / Daniel Hart – U15 Boys, James Mant / Kevin Horlock – U16 Boys, Darren Scoulding – U14 Girls and Tamlyn Ward – U16 Girls.

All five teams are in action on Saturday. The Boys’ U14s, U15s and U16s are away to Norfolk at Aylsham Football Centre, kick-offs 10.30am.

The Girls’ U14s are away to Hertfordshire in Rickmansworth, kick-off 10.30am, and the Girls’ U16s face Essex at AFC Sudbury, kick-off 10am.

The SCSFA Girls’ Under-14 side is pictured above and the SCSFA Boys’ Under-15 side, flanked by coaches Brian Sutton (left) and Daniel Hart (right) is pictured top.

Another big role of SCSFA is facilitating county cups for U12s through to U18s boys and girls. This involves schools competing against one another, regionally and then at county level with the finals week held at Needham Market FC.

The finals this year will take place from Tuesday, May 5th through to Thursday, May 7th. In attendance will be SCSFA Life Presidents including George Burley and Terry Butcher.

Futsal county competitions were introduced in the 2018-19 season. The growth in Futsal in the county continues with an ever-expanding number of schools participating from the ages of 7 up to 15.

Last year Bealings Primary School played their way through local, county, regional and north/south qualifying stages to take their place in the national final held at St Georges Park. This magnificent run also saw them win the accolade of ‘Team of the Year’ at the Active Suffolk Sports Awards.

The current season has already seen 190 school teams playing the game, with the U11, U13 and U15 boys’ and girls’ winners set to compete in the regional finals at Nottingham in March.

The sustainability of SCSFA is reliant on the hard work of the committee members including Michael Hallam (President), Robert Peace (Chairman), Ruth Ward (Secretary) and Richard Lawson (Treasurer).

Financially SCSFA receive funding from English Schools’ FA and Suffolk PE & Sports Network alongside sponsorship and kind donations from individuals and organisations.

For the last few years SCSFA and Suffolk FA have been working together with a joint effort to improve and increase provision for schools’ football within Suffolk.

SCSFA Chairman Robert Peace said: “County representative football still has a large importance; it can provide a pathway to professional football and showcases Suffolk’s best young talented players against other counties at a local and national level.

“Suffolk has a lot to offer and the county cups are a great event with all the finals, highlighting the potential of young players from U12s to U18s in both the boys’ and girls’ competitions.” 

If you wish to learn more about Suffolk County Schools’ FA please contact Ruth Ward on email ruth.ward@suffolkfa.com or phone 07939 536423.