LSFA Report 2011-12
The Report of the Lancashire Schools’ Football Association Council 2011-12
The number of Council Meetings was again reduced this season due to members’ commitments and the ability to share information via e-mail and the LSFA website. Information from English Schools FA and Northern Counties SFA was also passed on to members by e-mail, thus saving the need for reporting at meetings.
During Season 2011-2012, the LSFA Council met on five occasions at the Lancashire Football Association, The County Ground, Leyland as follows:
Mon. 05.09.11 (10 present)
Tue. 15.11.11. (8 present)
Tue. 10.01.12. (7 present)
Mon. 12.03.12. (7 present)
Mon 28.05.12. (9 present)
Many thanks to Iain Kay for organising the use of the LFA for our meetings. The new venue at the LFA for our meetings is far superior to the former venue at County Hall and helps with the excellent relationship between the LSFA and the LFA due mainly to the work of Iain Kay and Mike Nadal.
Attendance at meetings was as follows:
Paul Bradley (Chairman and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley SFA): 3
Mike Timberlake (Secretary and Pendle SFA): 5
Andy Buckingham (Treasurer and Blackburn and Darwen SFA): 3
Neil Black (Chorley SFA): 3
Roy Blacktop (Under 19 Advisory)
Dick Clegg (Preston SFA): 1
Andy Clitheroe (Under 16 Boys’ Management and South Ribble SFA): 3
Nick Corless (Primary and West Lancashire SFA): 2
Mike Duffy (Senior Consultant): 3
Iain Kay (LFA): 5
Mike Nadal (Under 16 and Under 14 Girls’Management): 3
Dave Sammons (Referees, Sponsorship): 3
Dave Spence (Under 18 Boys’ Management): 3
Paul Whelan (Primary): 1
Neil Yates (LFA and LSFAChild Welfare Officer): 1
Blackpool SFA, Burnley SFA, Lancaster and Morecambe SFA and Rossendale SFA were not represented at any of the meetings during 2011-2012.
LSFA Officers:
Chairman: Paul Bradley
Secretary: Mike Timberlake
Treasurer: Andy Buckingham
Competition Secretary: Mike Timberlake
District Council Members:
Blackburn and Darwen SFA: Chris Bentley
Blackpool and District SFA: Ben Lavelle
Burnley SFA: Jimmy McMahon/Neil Stubbs
Chorley SFA: Neil Black
Hyndburn and Ribble Valley: Andy Kelly
Lancaster and Morecambe SFA: Dave McFall
Pendle SFA: Mike Timberlake
Preston SFA : Dave Spence, Richard Clegg
Rossendale SFA: Wes Haworth
South Ribble SFA: Andy Clitheroe
West Lancashire SFA: Nick Corless, Nick Ford
Co-opted Members of the Council:
Roy Blacktop Under 19 Advisory
Nick Corless Primary Schools
Nigel Brown ESFA Area Member
Mike Duffy Senior Consultant
Jasmine Elliott Under 16 and Under 14 Girls’ Goalkeeping Coach
Amy Foxcroft: Under 14 Girls
Iain Kay: Lancashire Football Association
Alastair Mollon Under 18 Boys’ Management
Mike Nadal Under 16 and Under 14 Girls’ Management
Dave Sammons Referees and Sponsorship
Dave Spence Under 18 Boys’ Management
Kate Sutton Under 16 Girls’ Management
Laura Went Under 14 Girls
Paul Whelan Primary Schools
Derek Yarwood Under 16 Boys’ Management
Neil Yates Child Welfare Officer
The assistance provided by these gentlemen and ladies is vital in the delivery of our annual events and the administration of schools’ football throughout the county at all levels.
Council was represented at the following meetings during the season:
English Schools’ FA AGM: Mike Duffy, Mike Timberlake
Northern Counties FA AGM: Mike Duffy, Mike Nadal, Mike Timberlake
Lancashire Schools’ Sports Federation – Mike Duffy
Lancashire SFA/LFA Competition Planning for FA Funding – Mike Duffy (Senior Consultant), Iain Kay (LFA), Mike Nadal (LFA & LSFA Girls), Mike Timberlake (Secretary).
The County Competitions: entries.
Primary Schools League 3 associations
Luther Mercer Primary Cup 4 associations
ESFA Qualifier 4 associations
ESFA Qualifier Primary Schools 16 schools
Wrennall Cup (Under 14s) 6 associations
Lancashire Cup (Under 15s) 6 associations
Under 12 Boys/Mixed 7 a Side LFA Shield 57 schools
Under 13 Mixed Coca Cola/Jim Tolson Cup 61 schools
Under 14 Boys Kay Cup 53 schools
Under 15 Boys Jim Hayhurst Cup 54 schools
Under 16 Boys Daily Dispatch Shield 55 schools
Under 19 Boys Colleges Lancashire Cup 7 colleges
Under 19 Boys Schools Lancashire Cup 21 schools
Under 12 Girls/Mixed’ 7 a Side Open Cup 24 schools
Under 14s Girls LFA Trophy 26 schools
Under 16s Girls NW Ladies Shield 20 schoolsl
The County Competitions: Roll of Honour 2011-2012
Girls’ Competitions:
Under 12 Girls’ 5-a-side Indoor Competition held at Corpus Christi Sports’ College, Preston
Monday 23 January 2012. Referee: Mike Duffy.
Presentation: Olivia Millington, Emily Lupton, Mike Duffy, Mike Timberlake
Winners: Broughton High School, Preston.
Under 12 Girls’ 7-a-side Open Cup held at St.Bede’s High School, Blackburn
Friday 02 March 2012. Referee: St.Bede’s young referees.
Presentation: Paul Bradley, Mike Timberlake.
Winners: Ormskirk School.
Under 14s Girls’ Open Cup held at Gawthorpe, Burnley F.C. Training Ground
Thursday 24 May 2012. Officials: Dave Sammons, Kris Sammons, Phil Rigby
Presentation: Olivia Millington, Jodie Mountain, Mike Timberlake
Winners: St.Bede’s High School, Blackburn.
Under 16s Girls’ Open Cup held at Brockhall Village, Blackburn Rovers F.C. Training Ground
Wednesday 16 May 2012. Officials: David Wareing, Peter Ingham, John Smith
Presentation: Roy Blacktop, Andy Buckingham
Winners: St.Wilfrid’s High School, Blackburn.
Boys’ Competitions:
Under 12 Boys’ 5-a-side Indoor Competition held at Corpus Christi Sports’ College, Preston
Wednesday 11 January 2012. Referee: Mike Duffy. Timekeeper: Mike Timberlake.
Presentation: Mike Duffy, Mike Timberlake
Winners: Unity College, Burnley.
Under 12s Boys’ 7-a-side Open Cup held at St Bede’s High School, Blackburn
Friday 09 March 2012. Officials: Peter Ingham, David Wareing
Presentation: Paul Bradley, Mike Timberlake
Winners: Baines High School, Poulton-Le-Fylde.
Under 13s Boys’ Open Cup (The Kay Cup) held at Nelson Football Club
Thursday 17 May 2012. Officials: Noel McEvoy, Barry Slater, Stuart Cross
Presentation: Andy Buckingham, Mike Nadal, Dave Sammons
Winners: Unity College, Burnley
Under 14s Boys’ Open Cup (The Jim Tolson Cup) held at Preston Sports’ Arena
Tuesday 22 May 2012. Officials: Dave Sammons, Kevin Roberts, Kris Sammons.
Presentation: Andy Clitheroe, Mike Duffy, Mike Nadal
Winners: Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, Burnley
Under 15s Boys’ Open Cup (The Jim Hayhurst Shield) held at Ewood Park, Blackburn Rovers FC
Monday 21 May 2012. Officials: Kevin Roberts, Dave Sammons, David Wareing, Kris Sammons
Presentation: Paul Bradley, Mike Timberlake
Winners: Ribblesdale High School, Clitheroe
Under 16s Boys’ Open Cup (The Daily Dispatch Shield) held at Skelmersdale United FC
Friday 04 May 2012. Officials: Peter Ingham, Phil Rigby, Dave Wareing, Dave Hesketh
Presentation: Mike Timberlake
Winners: Our Lady Queen of Peace, Skelmersdale
Under 19s Schools’ Open Cup (LSFA Shield) held at Lancaster City FC
Wednesday 09 May 2012. Officials: Dave Hesketh, Phil Rigby, Keith Martin, Peter Ingham
Presentation: Adam Hutchinson, Peter Halstead, Judith Childs (CRGS)
Winners: Heysham High School, Heysham
Under 19s Colleges’ Open Cup – only one game played !!
District Competitions:
Under 15 Boys’ Lancashire League (The Timberlake Trophy)
Presentation: Mike Nadal, Dave Sammons
Winners: South Ribble Schools’ Football Association
Under 15 Boys’ Lancashire Cup held at Nelson Football Club
Thursday 17 May 2012. Officials: Kevin Roberts, David Hesketh, Peter Ingham
Presentation: Mike Nadal, Dave Sammons, Mike Timberlake
Winners: South Ribble Schools’ Football Association
Under 14 Boys’ Wrennall Cup held at Springfields, Training Ground of Preston N.E.
Tuesday 22 May 2012. Officials: Dave Hesketh, Dave Wareing, Phil Rigby
Presentation: Mike Duffy, Mike Timberlake
Winners: Preston Schools’ Football Association
Primary Competitions
The Under 11s Primary Inter-District League
Blackburn PSFA
The Under 11s Primary Inter-District Cup (The Luther Mercer Shield)
Blackburn 0 Preston 3
The Under 11s Inter District 7-a-side Competition & ESFA Qualifier
Blackburn PSFA
The Under 11s Primary Schools 7-a-side IDI Trophy & ESFA Qualifier at Collegiate Sports College
Thursday Officials: Year 11 Students from Collegiate High School
Presentation: Ben Lavelle, Mike Timberlake
Winners: Heyhouses Endowed CE Primary School, Lytham St.Annes
The County Representative Teams:
Lancashire County Schools’ Football Association Under 16 Boys’ Representative Squad:
The following boys represented the county during season 2011-2012:
Oliver Ballard South Ribble
Dalian Barker Burnley
Mark Brown Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
William Butterwick Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
Harry Campbell Blackburn and Darwen
Danny Carroll West Lancashire
Dion Charles Preston
Alexander Cheal Blackpool
Mitchell Clayton Chorley
Joe Cropper Blackpool
Marc Entwistle Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
Jakob Gould Burnley
Liam Goulding West Lancashire
Liam Grimshaw Blackburn and Darwen
Joe Hughes Blackpool
Joel Khambay Blackpool
George Lomax West Lancashire
Connor Martin West Lancashire
Harrison McGahey West Lancashire
Curtley Mulcrone Blackburn and Darwen
Ryan Mulville West Lancashire
Joseph Noblett South Ribble
Erhovbome Odudu Blackburn and Darwen
Tom Ormerod Burnley
Ashley Rowley Blackpool
Charlie Russell Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
Kieran Shaw Blackpool
Liam Stacey Burnley
Sam Staunton-Turner West Lancashire
Jack Truelove Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
Harrison Turner Lancaster and Morecambe
Mitchell Walsh Chorley
Declan Watson Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
Under 16 Boys’ Results p w d l f a
12 5 3 4 26 18
Pre-season Friendlies
V Cumbria at Sheepmount Park, Carlisle won 4-0
V Burnley FC at Padiham FC drew 1-1
V Blackburn Rovers at The Academy won 3-2
V Preston North End at UCLAN Arena lost 0-3
V Blackpool at Squires Gate FC won 3-2
Northern Counties Championship
V Merseyside at Litherland Sports’ Park drew 1-1
V Greater Manchester at Lancaster City FC drew 2-2
V Cheshire at Lancaster City FC lost 0-2
V West Yorkshire at Ossett Town FC won 5-0
SF v Northumberland at Team Northumbria lost 0-2
ESFA National Trophy
R1 v Shropshire at Squires Gate FC won 6-1
R2 v Merseyside at Squires Gate FC lost 1-2
Lancashire County Schools’ Football Association Under 18 Boys’ Representative Squad:
The following boys represented the county during season 2011-2012:
Danny Birchall Queen Elizabeth Grammar School
Jamie Bryson Preston College
Joe Bunny Myerscough College
Dale Davies Blackpool College
Ross Dent Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
Kane Drelincourt Blackpool College
Alex Gunn Queen Elizabeth Grammar School
Nathan Hawkshaw Lancaster and Morecambe College
Jonathon Hession Accrington and Rossendale College
Jack Hindle Myerscough College
Conor Linighan Newman College
Dominic McCormick Runshaw College
Christian Needham Ripley St.Thomas High School
Adam Nuttall Accrington College
Alex Nwachukwo Accrington College
Tom Peterson Blackpool College
Jamie Smith Blackpool College
Michael Smith Blackpool College
Jack Taylor Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
Kenny Taylor Lancaster and Morecambe College
Mark Tugman Hutton Grammar School
Under 18 Boys’ Results p w d l f a
8 3 2 3 21 19
Pre-Season Friendly
v Cumbria at Sheepmount Park, Carlisle drew 3-3
Northern Counties Championship
v Cheshire at Bamber Bridge FC lost 0-4
v Greater Manchester at Bamber Bridge FC won 1-0
v West Yorkshire at Ossett Albion FC drew 2-2
v Merseyside at Liverpool Soccer Centre lost 0-4
ESFA National Trophy
Round 2 v Derbyshire at Squires Gate FC won 5-1
Round 3 v Worcestershire at Squires Gate FC won 8-1
QF v Merseyside at Liverpool Soccer Centre lost 2-4
Joe Bunny.
Joe Bunney of Myerscough College was selected to represent England during season 2011-2012, a great honour for himself, his college and Lancashire SFA. Joe performed well when called upon to play, especially during the second half of the England victory against Scotland at Newcastle United FC.
Lancashire County Schools’ Football Association Under 16 Girls’ Representative Squad:
The following girls represented the county during season 2011-2012:
Chloe Adams Blackburn and Darwen
Gemma Bamber Preston
Katie Brannigan Blackpool
Hannah Crook Preston
Lorrie Doze Lancaster and Morecambe
Hannah Godfrey Blackpool
Emily Hutton Preston
Eve Kennerley Blackpool
Emily Lupton Preston
Evie Manning Blackpool
Chantelle Mellor Blackburn and Darwen
Olivia Millington Preston
Jodie Mountain Rossendale
Zara Musker Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
Helen Seed Preston
Beth Stanfield Preston
Grace Vella West Lancashire
Keira Walsh Rossendale
Hannah Williamson Lancaster and Morecambe
Under 16 Girls’ Results: p w d l f a
8 6 2 0 36 10
Pre-Season friendly
v Cumbria at Sheepmount Park, Carlisle won 7-0
Northern Counties Championship
v Cheshire at the County Ground won 8-4
v Merseyside at Liverpool Soccer Centre won 4-0
SF v South Yorkshire at Squires Gate FC won 7-0
Final v Durham at Harton and Westoe FC won 3-1
ESFA National Trophy
QF v Nottinghamshire at Squires Gate FC won 2-0
SF v Derbyshire at Borrowash Victoria FC drew 2-2 (won on pens.)
Final v Hampshire at Barnet FC drew 3-3 (lost on pens.)
Lancashire County Schools’ Football Association Under 14 Girls’ Representative Squad:
The following girls represented the county during season 2011-2012:
Olivia Askam Preston
Natalie Bell Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
Mayumi Gillam West Lancashire
Megan Hester Blackburn and Darwen
Emma Hickson Blackpool
Alisha Houghton Preston
Neeve Hulton Blackburn and Darwen
Amber Kenyon Blackburn and Darwen
Georgia Lambe Blackpool
Katie Maher Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
Thea Mallett Preston
Laurel North Blackpool
Meghan Pope Blackpool
Jessica Riley Blackburn and Darwen
Sasha Rowe West Lancashire
Katie Samuels Blackburn and Darwen
Gabrielle Taylor Blackburn and Darwen
Under 14 Girls’ Results: p w d l f a
3 2 0 1 7 2
ESFA National Trophy
QF v Merseyside at Liverpool Soccer Centre won 4-0
SF v Hertfordshire at St.Albans won 2-0
Final v Essex at Norwich City FC lost 1-2
Report on Season 2011-2012.
The County Teams.
Under 16 and Under 14 Girls’ Teams.
There is no doubt that the highlights of Season 2011-2012 were the superb performances of our two County Girls’ Teams who both reached ESFA National Finals with the Under 16 Girls’ Team also winning the Northern Counties’ Championship with an excellent away win against Durham, just revenge for last season.
Since resurrecting girls’ football at county level two years ago, our girls’ team manager Mike Nadal together with Laura Goff (2010-2011), Kate Sutton and Jasmine Elliott at Under 16 level and together with Laura Went and Amy Foxcroft at Under 14 level has made remarkable progress with our girls’ teams. In 2010-2011 the Under 16 Girls’ Team lost only two games, both to the National Champions Durham and lost narrowly after extra time to Durham in the Northern Counties’ Championship Final. This year the Under 16 Girls’ Team beat Durham in the Northern Counties’ Championship Final to win the Northern Counties’ Championship and also reached the ESFA National Final, where they were very unfortunate to lose to Hampshire on penalties at Barnet Football Club after dominating the game.
The newly-formed Under 14 Girls’ Team only played three games but two excellent away victories against Merseyside and Hertfordshire took them through to the ESFA National Final at Norwich City Football Club, when they unfortunately lost 1-2 to Essex in a game they again could easily have won having taken an early lead.
Mike Nadal has shown great insight and knowledge of the girls’ game and he has clear targets during season 2012-2013 i.e. to win both National Finals at Under 16 and Under 14 level. We look forward to helping him to achieve his targets and will assist him in every way possible.
Under 16 Boys’ Team.
The Under 16 boys had a relatively good season with a team which always pulled together and did their best but perhaps lacked technical ability in crucial matches. A very narrow defeat to Merseyside in a game that could have gone either way knocked them out of the ESFA Trophy and a semi-final defeat away to Northumberland ended their hopes of success in the Northern Counties’ Championship.
Ben Lavelle was again the Manager of the team with excellent support from Andy Clitheroe and Derek Yarwood.. Having three experienced and highly knowledgeable coaches in charge of the side continues to be a definite asset to the side as does the annual three-day Coaching Course, expertly led by Course Director Andy Clitheroe, held at QEGS at the end of August
Under 18 Boys’ Team.
Compared with the previous season, when they were ESFA National Champions, the Under 18 boys had a relatively quiet season despite two excellent victories in the early rounds of the ESFA National Trophy which gave us hopes of equalling last season’s achievements but two away defeats to a strong and uncompromising Merseyside team in the ESFA National Trophy and the Northern Counties’ Championship proved to be our nemesis this season and the season ended quietly with the second of the Merseyside defeats.
The Under 18 boys’ were again under the expert management of Dave Spence and Alistair Mollon. As Dave leaves education during the coming year, we are absolutely delighted with his success last year at winning the ESFA National Trophy, a very appropriate finale to Dave’s work over countless years with the Under 18 team. Alistair will continue working with the team together with the new manager Stewart Clitheroe, whom we welcome with open arms to LSFA.
Having physiotherapists from UCLAN at most matches greatly assisted our management teams and we thank Sunil Ram and Emily Giles for their help and support with the county teams.
The LSFA Open Cups.
The actual results of the finals were as follows:
Under 13 Boys: Unity 1 St.Augustine’s 0
Under 14 Boys: Blessed Trinity 6 All Hallows 1
Under 15 Boys: Ribblesdale 4 Archbishop Temple 0
Under 16 Boys: Our Lady Queen of Peace 1 St.Christopher’s 0
Under 19 Boys (Schools): Heysham 4 Clitheroe Royal Grammar School 3
Under 14 Girls: St.Bede’s, Blackburn 7 Norden 0
Under 16 Girls: St.Wilfrid’s 2 Ormskirk 1
Lancashire Cup: South Ribble 2 West Lancashire 0
Wrennall Cup: Preston 6 Blackburn and Darwen 1
The finals were played at a variety of grounds with the most successful final probably being played at Skelmersdale United FC, organised by Nick Ford, Head of P.E. at Our Lady Queen of Peace High School, Skelmersdale. We thank Nick and all the other teachers who helped to organise the finals in any way and thank all clubs etc. who were able to help with the organisation of our finals. During the coming season we are hoping to formalize the organisation of the finals by initially writing to all our league clubs to see if they can stage one or more of our finals and by deciding on a definite time period during which the finals will be held.
Discipline.
The reciprocal policy between Lancashire FA and Lancashire SFA continues to operate successfully with regular updates re. suspensions etc. received from Nadine Crane at the LFA. There were again very few incidents in comparison to the tremendous number of games taking place across the county at school, district and county level.
Finance.
Despite reaching two National Finals and playing a total of 30 county games during the season, it appears that the finances of the association are in good health. Grants from LSSF towards some of our coach bills greatly help the association and, having looked at various coach firms, the use of Moving People coaches has benefited the association. The profit from the cup finals realised about £250, with thanks especially to the Under 16 Boys’ Final at Skelmersdale United FC, who did not charge us for the use of the ground. Andy Buckingham is in his second year as LSFA Treasurer and has ensured that most schools have paid their entries for the competitions by writing to each school directly. It is important that all associations are affiliated and the Secretary will look after and control this during the coming season.
Andy Buckingham.
As well as being the LSFA Treasurer, Andy will also be the ESFA Under 18 Boys’ Team Manager for the next two years., a great honour for Andy, his school and LSFA. Andy was the Lancashire Under 16 Boys’ Manager for many years and his team were ESFA National Champions in 1998. One of Andy’s later teams were also ESFA Finalists in 2006 and would have become National Champions had several boys not have had to play in a LFA Final the previous evening !! We congratulate Andy on his appointment as the ESFA National Manager after several years of coaching boys at the highest level and wish him every success with the games over the next two years.
A Summary of Highlights of Season 2011-2012:
- Following Mike Duffy’s retirement after 26 years as Secretary of LSFA, it was a pleasure to welcome him on board as Senior Consultant. It would be impossible to operate without Mike’s vast knowledge of schools’ football and we welcome his continuing involvement.
- The two National Finals for our Under 16 girls at Barnet Football Club and Under 14 girls at Norwich City Football Club.
- The great commitment and expertise of our four county management teams: Ben Lavelle, Andy Clitheroe and Derek Yarwood with the Under 16 boys; Dave Spence and Alistair Mollon with the Under 18 boys, Mike Nadal, Kate Sutton and Jasmine Elliott with the Under 16 girls; Mike Nadal, Laura Went and Amy Foxcroft with the Under 14 girls.
- The assistance and expertise offered by the physiotherapists from UCLAN, Sunil Ram and Emily Giles.
- Continued high levels of entry in our county cup competitions.
- The level of entry (16 teams) for the IDI Cup/ESFA Qualifier.
- Continued good liaison with our professional clubs: Accrington Stanley, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Burnley, Morecambe and Preston North End. We welcome Fleetwood Town into the football league.
- The great support of several non-league clubs, especially Squires Gate Football Club, Bamber Bridge Football Club and Lancaster City Football Club. We thank Stuart Hopwood at Squires Gate, George Halliwell at Bamber Bridge and Barry Newsham at Lancaster City for allowing us to use their grounds for county matches and for all their help on the nights of the matches.
- The tremendous work of Andy Clitheroe as Course Director of our highly successful coaching course held at QEGS in August.
10. The superb support given to LSFA by Iain Kay at the Lancashire Football Association. Iain has given us tremendous assistance with the completion of the annual County Plan required by the FA and by ESFA. and has organised our meetings at the LFA during the season.
11. The support given to us by the Lancashire Football Association in allowing us to hold our meetings at the County Ground and in allowing us to stage the Under 16 girls’ game against Cheshire at the County Ground during season 2011-2012.
12. With the help of Iain Kay, and Neil Yates at the LFA, LSFA were able to sort out Child Welfare Officers for each district, as follows:
Neil Yates: Lancashire, Blackburn and Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
Dan Clark: Pendle, Burnley and Rossendale
Mike Nadal: Blackpool and district, Lancaster and Morecambe
Chris Doherty: Chorley and West Lancashire
Steve Sloan: Preston and South Ribble
Initially there was some resistance from ESFA against our proposal of using the above Child Welfare Officers to cover all districts but ESFA seem now to have accepted our proposal and all districts were able to affiliate to ESFA.
13. The support of parents, relatives and friends for our County Teams is excellent and exceptional. They support the team in all kinds of weather and willingly pay the admittance fee for home games without complaint. The support of the girls’ families for the two National Finals was invaluable and we thank all the families for all their help, advice and support.
14. The work of Mike Spinks in organising the National Finals. Although we had to travel long distances, we thank Mike for his his excellent organisation of the finals.
15. The new, glossy, free LSFA handbook which unfortunately will not be available for season 2012-2013.
And on the negative side:
- The low number of entries in our district competitions at primary level.
- The low numbers of entries for the Lancashire and Wrennall Cups.
- The continuing lack of communication by some schools despite the era of the e-mail etc.
- The lack of awareness by some schools of competition rules.
- The lack of assistance at county games, especially night games, where more support would be appreciated on the gate and with the welcoming of visiting teams and officials,
- The lack of understanding by the ESFA Trustees that making our Under 16 Girls travel 5 hours (at least) to Barnet F.C., play a National Final and then travel 5 hours (at least) back to Lancashire on ONE day would not be against the welfare of our girls. Needless to say, LSFA thought it was against the welfare of our girls and booked an overnight stay for our girls at our own (and the girls’ parents) expense.
N.B. a definition of welfare = well-being, happiness, health and prosperity.
- Despite the insistence by ESFA that each County and District must have a Child Welfare Officer, it was disappointing that the advice of our Child Welfare Officer, Neil Yates, was totally ignored by ESFA in respect of our Under 16 girls travelling at least TEN hours on a coach and playing a National Final on the same day.
- The hospitality at Barnet F.C. for the Under 16 Girls’ National Final. Our parents were charged £20 for a hospitality package which was worth, at the most, £5. ESFA explained that the £20 charge also included sitting with the girls whilst they had their meal and listening to the ESFA Chairman’s speech. This privilege was presumably worth £15 ! No refund as yet is forthcoming from ESFA.
- The lack of progress made in the Under 19 Boys’ Colleges’ Open Cup. Although seven colleges entered (and presumably paid for the privilege of entering the competition), only one result was received towards the end of the season !! A revamp of this competition is essential from 2012-2013 onwards.
10. The poor attendance at LSFA Council meetings. Although quorate for all meetings, it would be encouraging to have a Council Member from each district present at all meetings during the coming season. During the season there are only five meetings plus the AGM in June and the July meeting.
Acknowledgements
The final section of this report is to thank the many individuals, clubs, companies and associations who have helped Lancashire Schools’ F.A. deliver its programme during season 2011-2012.
The perennial hope is that no-one has been omitted:
The English Schools’ F.A , John Read, Darren Alcock, Dave Ebberson, Sue Gifford, Lorna Hartwell, Dawn Howard, Ed Mitchell and Mike Spinks for their help and guidance throughout the season.
The Northern Counties Schools’ F.A., especially Peter Tracey, Chris Newman
ESFA Regional A member Neil Pont, and ESFA Region B member Nigel Brown
County Secretaries in the Northern Counties’ Association and across the country for their assistance in organising games often under difficult circumstances.
The Lancashire FA and its officers, particularly Iain Kay and Mike Nadal
Referees’ Societies across the county, especially the Preston Referees (Dave Hesketh, Peter Ingham, Keith Martin, Phil Rigby, Dave Sammons, Kris Sammons, Dave Wareing) and Nelson & Colne Referees (Noel McEvoy, Barry Slater, Joe Cooney, Stuasrt Cross).)
Lancashire Schools’ Sports Federation and its officers
Blackburn Rovers F.C. and the Youth Academy staff
Burnley F.C., especially Jeff Taylor and the Centre of Excellence staff
Preston North End F.C.
Blackpool F.C.
Skelmersdale United F.C.
Lancaster City FC, especially Barry Newsham for his excellent support
Nelson F.C. especially Alan Pickering and Trevor Stanworth
BAE Canberra F.C., Samlesbury
Preston College
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Blackburn, the head teacher, sports and ground staff for the use of such excellent facilities for finals, ESFA Regional finals, ESFA U18 trials and the LSFA Summer Coaching Course.
St Bede’s Sports College, Blackburn, especially Chris Bentley, John Turner and head John Challenor for their help.
Corpus Christi HS Preston, all the sports staff, Dave Bote and head teacher (and former County manager) Martin Callagher for excellent indoor and outdoor facilities
Staff at UCLAN
UCLAN Sports Science department for provision of physiotherapists at County games, particularly Sunil Ram and Emily Giles.
Teachers at all levels, primary to tertiary, school team to district and county representative sides in their various roles as coaches, managers, administrators.
Head Teachers and Principals in our schools and colleges for their support in the release of players and staff for matches.
The non-teachers, who are now helping schools’ football in various capacities
Parents, families and supporters of players at all levels for their friendship and support in a long and highly successful season.
Mike Timberlake, LSFA Secretary, 27 June 2012 (with apologies for the delayed report).