Nottinghamshire Schools Football Association Annual Report Season 2012 / 2013

Honorary Secretary’s Report

Another long season in which, however, a good number of Nottinghamshire teams reached the final stages of their respective ESFA national individual schools competitions with Arnold Hill Academy getting to at least the last 16 in the country in no less than four different age group competitions.

Arnold Hill U15 Girls had a great run through to the semi-finals of the ESFA National Schools Cup before having to make the long trip up the north east to play Lawrence Jackson School and losing a close game 4-2.

Ironically, it was the same Redcar & Cleveland school that knocked Becket girls out 5-3 in the semi-final of the U16 Schools Cup with the West Bridgford team also having to make the long journey north.

West Bridgford U12 Girls squad reached the last four on the Finals Day in the Munich Trophies Indoor 5-a-side tournament held at the Soccerdome at Pride Park, Derby and the Nottingham City Schools Primary representative side were in the last eight in the country and took part in the Finals Day at Barnet FC’s ‘The Hive’ Sports Ground.

However, the Association was for once, unable to celebrate the achievement of a team becoming national champions.

Unfortunately, Nottingham U11s national finals day was not successful as they failed to qualify for the knock-out stages from their round robin group but still enjoyed a super day out in the shadow of Barnet FC’s new stadium with West Bridgford U12 Girls going out in the semis to a traditionally very strong Thomas Telford School in the National Indoor 5-a-sides..

A good number of other Nottinghamshire’s squads reached the latter stages of ESFA National competitions:

Last four in the Country:

• West Bridgford Academy girls lost 4-1 to Thomas Telford in the semi-final of the ESFA U12 Girls Munich Trophies Indoor 5-a-side.
• Arnold Hill Academy girls lost 4-2 to Lawrence Jackson School from Redcar in the ESFA U15 Girls Schools Cup.
• Becket Academy girls lost 5-3 to Lawrence Jackson School from Redcar in the ESFA U16 Girls Schools Cup

Last eight in the Country:

• George Spencer’s Academy boys – lost 1-0 to Kepier School from Sunderland in the ESFA U12 Danone Nations Cup.
• Nottingham Emmanuel Academy boys – lost 10-2 to St Leonards RC School from Chester le Street in the ESFA U14 Premier League Cup.
• Bluecoat Academy boys – lost 4-3 to Stokesley School from Richmond in the ESFA U16 Schools Cup.
• Arnold Hill Academy girls lost 3-0 to Thomas Estley Community College from Leicestershire in the ESFA U13 Girls Schools Cup.
• Nottinghamshire U16 girls lost 2-0 to Lancashire in the ESFA Inter County Cup for Girls.
• Nottingham U11 boys reached the last eight in the ESFA Small Sided U11 Danone Inter District Trophy.

Last sixteen in the Country:

• Arnold Hill Academy boys lost 1-0 to Thomas Telford from Shropshire in the ESFA U15 Schools Cup.
• Bluecoat Academy boys lost 3-1 to St Cuthberts High School from Rochdale in the ESFA U15 Schools Cup.
• Arnold Hill Academy boys lost 3-2 to Guthlaxton College from Leicestershire in the ESFA U18 Schools Trophy.
• Carlton le Willows Academy girls lost 1-0 to King James School Harrogate in the ESFA U16 Girls Schools Trophy.

Under 18 County Squad - after trials were completed an Under 18 squad was selected to play Greater Manchester in the second round of the ESFA Inter County Knock out cup. In an excellent game a good Manchester side were 2-0 winners on the night in a game that was much closer than the score suggest. A disappointing 2-0 away defeat at the hands of Lincolnshire was followed by a further defeat to Humberside at Collingham where a 6-2 scoreline definitely did not reflect the balance of play throughout the game with two or three goals conceded towards the end of the ninety minutes.

This left just Derbyshire to play and this fixture had been arranged for the evening of the unusually heavy snowfall in March leading to a postponement and then a difficulty in re-arranging a new date before the end of the Spring Term, meaning that the squad’s fixture list could not be completed in time for inclusion in the final Midlands Eastern Section table of results. On behalf of the County, convenor Chris Hallas, would like to thank the team management of Richard Walmsley, Simon Coleman and Luke Tebbett for the commitment and support they gave the team throughout the season.

Under 16 Boys County Squad - For the third successive season, the programme of the Under 16 and Under 15 representative teams was completely disrupted by the weather with rain, snow and frost following each other through the months. The biggest disappointment was in the Under 16 national competition in which Nottinghamshire were drawn away to Cleveland. The first tentative arrangements for this game were made in early November but the day of the game turned out to be on the day that parts of England came a standstill after 24 hours of continuous rain and the first postponement took place. Seven attempts later, the E.S.F.A. understandably put a final delayed limit date on the game which because of staffing problems, Nottinghamshire could not meet and thus had to withdraw.

The squad was able to play only three matches in the eastern group of the Midland Counties competition, which was a big disappointment to a group of players who were fully committed to schools’ football. They and their schools must have been wearied by the constant communication of match dates and arrangements only to receive notice of postponements within the 24 hours prior to games.

The Association thanks the boys and their supportive parents for their commitment and attitude and the P.E. staff of their schools for their patience as well as the Team Managers for their help in a frustrating season.

Under 16 Girls County Squad - the season was not an unqualified success for the Under 16 Girls’ squad and the Association learned some lessons about the wisdom of choosing ‘stand-by’ players’ immediately following the final trial. It was perhaps not made sufficiently clear to those girls and especially their parents that they were not ‘full members’ of the squad. This error was compounded by the weather conditions which followed the first match against Lincolnshire which led to several postponements and eventual cancellation of a proposed friendly game against Cleveland in which it was intended that the ‘stand-by’ players would be given the chance of displaying their ability again. When the programme for the girls was resumed two months later all the games were in the Midlands competition for which the Team Managers naturally selected the original squad which defeated Lincolnshire. Thus the ‘stand-by players’ could not be given an opportunity which obviously caused them much disappointment.

On the administrative side, another error was the failure to produce the explanatory booklet for players and parents which had been prepared in the previous six seasons; this was the girls’ squad convenor’s error although it was intended to send it following the Cleveland game once a final squad was selected.

A third disappointment was that the Midland Counties Final between Lincolnshire and Notts was never played despite great efforts on the convenor’s part to try and get Lincolnshire to play the game which were started in April and continued until mid-June. This was particularly disappointing for those girls who were regular choices for the team, especially those who were in their final year. The Association can only apologise to those players who had been fine representatives of the County and their schools throughout the season.

On the positive side, the 2012-2013 squad continued Nottinghamshire’s fine record in the national English Schools’ Under 16 competition by qualifying once again for the quarter-finals. Unfortunately, Lancashire for the second successive season ended Nottinghamshire’s hope of winning the national title although it is true to say that with a full fit squad available, the result might have been different.

On an individual level, the Association heartily congratulates Charlotte Steggles on representing the England squad selected by the English Schools’ F.A. with such determination and skill. Congratulations, too, to Ashleigh Plumptre who was a late addition to the squad who is representing the F.A. England side this summer.

The Association extends its grateful thanks to the Nottinghamshire Football Association for their support of the squad , the schools and clubs who nominated players, Leicester City, Derby County and Lincoln City Centres of Excellence for their co-operation , the Team Managers and the girls who represented the County with pride and an excellent attitude.

In the County Secondary Inter District Representative competitions, South Notts almost swept the board winning three of the four age group competitions, only missing out on the Cobbin Cup which was played at Meadow Lane as part of the Schools Finals night and saw Nottingham and Mansfield & Ashfield play out a strongly contested 2-2 draw. South Notts’ three victories comprised of a 5-0 win over Mansfield & Ashfield in the U14 Norris Cup, a 3-0 win against the same opponents in the U13 Intermediate Cup and a 3-1 scoreline in the U12 County Cup against Nottingham.

As it seems for several seasons now, the Individual Schools County Cups, both Secondary and Primary, have been beset by problems caused by teams not meeting limit dates or by withdrawing from competitions weeks after they should have played a particular game. Just one match not played in a 1^st or 2^nd round tie has a huge knock-on effect for the rest of the competition in the later rounds.

It is always the resolve of the organisers to be more strict with schools who do not complete fixtures but the decision on which team to exclude from a competition is always a difficult one as often both schools insist they have tried to make contact with each other and of course it always penalises the children who then lose their football. The horrendous weather during winter and on into the spring was a major factor, particularly as many of the competitions reached their final stages and many games were repeatedly called off.

All the Secondary Individual Schools finals except one were played on the superb pitches at The Poplars Sports Ground, Burton Joyce. Thanks have been offered to David List, the groundsman, who is so supportive of Notts Schools’ and also to Helen Bird and Eileen Rose who have been present at all the finals to provide refreshments and make the atmosphere at these games much more pleasant, particularly for the spectators, than playing at a deserted ground.

Thanks also must go to our refereeing friends who support us so magnificently, turning up night after night to ensure we have a full complement of officials for every final and for our representative games as well.

The Becket U16 Girls side rattled up a record score in the Hilary Swinn final against a very plucky but outclassed Portland team who did manage three goals in reply to Becket’s twelve. Lambley Primary School appeared in their third County final in four years and finally managed to take the George Abbott Shield. Bluecoat U16s clawed their way back from being 3-2 down approaching the final whistle to beat Portland from Worksop 5-3.

The Netz Shield and the Chaplin Shield were also both very close affairs with East Leake and George Spencer victorious respectively by a single goal. Arnold Hill girls were another side to make a late comeback, denying Kimberley 4-3 with an own goal in extra time.

The two indoor individual schools’ 5-a-side tournaments, held in the superb facilities at Trent University’s Clifton Site, were excellent events with Barnby Road from Newark winning their second County title in this competition and a strong Lowes Wong Girls team lifting the Dora Cobbin Cup in the 5-a-side and also taking the 7-a-side title back in the Autumn.

The Outdoor 7-a-sides, along with the corresponding Inter Association contest, were staged at the super 3G facility at Sutton Lawn. In the individual schools tournaments, Morven Park from Kirkby took the Boys title and Hollywell from Kimberley winning their third Small Schools award in consecutive years. All three schools represented Nottinghamshire in the Regional Tournament held at the Highfield Sports Ground; unfortunately none of them managed to qualify for the national finals day.

The Association once again staged all four of the Midland Regional Finals of the ESFA Small Sided Cups for the Under 11 age group on two Saturdays at Nottingham University’s Highfield Sports Ground in March and April on behalf of the ESFA.

The Finals were sponsored by Danone who had arranged for Casey Stoney, the England Women’s captain, to spend the day visiting the Girls competition. Unfortunately, this tournament together with the Individual Schools one being played on the same day had to be cancelled at short notice on the morning of the competition because of torrential overnight rain and Stoney was unable to attend the re-arranged date.

The Association continues to run both its web site and Handbook in tandem but is still striving to encourage schools to use the web site for updates of competition results and progress.

The Nottinghamshire Schools Council for Sport continues to play a vital part in obtaining the financial support that allows all sports Associations in the County and City, including football, to provide sporting opportunities for young people in our schools.

Special thanks go to Gerry Mills, the Secretary, for tireless work in his protracted negotiations with the City and County Councils to ensure that the NSCS receives what is still a substantial grant for the coming year and to Treasurer, Peter Sanders, who continually works out ways to make a shrinking pot of money go as far as possible.

As always, the Association offers its sincere thanks to the following organisations and individuals:

• Reprotec for their continued invaluable support and financial assistance.
• The volunteer referees who give so much of their time and commitment to the Association and Schools Football in general.
• Private individuals who support the Association financially.
• All the schools, clubs and organisations that make their facilities available to the Association and offer such a warm welcome – particularly Bilborough Pelican, Collingham, Nottingham University, Rainworth, Clipstone, Teversal and Burton Joyce Parish Council.
• The Nottinghamshire Football Association with whom the Association continues to enjoy an excellent relationship.
• The Nottinghamshire professional clubs with whom the Association continues to enjoy a close relationship.
• The City and County Councils who continue to give the Association much needed financial support through the Nottinghamshire Schools Council for Sport.
• All the personnel – teachers, ex-teachers, non-teachers, parents and supporters who together combine to offer the pupils of Nottinghamshire and Nottingham schools a wide and varied programme of football competition.

It appears that the Association will be able to run a full programme of competitions, representative fixtures and tournaments for the immediate future but finance and person-power continue to be subjects for much concern.

John Williamson

Honorary Secretary

To keep up to date with all the latest news from the world of local and national schools’ football go to:

www.nottsschoolsfa.co.uk

and

www.esfa.co.uk

Nottinghamshire Schools’ FA Honours List

2012 / 2013 Secondary Cup Competition Results

U19 John Fox Cup West Bridgford 4 v 2 Arnold Hill

U16 Hawkins Cup Bluecoat 5 v 3 Portland

U16 Girls Hilary Swinn Cup Becket 12 v 3 Portland

U15 Netz Shield East Leake 5 v 4 Trinity (aet/pens)

U14 Chaplin Shield George Spencer 4 v 3 Tuxford

U14 Girls Active Sports Trophy Arnold Hill 1 v 1 Toot Hill (shared)

U13 Graham Cordell Cup Ashfield 0 v 0 Tuxford (shared)

U13 Girls Fred Riddell Shield Arnold Hill 4 v 3 Kimberley

U12 Reprotec Cup Carlton le Willows 5 v 3 Toot Hill (aet/pens)

U12 Girls West Bridgford Colts Shield West Bridgford 4 v 0 Portland

U15 Cobbin Cup Nottingham 2 v 2 Mansfield & Ashfield (shared)

U14 Norris Trophy South Notts 5 v 0 Mansfield & Ashfield

U13 Intermediate Cup South Notts 3 v 0 Mansfield & Ashfield

U12 County Cup South Notts 3 v 1 Nottingham

U15 Forest Bowl Arnold Hill 3 v 0 Carlton le Willows

U14 Forest Vase Carlton le Willows 2 v 2 George Spencer (shared)

2012 / 2013 Primary Cup Competition Results

U11 Reprotec Primary Cup Nottingham

U11 Inter Association 7-a-side Nottingham

U11 Boys Ind. Schools 5-a-side Barnby Road (Newark)

U11 Girls Ind. Schools 5-a-side Lowes Wong (Southwell)

U11 Majestic Trophies Shield Cotgrave Candleby Lane 3 v 0 King Edwin (Edwinstowe)

U11 George Abbott Shield Lambley 3 v 1 Walesby

U11 Reprotec Girls Shield Abbey Road (West Bridgford) 8 v 0 Horsendale (Nuthall)

U11 Boys Ind. Schools 7-a-side Morven Park (Kirkby in Ashfield)

U11 Girls Ind. Schools 7-a-side Lowes Wong (Southwell)

U11 Small Schools 6-a-side Hollywell (Eastwood)

Honorary Treasurer's Report

Once more, The Association has provided a wide range of opportunities for young people to participate in a great variety of activities. Frustratingly, this season has seen a truncation of the representative opportunities due mainly to the weather. Therefore, our financial figures, which apparently are coping well with the current situation, merely hide the situation that fewer games have been played. It is exacerbated by the problems which some of our neighbouring counties have in fielding teams. This is not the situation in which we wish to find ourselves.

We must accept that the future looks rather bleak due to the cuts which are being imposed by both City of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire County Councils. We do continue to be grateful to both City and County for their long standing and continued support, recognising their problems as well. We are aware that we are not alone in this; however, it is still a sad situation. It is especially exasperating when school sport, through its sound educational principles, provides a proven means for the development of pupils not only physically, but personally, in behaviour and academically.

The Nottinghamshire Schools’ Council for Sport are doing everything they can to support the army of volunteers who are the backbone of School Sport. What must their worth be in financial terms? Yet the skills and experience are freely given. The Nottinghamshire Schools Council for Sport is responsible for the grant's administration and other supportive measures. We thank them again on behalf of all school sport. They will be involved in some difficult decision making. The Nottinghamshire Football Association continues to give valuable support with specific initiatives, notably in girls’ football. Reprotec has significantly supported us for many years and their help is greatly appreciated. Nottingham Forest FC has also helped us. Again, the faithful Jim Hawkins contributes his donation, even though living in Scotland for many years. His son played for us some years ago! The English Schools’ FA has made a valuable contribution. In addition to their regular grant aid, they have supported our runs in national competitions and we have gained from staging some of their small sided events.

This year, we introduced entry fees for schools taking part in our competitions. This has helped considerably and ensured that over 30 competitions took place across a range of ages and types of game; for girls and boys. We continue to look at our programme of events and our methods of work. Certainly, we shall aim to retain as much as possible of what is one of the best programmes in the Country.

Mike Simmonds, as Development Officer, nurtures partnerships, whilst John Williamson works hard to keep the Association running. Other Committee Members, such as Bob Young and Barry Shackley plus the Team Managers also give generously of their time. No-one must be taken for granted for they perform valued tasks. Mr Micawber looks on with worried features. He forecast, all those years ago, the situation in which we are in danger of sinking.

Patrick Smith

Honorary Treasurer

Financial Accounts 2012-2013

COMBINED ACCOUNTS

Income Amount Expenditure Amount

Brought Forward Cheque Account 1182.87 Carried Forward Cheque Account 6740.68

Interest Account 9126.47 Interest Account 9130.76

Excess Income over Expenditure 5562.10

15871.44 15871.44

INTEREST ACCOUNT

Income Amount Expenditure Amount

Brought Forward 9126.47 Carried Forward 9130.76

Transfers 0.00 Transfers 0.00

Interest 4.29

9130.76 9130.76

Development Officer’s Report

As intimated in the last three Annual reports, the title of Development Officer for the Association is now a misnomer. A better title for my work is Secretarial Support as such is the twelve month work-load of John Williamson that the Association may not function in its present form without additional help.

There can be no true development work while the Association’s vast programme is organised and administered by only the Officers. Team Managers and others, of course, do make valuable contributions which are greatly appreciated but new administrators are much more difficult to find.

The main tasks which can be loosely linked with ‘development’ are media liaison, links with professional clubs and the Nottinghamshire Football Association, links with and servicing of sponsors. The Association is a great believer in the value of publicity for schools’ football and in this respect, we are grateful to the Nottingham Post which through the introduction of its Tuesday supplement ‘Balls Mania’ has enabled a considerably increased coverage in the press. It is hoped that this can be expanded further next season by sending the weekly e-mail County Newsletter to all press and radio outlets in the County so that there can be greater awareness of the schools’ game. Direct contacts will also be made with those press and radio outlets.

The Development Officer continues to try and maintain links with the professional clubs in the County and to tackle any problems which may arise. The Association is indebted to all three clubs for their increased support during the 2012-2013 season which enabled over 200 school players the memorable opportunity to play on a League Club ground. Mansfield Town are once again in that category and congratulations to them on their achievement in being promoted from the Conference. They not only staged the finals of nearly all the Mansfield Schools’ Cup Finals but also allowed the Simmonds Plate Final between Mansfield and Nottingham to be played at the OneCall Stadium.

Notts County too were most supportive with the annual Schools’ Night now seemingly re-established at Meadow Lane thanks to the good offices of Chairman, Ray Trew, Chief Executive Jim Rodwell and the hard work of long time supporters Tony Cuthbert, the Club Secretary and Stadium Manager Greg Smith.

This year, the Schools’ Night saw three County Cup Finals take place including the Under 14 Girls’ Fred Riddell Shield. A long evening remarkably saw all three games end in draws which meant shared trophies because of limited periods of extra time in two of the games. Nearly a hundred pupils from schools in the county had the chance to play at Meadow Lane and judging from the number of remarks from players and staff thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Once again, Nottingham Forest staged their Schools’ Night at the City Ground which was again much appreciated by all the players and staff who numbered well over a hundred during the evening. Thanks go, in particular, to Jane Carnelly and Alan Bexon at the Club for the time they devoted to the planning of the event and on the evening.

One sad occurrence at Forest was the departure of the Academy Director, Nick Marshall who has been tremendously supportive of schools’ football during his long period at the Club. The Academy Ground at Wilford was used on numerous occasions by Primary school teams from Nottingham and the south of the county and by the City and County Schools’ Associations for many of their Cup Finals particularly those involving representative teams. After Nick Marshall’s departure, the Associations were indebted to Sean England, the Education Officer, who worked hard to ensure that all the planned events took place successfully. The Academy also financed kit for Nottingham and South Notts and subsidised the County Association in other ways. We hope that the good relations that have been built up over the years between the Club, its Academy and the Schools’ Associations will continue under the new regime at Nottingham Forest.

The Nottinghamshire Football Association has also supported the Schools’ F.A. throughout the season, notably by its continued financial support for the Under 16 girls’ representative side, by the training and organisation of Futsal for schools and their support of the Business/Competition Plan which our Association has to submit to the Football Association through the E.S.F.A. for grant aid. We thank Elaine Oram, the Chief Executive, Ricky Stevenson (County Development Manager) and Jody Cauldwell in particular for their valuable help.

Lastly, no thanks can be too great for Kevin Lock, the Managing Director of Reprotec Ltd, for the generous sponsorship of the Association over so many years. Without this support, most of the popular Primary activities of the Association would not take place.

Mike Simmonds

Development Officer

Managers - Richard Walmsley / Simon Coleman / Luke Tebbett

Results:

Greater Manchester (National KO) (H) 0-2

Lincolnshire (Midlands) (A) 0-2

Humberside (Midlands) (H) 2-6

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION U16 COUNTY SQUAD

Managers – Brian Newsom / Mario Rimoldi / Steve Archer

Results:

Humberside (Midlands) (H) 1-1

Lincolnshire (Midlands) (A) 3-3

Leicestershire (Midlands) (H) 2-2

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION U16 GIRLS COUNTY SQUAD

Managers - Ian Fidler / Louise Wray /Tom Reid

Results:

Lincolnshire (Midlands) (A) 3-2

Derbyshire (Midlands) (H) 1-0

Staffordshire (Midlands Semi-final) (H) 7-0

Lancashire (National quarter-final) (A) 0-2

AGM Minutes

Present
R Young, P Sanders, J Tarr, R Donnison, M Simmonds, J Waterall, J Williamson

1. Apologies
G Mills, S Abbott, C Hallas, R Walmsley, J Hargreaves, P Smith, B Shackley

2. Minutes of the last meeting
The 2012 AGM Minutes were read and approved.

3. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.

4. Correspondence
There was no correspondence

5. Annual Report
Mike Simmonds requested that the Secretary sends the Annual Report to all City and County Secondary Schools

6. Treasurer’s Report
In his absence the Treasurer reported a much healthier financial situation than the previous season – probably due to the large reduction in the amoubt of Inter County Representative matches that had been played.

Peter Sanders commented that the City Association charged the City Academies more in affiliation fees than the City funded ones – was this something to look at for the County Academies?

He also reported a dire warning from the County Council that the grant aid to the Nottinghamshite Council for School Sport was likely to be cut by 50% next year and by a further 50% the following year!

7. Elections of Officers
R Young proposed and R Donnison seconded that all the Executive Officers and the Executive Council Members be re-elected en bloc – carried unanimously.

8. Election of Members
R Young proposed and R Donison seconded that all the remaimng nominated Committee Members be elected en bloc – carried unanimously.

9. Expenses
It was decided to leave expenses at their current level.

10. Affiliations
It was decided to leave Affiliation Fees at their current level.

The meeting closed at 7.05pm