SchoolsFA Cup inspires school festival
Friday, 25 April 2008.
Over 250 pupils braved the forecast of heavy showers to represent Primary School and Secondary School teams at The Kent FA Cup Schools Day on 24 April 2008.
The festival was held at The University of Kent who have one of the most professional Third Generation Artificial Grass Pitches in the County. Using the history and power of The FA Cup sponsored by E:ON the Kent County FA celebrated the achievements of the Counties FA Charter Standard Schools.
The Charter Standard for Schools programme is a kite marking scheme that establishes minimum standards of football development in schools.
Teams competed in a tournament format with Primary School Years 5 & 6 integrated with mixed girls and boys teams while Secondary Schools Year 7 Boys and Year 7 Girls operated in separate tournaments.
The festival matches were officiated by Kent FA affiliated referees with the help of young volunteers who over saw 65 games from the group stages through to the knock-out stages.
Festival organiser and Football Development Administrator Lee Suter said “Some fantastic football was played today and the attitude of the pupils was a credit to the teachers and the schools.”
All participates received a certificate and medal courtesy of E:ON and The Football Association while the winners of the Primary School and Secondary Girls sections were awarded with a trophy and a Umbro Kit sponsored by E:ON. The winners of the Secondary School Boys team received nine Umbro FA Cup footballs.
Attending the festival and presenting the teams with their medals, gifts and signed cards was England and Arsenal, Midfielder Katie Chapman.
Primary School winners: Claremont Primary
Primary School Runner up: Northdown Primary
Secondary School Girls Winners: Sittingbourne College
Secondary School Girls Runner up: Aylesford School
Secondary School Boys Winners: Hurstmere School
Secondary School Boys Runner up: Canterbury High School
Suter went onto say “Thanks to the support of E:ON, the University of Kent, the match officials, volunteers and football development staff the festival was a great success”.
The festival featured on both ITV Meridian News and yourkenttv.co.uk. Use the links on the right to download the footage.
For further details on the Charter Standard programme please email darryl.haden@kentfa.com.