HISTORY | Newcastle Schools FA

History of the Association

The Newcastle upon Tyne Schools' Football Association has had a long and illustrious history since it was first brought into existence in 1892 when a group of schoolmasters started it in order to further the very best ideals of the game in schools throughout the city. Today the association is still going strong.

In 1904 the English Schools Football Association was established with Newcastle joining a year later to create Division VII for the North. In the first ever ESFA Trophy in 1905 Newcastle beat Sunderland 4-0 in the semi-final of Division VII, but were surprisingly beaten themselves by East Northumberland in the Divisional Final. In the National quarter-final, East North were beaten 2-0 by West Ham. The eventual winners were London who beat Sheffield in the final.

The first schools international fixture was played between England and Wales at Walsall in 1907 with E.Taylor from Newcastle participating in the match. In 1911 Newcastle was the first venue for the very first England-Scotland schoolboy International with local boy T.Johnson playing in the game. A number of pupils have been called up to play in the England schoolboys under 15 team since then (later the under 16s) before it ceased in 1998 when the FA took over the running of the team. However, the schools' under 18 England team started in 1969 and is still going strong with a number of players from Newcastle making the International team (see "Played for England").

Rebecca Ferguson became the first Newcastle player to be selected for the Under 15 England Schoolgirls team in 2018.

Rebecca Ferguson - Newcastle's first England schoolgirls player

It has not just been the pupils who have been representatives for their country. Newcastle teachers have also been board members of the ESFA (JC Petrie 1906-07, T Atkinson, EP Clegg 1920-21, MR Berry 1979-2000 & Owen Aiston 2011-2022).

The Association caters for all pupils, boys and girls, from under 9 up to under 19 and there are leagues for schools from under 11 upwards. This season there were 43 primary schools entered into the league. Newcastle run representative teams in short, there is probably more football being provided for more Newcastle pupils and students now than ever before in the past.

It would be impossible to chart all of the developments of Newcastle Schools' football in a volume such as this. The highlights which follow, provide a snapshot, very much panoramic, of nearly 130 years of football at the grass roots level. In recent years, Kenton, Walbottle, St. Cuthbert's and Newcastle School for Boys, all members of the association, have had success in the individual English Schools FA competitions (see "About").

St. Cuthbert's Under 19 National Champions 1981

However, the under 15 English schools' trophy has eluded Newcastle since their last win in 1932. This is despite having such illustrious former players such as Steve Bruce, Alan Shearer, Lee Clark and many other future professional players in their teams. The 2012 under 15 team did reach the final for the first time in 80 years but their run ended in defeat. The under 13 city team reached the 2017 ESFA cup final for the first time and this time they were victorious against North Kent.

Newcastle Under 15 National Champions 1932

Newcastle Under 13 National Champions 2017

2016 was a landmark year in the history of the Association as the first Newcastle Girls representative team was formed ay under 15 level. They went on to win the Northumberland League in their first season. Since then girls representative football has blossomed and there are now under 13 and under 11 representative teams. The under 11s qualified for the ESFA national finals in both 2019 and 2020.

Very first Newcastle Girls under 15 team - County Champions 2015

Chloe Paxton made history in the 2019-20 season when she became the first female to be selected for a Newcastle Boys team in their 125 history when she forced her way into the under 13 team.

In the intervening years there have been numerous changes to the organisation due to educational, political and demographic factors, all of which have altered the structure of schools football organisation. Especially since the mid 80s when there was a period of industrial action nationally and in teaching with the loss of the goodwill of previous generations. A number of valuable servants of schools' football were lost in this period of unrest. Since that decade we have seen more pressure on staff for exam results and the encroachment of local youth football on schools' football.

For many, the peak of their soccer career was within the boundaries of schools' football in Newcastle. Others went on to achieve fame in county sides and on the International field with the English Schools FA, whilst many progressed to the professional ranks and full International honours as mentioned above. The overwhelming factor is that, no matter at what level a player, manager, coach or administrator achieved success, hundreds of thousands have played a part in the development of the game in Newcastle and ultimately in the broader football sphere.

MEMORIES

Former Newcastle Schools player Colin Porwol from Mary Trevelyan Primary School and Slatyford Comprehensive reminisced about being playing for the school and being selected for the Newcastle Boys team, ‘ I made it into the school team a year young and a year later I was fortunate to be selected for Newcastle Boys from the Trials at Under 11 level. It was a great honour to be selected and when the letter came through for the first game it was greatly cherished. For away games we always met on the steps of the Rates Hall at the back of the Civic Centre. We always travelled by coach, the same firm as carried Newcastle United all over the country, so it was a great experience playing for Newcastle Boys. Our home games were always at Benfield Park or on the Benfield School pitches if the older teams were playing at the same time. In my first year we won the TUC Cup and we were awarded a certificate by the County. When I went into High School I was selected once more and it was another great experience as I made a lot of friends, some are still friends to this day.’

Selection Letter

TUC Cup Winners Certificate

Ian Beck has spanned all the roles within the association. He has been a player, team manager, chairperson and is now the president. He played for the city team in the 70s and he said "It was a great honour to play for the City as it meant I was amongst the elite of the City. Whilst playing for a number of years I was under the influence of many dedicated school teachers and it was to have a lasting impact on me. When I came back to the region to teach I was determined to give the pupils the same opportunities that I was presented with as a pupil. Firstly, through being a team manager and then being an executive member. It is great when you see the young players so enthusiastic and come off the pitch with a smile on their face. It makes the hard work worthwhile."

Newcastle Boys in the 1970s

Newcastle Boys in the 1990s