English Schools' Football Association

ESFA U18 Management Team 2013-2014

Andy Buckingham recaps his time working with the ESFA and being involved in International Schoolboy Football.

I hope we are all enjoying the festival of football we are being treated to on TV. It is refreshing to note that scoring goals and trying to win is the top priority. I hope this continues. It was certainly my philosophy with the U-18 side.

Personally, it is the end of an era with ESFA that began way back in the mid 1990’s when I was first asked to coach on the National U15 coaching selection week. Jermaine Defoe and Joe Cole were on this course as fresh faced 15 year olds. Twenty years later, the class of 2014 for the ESFA U18 team were a credit to themselves and the association. In every respect on and off the field, they were terrific. It has been a pleasure and delight to watch and guide them through this year’s Centenary Shield series. They delivered a consistently high standard throughout the warm up games, in training and in the Shield matches. Winning 7 and drawing 2 games is record that they can be proud of.

For me to manage at Ewood Park my home ground, in front of over 2500 people, including friends and family was something I shall never forget. Things were going to plan when we scored first and created a few more chances before half time against Scotland. However they really came out fighting second half and took the initiative. Scoring the equaliser, they could have gone on to knick a winner at the end.

The boys were disappointed not finish with 3 points and cement the Centenary Shield on the night. However the Republic of Ireland turned Scotland over in Dublin a week later. This result gave us outright possession of the Centenary Shield for 2014.

It is satisfying to finish top of the tree, but over the 4 years that I have been part of the management of the team it is the relationships and trust that players and staff have shown in me that I will treasure most. Football will always give you highs and lows, but the constant in the process is the friendship and camaraderie one takes from being involved.

Thank you to everyone who has generously supported me, it has been a fantastic experience. I know the team will be in excellent hands next year as Andy Blight steps into the manager’s seat next season. I am sure he will also fully embrace the opportunity to lead out our next ESFA U18 side.

Andy Buckingham

ESFA Team Manager 2012-14

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