English Schools' Football Association

Once again, The English Schools’ Football Association, supported by the FA, are running the Reward and Recognition Awards programme in order to celebrate our volunteer network across the Country.

We truly value the work that goes into running schools’ football nationwide, with the passion of individuals often being the reason that so many children and young people have a fantastic experience in the game. It is these people that we want to celebrate and therefore, we need your help to find those who have had the greatest impact.

WINDOW 1 WINNER

We are today, thrilled to announce the first winner of the 2018-19 Reward & Recognition awards -

Winner Number 1 – Ryan Strange
Blackburn, Lancashire

Ryan was nominated by Simon Wooton, Football Secretary of Blackburn Primary Schools and has tirelessly volunteered as head coach of the Blackburn Primary School U11 District Side since 2011, giving opportunities to a huge number of children in Blackburn to play District Football and supported the transition of more than a dozen players into local club academies along the way.

After 7 years of building up the team from scratch, Blackburn won the Lancashire Schools F.A. District U11 League for the first time in 2018, a feat that Simon assures us would not have happened without Ryan’s commitment and organisation, noting that there wouldn’t even be a district side, let alone one which can call itself Lancashire Champions were it not for his efforts.

Ryan has developed the team from non-existence, having to ‘beg & borrow’ kit, equipment and facilities to train and play along the way and yet, thanks to Ryan’s vision, Blackburn now also has a Girls U11 District Football Team (which he provides coaching oversight to) and will also have an ‘U9 Development Squad’ from September 2018.

Longer term, Ryan is also aiming to ‘re-launch’ the Blackburn Secondary Schools’ district side for the 2019-20 season, growing the representative football offering in Blackburn to unprecedented levels.

Congratulations and thank you for your hard work Ryan, making you this first nominee for the ESFA Volunteer of the Year and our first feature in the Reward and Recognition Programme, along with the recipient of 2 tickets to England vs Spain at Wembley Stadium in early September.

How can you get involved?

Who do you know that goes above and beyond their call of duty?

Who is it that has inspired young people?

This is now your chance to nominate your local heroes for these National Awards!

Winners will receive a pair of tickets to selected England games, with a number of windows for nominations to be submitted. They are:

Window 2: August 17^th – September 14^th 2018

Window 3: September 28^th – October 15^th 218

WINDOW 2 IS NOW OPEN!

All winners will also be put forward for a chance to be presented with the ESFA Contribution to Schools’ Football Award for 2018-19.

For more information, please contact: Development@schoolsfa.com. Entries should also be submitted to this address, on the Nomination Form which you can download here.

Please note: Only successful applicants will be contacted. Applications received after closure of the 1^st window, will be considered in the 2^nd application window etc.