EIGHT-A-SIDES (on a full pitch!)

Yesterday was the Northern Independent Schools' FA, Eight-a-sides, a small sided tournament, held on full size pitches, hosted brilliantly by the King's School, Chester. I went across the Pennines to meet up with past and present coaches/teachers and to watch the tournament.

The competition is named after Barry Burns (son Jimmy Burns is second from right in picture). Although not a teacher, Barry was a local Lancashire business man, an old boy of Shrewsbury School (A Salopian) and a man who loved school football, especially playing, being the "beating" heart of the Liverpool Ramblers FC. The Ramblers are the northern equivalent of the Corinthan Casuals; truly amateur footballers, both clubs that promote the "proper way" of playing the game. (in the photo, from left, Talan Gill from the hosts, Mike Askham, Jimmy and Mark Dickson from ISFA Committee and committed footballing school masters! ).

18 Northern Independent Schools came out in full force to play 8 a-side football on full sized pitches, a game needing considerable skills and particularly stamina! 

There is, of course, a national small sided competition, when North meets South. The first National tournament was held in 1957 and won by Malvern College. Charterhouse won this once in 2003!

Winners of the Barry Burns' 8s (2022) were Repton School from Derbyshire who beat Queen Ethelburga's from York. Shrewsbury School and Manchester GS were losing semi-finalists

The Grange, from Hartford, Cheshire, won the Plate, a competition for losing First Rounders! They beat Cheadle Hulme of Greater Manchester. Birkdale School from Sheffield and Oswestry School were losing semi-finalists.

Below is an historic list of independent school boys who have made their way in professional football.

Olly Lee – Brentwood School, Elliot Lee – Brentwood School, Frank Lampard – Brentwood School, Max Kretzschmar – Hampton School, James Beattie – QEGS Blackburn, Quinton Fortune – Forest School, Nedum Onuoha – Hulme Grammar School, Dan Harding – St. Bede's School Hailsham, Neil Mellor – St Bede's College, Manchester, Adam Virgo – Ardingly College, Andy Frampton – Lancing College, Neil Harris – Brentwood School, Chris Porter – QEGS Blackburn,  Robin Shroot – Alleyn's School, Lawrie Wilson – Millfield,  Fraser Forster – Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, Jordan Spence –Chigwell School, Josh O'Keefe – QEGS Blackburn, Frank Fielding – QEGS Blackburn, Johnny Gorman and Will Hughes –Repton School, Duncan Watmore – Cheadle Hulme, Solomon March – St. Bede's School, Hailsham.

I suspect there will be a few young lads on show today, who might join this impressive list.

There are also other soccer competitions for all independent boy and girl schools and further information can be found on the ISFA website.  https://www.isfa.org.uk/

Kings School were extremely good hosts!