Sport Education Act
that they will never be good enough to become professional, they still want to develop their potential as much as they can. Mark Dickson, the chief executive of the
when they won promotion from the old Fourth Division in 1976-77 season while he was a student at St. Luke’s College. He recalls: “I was not aware of any other former independent schoolboys playing, when I was. I think the increase is partly because there is a celebrity culture about football and more boys are attracted to it. But I also think the coaching in independent schools is much better than it used to be. Rather than getting, say, the history master, who just loved the game to oversee the top teams, there are properly qualifi ed coaches.” Some current coaches are former players such as Colin Pates and Steve Kember at Whitgift and John Humphrey at Highgate. With many Premiership players earning salaries of at least £1 million a year and even League Two players averaging £60,000 a year, the money is enticing. However, while many quickly recognise
www.fi rstelevenmagazine.co.uk
Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA), says: “Football is expanding in the independent sector as never before. Many schools, which once banned football completely, are now fi nding that pupil and parents demand that they provide the sport at a good level. T e “snobbery factor” carries less weight, particularly now that many other sports are also professional at the top level. In addition, in contrast to the professional game, behaviour in school football matches is excellent, with little dissent.” At St Paul’s, which was a founder member of the Rugby Football Union, there was no formal football 50 years ago, so a group of boys simply founded their own club, Real Sao Paulo. T ings have changed. During the recent Spring Term, six St Paul’s teams for boys over 16 were fi elded against Tonbridge. At Eton, Andy Jennings, the master-in- charge, says that there can be 23 diff erent teams across all age groups from the College, which has 1,300 pupils. T e 25 boarding houses also participate in a knock- out cup. T ere is an annual two-week tour before the start of the autumn term, which combines matches, training and cultural and educational opportunities. Jennings
partly explains the interest in the game by saying that the appointment of Dickson as the ISFA chief executive was a “catalyst” for competitions for other age groups, the spread of girls’ football, and a national independent schools’ team (including a fi xture against Scotland).
Jennings says: ”Since the 1980s, football has become an increasingly middle-class sport, with boys and girls supporting clubs. It is a big part of the youth culture.” Charterhouse has built up a reputation
for excellence in football and this attracts boys to the school. Malcolm Bailey, who has been master-in-charge since 1980 says: “We have super coaches right down the school. We even fi eld six teams at Under 14 year-olds. T e current Under 18 team had great organisation and will-to-win. And I do think that being a boarding school helps.” T e popularity of football and also the
desire to improve standards has fi ltered down to prep schools. Hornsby House in Balham has a special link with Crystal Palace. T e Football League club already had an arrangement with Whitgift at over 13 year- old level and wanted a similar arrangement at a younger age, so that talented youngsters could have an all-round education but also be able to attend training at the Crystal Palace Academy. T e club will be providing the school with an ambassador to encourage football in the school and the fi rst six-year- old boy has already started at Hornsby House. Jon Gray, the headmaster says: “Matches at the Academy have a very high standard of behaviour, both on and off the pitch. We totally approve of that. In return we are aiming to provide a rounded education for children with a bright future.”
Winner of the 2001 Sports Writer of the Year Award, John Goodbody covers T e Olympics for T e Sunday Times.
Summer 2011 FirstEleven 43
Main Harry Lineker scores the fi rst goal in the Boodles Cup, played in March Left Sherborne boys Below a young Frank Lampard at Brentwood School Bottom Boys at Stowe
✎
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84