The Bath Chronicle sponsored Bath
Schools’ Primary representative team made their first
appearance in over 20 years in the national football
festival in Jersey over Easter. The squad of 17 boys,
who were selected from primary schools from all over
Bath and North East Somerset, played a total of 6
matches in 7 days in the glorious sunshine of Jersey.
With numerous scouts attending and with many of the
boys on show already signed on by professional clubs
around England, the standard of football was reported by
the festival organiser Pat Cullinane of Jersey SFA to be
‘of the highest seen in many years.’
District sides attending the festival came from
all over England and included eventual winners and local
league rivals Plymouth.
Jersey 1-0
Hackney 1-2
Chiltern 1-1
Plymouth 0-2
Thurrock 0-1
Coach Tim Kirk, “Although we did not achieve the
results we deserved at times the boys had a fantastic
time. For many of them it was their first time away from
home, a huge learning experience for them. And they were
brilliant. They must be commended for their behaviour
and positive attitudes throughout the seven days, on and
off the pitch. The English Schools FA chairman made a
point of reiterating what a lot of the other officials
had commented about what good ambassadors for Bath the
boys had been. Their schools can feel very proud of them
and I have written to all their headmasters to let them
know how pleased we are with them.”
Despite the intensive fixture schedule, the young
Bath side were still able to make time for various other
activities including beach football competitions,
visiting the water park, going bowling and filling in
diaries! With fixtures still remaining, the Bath team
will be hoping that they can use the Jersey experience
to raise their games to even higher levels.
