On the 8^th March, the King Edward Aston Partnership hosted The Biggest Ever Football Session for primary and secondary girls across the partnership. This is a national programme run by the Football Association and the Youth Sport Trust to lobby for equal access to football for girls during curriculum and extra-curricular time. 24 primary teams and 20 secondary team took part in the festival, with 506 girls participating in our tournament. We were lucky enough to be joined by representatives from the Football association and ex England Lionesses, Faye White and Laura Bassett. 

 

Despite snow all day, all the games were played in a great spirit, with schools representing a country playing in this years' women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. After a very close first round stage, the four teams who won their groups progressed to the semi-finals. In the primary event, the bronze medals were shared between King Solomon International Business school and Mansfield Green Primary. In the gold medal match, Paget Primary overcame Conway Primary to win the title of the Biggest Ever Primary Football Session Champions 2023.

 

As the snow continued to fall, 20 secondary schools competed in 4 different pools. George Dixon Academy, King Edward Handsworth Girls, Holy Trinity and Washwood Heath all won their groups and headed into the semi-finals. In the bronze medal match, King Edward Handsworth Girls and Washwood Heath shared the bronze medals, with George Dixon Academy pipping Holy Trinity to the gold medals.

 

All the matches across the day were played in a great spirit, with some exciting talent on the pitch. Well done to all the girls who took part and a big thanks to the FA, Sport Birmingham, our referees, Aston Villa FC, young leaders from Hall Green School and to all the staff who supported the event. Highlights were shown on ITV Central news as well as live radio interviews with some of the staff and girls at the event. A future case study will be produced by the FA and Youth Sport Trust in due course. Across the country, 285,000 girls took part in the Biggest Ever Football Session - enough to fill Wembley Stadium three times over!

Primary results

 

Group 1

1^st Mansfield Green

2^nd The Oval

3^rd Greet 

4^th Starbank

5^th Cromwell

6^th Bordesley Village

 

Group 2

1^st Paget (by coin toss)

2^nd Adderley 

3^rd Audley

4^th Washwood Heath

5^th Leigh Trust

6^th Lozells- did not attend

 

Group 3

1^st Conway

2^nd Oasis Blakenhale

3^rd Westminster

4^th Benson

5^th English Martyrs'

6^th St Chad's

 

Group 4

1^st King Soloman

2^nd Chilwell Croft 

3^rd Olive School, Birmingham

4^th Montgomery 

4^th Prince Albert

6^th Blakesley Hall

 

Final 1-4 placing after finals

1^st Paget

2^nd Conway

3^rd Mansfield Green

4^th King Soloman

 

Congratulations to Conway from the Central Area in placing 2nd.

 

Secondary results

 

Pool 1

1^st Holy Trinity

2^nd Starbank 1

3^rd Yardley's 1

4^th  Prince Albert

 

Pool 2

1^st Ark Victoria 1

2^nd Yardley's 2

3^rd Broadway 

3^rd Holyhead 2

5^th St John Wall

 

Pool 3

1^st King Edwards Handsworth 1

2^nd George Dixon 2

3^rd Starbank 2

4^th Holyhead 1

5^th Waverley 2

 

Pool 4

1^st George Dixon 1

2^nd King Edwards Handsworth 2

3^rd Hall Green

4^th Ark Victoria 2

5^th Waverley 1

 

Final 1-4 placing after finals

1^st George Dixon 1

2^nd Holy Trinity

3^rd Ark Victoria 1

3^rd  King Edward Handsworth 1