Independent Schools Football Association

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Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) oversees football in independent schools in the United Kingdom. The ISFA is affiliated to the Football Association.

Contents

The chairman is current Headmaster of Hampton School Kevin Knibbs.

History

Dick Sale, headmaster of Brentwood School and public school representative on the F.A. Council, formed the Public Schools Football Association and was its first chairman. The name was changed to the Independent Schools FA in 1986 under the chairmanship of Chris Saunders, headmaster of Eastbourne College and later Lancing College. In 2005, the Independent Schools Football Association for Girls division was formed.[ citation needed ] The current chairman is the third person to hold that post.

Boodles ISFA Cup

The association organises the Boodles ISFA Cup, a knockout competition among ISFA member schools. The final usually takes place at a Football League ground, with recent finals taking place at the Stadium MK, home ground of Milton Keynes Dons.

Previous winners are:

YearWinnersRunners-upScore
1992–93 Forest School Charterhouse School 2-2 [aet, pens]
1993–94 The King's School, Chester Ardingly College 3-1
1994–95 St Bede's College, Manchester Ardingly College 3-2 [aet]
1995–96 QEGS Blackburn Bury Grammar School 1-0
1996–97 Lancing College Bolton School 2-1
1997–98 Ardingly College Bolton School 3-1
1998–99 Hampton School Wolverhampton Grammar School 2-1
1999–00 Shrewsbury School Charterhouse School 1-0
2000–01 QEGS Blackburn Brentwood School 2-1
2001–02 Brentwood School St Bede's College, Manchester 1-1 [aet, pens]
2002–03 Bolton School Bradfield College 1-0
2003–04 QEGS Blackburn Millfield 2-2 [aet, pens]
2004–05 Millfield Hampton School 3-1
2005–06 The King's School, Chester Millfield 3-1
2006–07 Hampton School Charterhouse School 1-1 [aet, pens]
2007–08 Charterhouse School Millfield 0-0 [aet, pens]
2008–09 Millfield Hampton School 2-0
2009–10 Shrewsbury School Repton School 3-0
2010–11 Charterhouse School Eton College 2-0
2011–12 Hampton School Millfield 2-1
2012–13 Millfield Alleyn's School 2-0
2013–14 Millfield Bradfield College 6-1
2014–15 Ardingly College Hampton School 4-1
2015–16 Ardingly College Bradfield College 1-0 [aet]
2016–17 Royal Russell School Millfield School 2-1
2017–18 Bradfield College Repton 3-1
2018-19 Royal Russell School Millfield School 2-1
2019-20 Millfield School Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate 5-4 [aet]
2021-22 Bradfield College Rossall School 4-0
2022–23 Royal Russell School Charterhouse School 1-0
2023-24 Bradfield College Cheadle Hulme 3-2
2024-25 Bradfield College Shrewsbury School 2-0

Note that the 2020-21 tournament was not played due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

ISFA U15 Cup

In season 2007–08 two new cup competitions were introduced: the Investec ISFA Under-15 Cup and the Investec ISFA U13 Cup. The finals for both of these competitions have so far taken place at Burton Albion F.C.

Investec ISFA Under-15 Cup Winners:

YearWinnerRunners-up
2007–08 Manchester Grammar School Latymer Upper School
2008–09 Manchester Grammar School Eton College
2009–10 Brentwood School Repton School
2010–11 Whitgift School Bolton School
2011–12 Hampton School Bolton School
2012–13 Whitgift School Brentwood School
2013–14 Ardingly College Manchester Grammar School
2014–15 Hampton School Manchester Grammar School
2015–16 Millfield Brentwood School
2016–17 Whitgift School Forest School
2017–18 Aldenham School Cheadle Hulme School
2018–19 Aldenham School Royal Russell School
2021–22 Cheadle Hulme School Eton College
2022–23 Dulwich College Moorland School

Note that the Final (Royal Russell School vs Whitgift School) of the 2019-20 tournament and the whole of the 2020-21 tournament were not played due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Other Competitions

Investec ISFA Under-13 Cup Winners:

YearWinnerRunners-up
2007–08 Brentwood School King's School, Chester
2008–09 The Grange School Alleyn's School
2009–10 Bolton School Forest School
2010–11 Whitgift School Hampton School
2011–12 Whitgift School Brentwood School
2012–13 Whitgift School Priory
2013–14 Whitgift School Chigwell School
2014–15 Whitgift School City of London School
2015–16 Whitgift School Bury Grammar School
2016–17 Moorland School Whitgift School
2017–18 Whitgift School Lochinver House School
2018–19 Whitgift School Alleyn's School
2021–22 Dulwich College Manchester Grammar School
2022–23 Aldenham School Dulwich College

Note that the Final (Aldenham School vs Manchester Grammar School) of the 2019-20 tournament and the whole of the 2020-21 tournament were not played due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.


The organisation also organises football in Independent Schools for Girls, and runs an Under 18 Cup competition for girls.

ISFA Under-18 Girls Cup winners:

YearWinnerRunners-up
2007–08 ACS Cobham Wellingborough School
2008–09 Repton School ACS Cobham
2009–10 St. Bede's School Stamford High School
2010–11 ACS Cobham Stamford High School
2011–12 Stamford High School ACS Cobham
2012–13 ACS Cobham Stamford High School
2013–14 King's College, Taunton Sevenoaks
2014–15 Oakham School ACS Cobham

ISFA Accredited Competitions

ISFA is accredited with these competitions:

The HUDL Independent Schools League is a league consisting of the following schools: Ardingly College, Bede's School, Bradfield College, Hampton School, Millfield School, Repton School, Royal Russel School, Shrewsbury School.

The Southern Independent Schools Lent Term League is a league run in the Lent Term consisting of the following schools: Berkhamsted School, Epsom College, Haileybury School, Harrow School, Radley College, St John's, Leatherhead, St Paul's School, Tonbridge School.

The London Independent Schools Cup is a knockout competition between 1st and 2nd XI sides from select independent schools based in London; the final 32 is the first round of the cup.

Other competitions include: Birkdale U13 North-East Tournament, Mercian Independent Schools League, South-East Girls U15 Tournament, Thames Valley League, Barry Burns Northern Eights, Thomas' Five-A-Side Football Tournaments, etc.

Representative teams

ISFA also organises teams to represent Independent Schools in England at Under-14, Under-15, Under-16 and Under-18 levels. The Under-18 and Under-16 sides undertake an annual overseas tour, as well as numerous fixtures, including an annual Under-18 fixture against Scotland Independent Schools. The Under-14 and Under-15 sides play matches mainly against academy teams from various English professional clubs.

Notable former players

[1]

References