Worcestershire FA run Under 18 and Under 16 Representative Youth Teams
A recent reorganisation of the Standing Committees of the Association changed the powers and duties of the prior Youth committee to cover representative matches only and so is designated the Representative Matches committee. The current Chairman of this committee is Colin Waldron who is supported by Vice Chairman Ron Wright and the remainder of the committee all of whom give active support to the activities.
The Association has two teams, one at Under 18 level and one at Under 16 level. The Under 18s play in The FA County Youth Challenge Cup Competition and the Midland Counties Youth Football Championship (MCYFC). The FA competition is an annual knockout whilst the MCYFC is played in 2 year cycles split into two pools. The Under 16s play friendly fixtures in order to gain experience and to give some continuity for later Under 18 games.
The Under 18s team management of Ivor Chambers supported by Jamie Thombs, Paul Hutchins and Eric Birch (Physio) draw players from every corner of Worcestershire. Importance is placed in taking care of the players and parents have to sign a form allowing their son to play and this form also gives medical details should they be needed at a game. For the Under 16sTony Clarke supported by Pete Sollis and Eric Birch (Physio) also draw players from all over the county and similar player records are maintained.
Should a player be unfortunate enough to get injured whilst playing for the WFA then he is treated on the day by the qualified physio. Details of the injury and treatment given together with any follow up advice are recorded and forwarded to the players Club immediately after the game.
For Under 18 Representative Matches players receive a County tie on making their debut with a WFA polo shirt after 5 appearances and a WFA County Cap being awarded for 10 appearances. (The next cap that a player can receive is a cap at International Level!)
Players who have played in the representative teams have progressed to play in League football for nationally known teams at the highest level. We look forward to the current players challenging for places in the Senior sides within the County and higher still if possible.
The following matches have taken place so far in 2008/09:
UNDER 18 YOUTH
The FA County Youth Challenge Cup Competition
The FA County Youth Cup Competition used to be regionalised up to the latter rounds due to travel difficulties but is now a fully national competition from Round 1. One piece of history that belongs to the WFA is that it was the first County to win a tie under the extra-time and penalties rules when we defeated Hampshire by 5 penalties to 4 after drawing 1 – 1 after extra time in 2003/2004.
We have reached the semi-final stage of the competition on 3 occasions but have yet to reach the final.
2008-09
Rd 1 Hertfordshire Away
Won 3-2
Rd 2 Cornwall Away
Won 5-4
Rd 3 Suffolk Home
Lost 0-1
Midland Counties Youth Football Championship
The Association was quite successful in a pre-season one-day tournament organised by the Midland Counties Competition winning the competition 4 times in 1978, 1980, 1983, and 1998. Due to the timing of the competition the Association no longer participates in this competition.
Before the amalgamation of the Midland Counties Competitions our annual fixtures were limited to playing 5 other Counties, viz. Birmingham, Herefordshire, Northamptonshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire.
Sunday 2nd November 2008
Nottinghamshire Away @ Calverton Miners Welfare Sports Ground
Won 2-1
Sunday 8th March 2009
Herefordshire Away @ Bromyard Town FC
Drew 1-1
Sunday 15th March 2009
Derbyshire Home @ Pershore Town FC '88
Won 3-0
Sunday 5th April 2009
Lincolnshire Away @ Deeping Rangers FC
Won 2-1
Sunday 19th April 2009
Leicestershire & Rutland Home @ Pershore Town FC ‘88
Lost 2-1
UNDER 16 YOUTH
Saturday 23rd August 2008
v Bristol Rovers FC Home @ Littleton FC
Lost 0-5
Saturday 9th August 2008
v Cheltenham Town FC Away @ Cheltenham Town Complex
Lost 6-3
Wednesday 10th December 2008
v Walsall FC Away @ Bescot Stadium Astro Turf
Lost 6-1
Wednesday 8th April 2009
v Bristol Rovers FC Away @ S Bristol Sports Centre
Lost 5-1
Whilst winning is always nice the experience gained together with the chance to test their skills when playing against these well organised League sides is the over-riding factor.