Our school is synonymous for its successful football teams with many years of success. Between September 2015-November 2019, our teams have won a staggering fifty-two trophies. Every year, we enter a range of competitions offered through the Easington School Sport Partnership (ESSP), Sunderland AFC’s official charity (Foundation of Light), EFL (English Football League), Peterlee District Schools Football Association and Durham County Football Association.
In 2016, we were the first school in the history of the competition to qualify for the National Finals of the Danone Nations Cup with both teams – boys and girls. In 2019, Easington Colliery became the first girls’ school football team from County Durham to go on and win the Danone Nations Cup as Easington became National champions. As a result, Easington represented England in the Danone World Final held at RCDE Stadium (home ground of Spanish side RCD Espanyol) in October 2019.
Having won league, cup, county and regional rounds, our children involved in the school football teams have enjoyed playing at the home grounds of Chelsea FC, Leicester City FC and Birmingham City FC. We’ve toured Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium and met first team players of Sunderland AFC at their Academy of Light training ground. We have also played in competitive competitions in Leeds, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
Due to high demand for places in our team, Easington Colliery received approval to field two Year 5/6 boys’ football teams in the PDPSFA League from September 2018. We are the first school to be represented by two teams in our local competition. Throughout 2018-2019, eleven football teams were created which included our first ever Year 3 girls’ team. For the 2019-2020 football season, Easington Colliery will be represented by a minimum of fourteen teams.
Children selected for one of our many competitive teams will participate in strategic training sessions before taking part in tournaments with their performance analysed to improve key areas of their individual game. Our squads will play with a positive spirit, freedom and confidence. Winning is always the aim but a high work-ethic and never-give-up attitude will be the key ingredients to any success.
From September 2019, a whole school football programme has been implemented. Children who do not receive a place on one of our teams will still be encouraged to participate in one of our many after-school football clubs. Children interested in taking part will develop fundamental ball skills, teamwork and communication. Every Monday, the Foundation of Light offer a one-hour course to all children in Reception during their weekly PE lesson. Easington Colliery host girls only football training sessions on a Tuesday (3:30pm-4:30pm) on our school field. Girls in Years 1-6 are invited to attend with children from other schools also welcome.
In April 2020, we will be hosting a ‘Dads and Daughters’ programme. Male role models will enjoy basic skills with their child during sessions led by staff from the Foundation of Light. Girls in Years 1-3 will be invited to attend.
