Birmingham Primary SchoolsFA Aston - East Birmingham - Erdington and Saltley - Harborne - Kings Norton - South Birmingham - Sutton Coldfield Bernard Day Memorial Trophy Saturday 31st October 2015 Birmingham PSFA vs. Leeds PSFA You’ll Never Bernard Walk Legend Day! Alone BERNARD DAY - A much loved sports coach who taught hundreds of school children and worked with some of the top Premier League football teams, Bernard passed away just over one year ago. Bernard Day, who re-launched the Sutton Coldfield Primary Schools District Team back in 1996, died on October 4th 2014 following a short illness. The well-known figure was a committee member of the Birmingham Primary Schools Football Asso- ciation and was a sports coach at Highclare School. He also ran his own goalkeeping school. Having played football professionally, Bernard went on to work with the goalkeeping acad- emies at West Bromwich Albion and Walsall as well as working with Aston Villa and Man- chester City. He was also the goalkeeping coach at Hereford United when they won the Nationwide Conference in 2006. Bernard's partner, Jane Willis, said: "He was well-known by all of the local clubs. "He was very much involved with all sorts of teams and thoroughly enjoyed helping boys and girls to reach their full potential. "He had an affinity with the kids and knew how to coach them at their level in a way they would understand. He didn't see a boy or a girl – to him, a keeper was a keeper. "Just by looking at a goalkeeper's stance he could see what needed changing and knew how to get them to change it. "He loved working with the youngsters and they enjoyed working with him. He had a spe- cial way with them and they appreciated what he did for them." Bernard, originally from Liverpool, had lived in Sutton for over 25 years. He set up the Sutton Coldfield Primary Schools District Team around 18 years ago after a 20-year absence. "A lot of hard work went into it and it was all voluntary," Jane said. Bernard's pas- sion for football passed on to Jane, whom he met 14 years ago while coaching her son. "Every year we used to take the Sutton district team to the Jersey Festival of Foot- ball," Jane explained. "There will be many a boy in Sutton who remembers their trip to Jersey! "He also worked with young coaches," she added. "He took them under his wing and helped them." But while he gave them top tips on the field, off the field he never revealed his true age. "When it came to coaching the children, he only admitted to being 15," Jane said. "He never wanted them to know his real age. "He was quite a character and will be very sorely missed." Dr Richard Luker, headteacher at Highclare School – who Bernard had worked with since 1998 – said: "Mr Day worked with Highclare School for many years as a foot- ball coach and a member of our junior and senior sports teaching team. "I would like to express my gratitude for the contribution Mr Day made to Highclare School. He will be sadly missed. "Our condolences go to Mr Day's family at this difficult time." Bernard leaves behind Jane, his three children – Gemma, William and George – and stepson Jordan. The above article was adapted from that which was published in the Sutton Coldfield Observer in October 2014 The Sutton Coldfield Primary Schools’ FA district team badge now proudly displays the name of the big man himself. You’ll Never Walk Alone Bernard Birmingham Primary Schools! Seven Districts - One City - One Team - One Match Birmingham Local Education Authority is the largest of its kind in England. As such district football in Birmingham is done slightly differently to many other cities, in that it is split into smaller districts. These districts total seven and consist of Aston, East Birmingham, Erding- ton and Saltley, Harborne, Kings Norton, South Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield. The 2015/16 season marks an exciting new dawn for primary school district football in the second city, with the creation of a number of new competitions. This side of Christmas the districts will compete for the Autumn 9-a-side league, the Birmingham Autumn Cup, the Birmingham Futsal Championship, the West Midlands Schools’ FA 7-a-side, as well as the Birmingham 6-a-side Championship which has already concluding, having been won by Erdington and Saltley in September. After Christmas the districts will lock horns for the Bir- mingham 5-a-side Championship, the Birmingham Summer Cup, the West Midlands 9-a- side league and the Daniel Sturridge 7-a-side Cup. Due to the nature of Birmingham district football, the Birmingham Primary Schools team only play one game each season. Over recent years this prestigious match has been against the talented footballers of Leeds, with both teams providing an A and a B team for the oc- casion. Each of the seven Birmingham districts nominates those players who they believe have made the best start to the season. The criteria for this goes beyond footballing ability and is more about attitude and application. Any player picked to represent the second city must show resilience, integrity and fine manners, as well as undoubted footballing ability. Such is the standard of young men that play district football that all districts could have picked far more players than the permitted number. This is a great compliment to the boys that have been picked to represent their respective district in 2015/16. Great kids, for a great city! BPSFA would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Birmingham City FC for their continued support of primary schools football. Over the past few years the club has been a great advocate of both girls and boys football and an brilliant example of how professional clubs can work hand in hand with schools organisations. A special thank you is reserved for Bob Brown who initially spearheaded this support a few years back, and now Simon Jones who has been a wonderful help since taking over from Bob. Thank you guys and thank you Blues! Birmingham Primary SchoolsFA Honours List Birmingham District League Winners: South Birmingham - 2005/6; 2008/9; 2009/10; 2012/13; 2013/14 Aston - 2006/7 Sutton Coldfield - 2007/8 Harbourne - 2010/11 Kings Norton - 2012/13; 2014/15; Runners-up: Sutton Coldfield - 2005/6; 2009/10; South Birmingham - 2006/7; 2007/8; 2010/11; 2011/12; Aston - 2008/9 Kings Norton - 2012/13 Erdington and Saltley - 2013/14; 2014/15 Birmingham District League Cup Winners: South Birmingham - 2008/9; 2009/10; 2010/11 (joint); 2013/14 Aston - 2010/11 (joint) Kings Norton - 2011/12; 2014/15 Sutton Coldfield - 2012/13 Runners-up: Kings Norton - 2008/9; 2012/13 Sutton Coldfield - 2009/10 South Birmingham - 2011/12 Erdington and Saltley - 2013/14; 2014/15 West Midlands Schools FA Cup (Burton Shield): Winners: Erdington and Saltley: 2014/15 Runners-up: Erdington and Saltley: 2013/14 Birmingham Primary SchoolsFA Honours List Birmingham 6-a-side (formally 8-a-side) Winners: Aston - 2005/6; 2011/12; 2014/15 South Birmingham - 2006/7; 2008/9; 2009/10; 2010/11; 2011/12; Sutton Coldfield - 2007/8; 2012/13 Erdington and Saltley - 2013/14; 2015/16 Harbourne - 2014/15 Runners-up: South Birmingham - 2005/6; 2013/14 Sutton Coldfield - 2006/7; 2007/8; 2009/10; 2015/16 Kings Norton - 2008/9; Aston - 2010/11; Erdington and Saltley - 2012/13 Birmingham Districts' 5-a-side Winners: South Birmingham - 2005/6; 2006/7; 2009/10; 2011/12; 2012/13 Aston - 2007/8; Kings Norton - 2008/9; Harbourne - 2010/11; Erdington and Saltley - 2013/14; Runners-up: South - 2005/6; 2007/8; 2013/14 Aston - 2011/12; Kings Norton - 2012/13 Erdington and Saltley: 2013/14 Daniel Sturridge Cup Winners: Erdington and Saltley - 2014/15 Runners-up: Aston - 2014/15 LEEDS Primary SchoolsFA Since we last met... During the 2014/15 season, Leeds under 11s won their regional 7-a-side tournament before qualifying for the national finals. The class of 2014/15 then went one step fur- ther by winning the national round of prestigious competition, which meant they qualified to represent England at the Danone Nations Cup which took place in Mo- rocco last week. After arriving in Marrakech on Wednesday 21st October, the boys from Leeds settled in to their new surroundings before beating China 1-0 in a friendly match. Next up it was Mexico, who triumphed 1-0 over the Eng- lish boys, but they then bounced back with a fine 2-2 draw against Egypt. Their final group game was Portu- gal, with their southern European rivals winning a close encounter 2-0. Day two saw the Leeds boys beat the UAE 1-0, before losing another close affair, this time –2 0 to Tunisia. However the boys ended their once in a lifetime trip on a high, beating China once again, this time 2-0 in a competitive affair. Everyone from Birmingham would like to extend a huge congratulations to Leeds for their fantastic achievement. Well done lads! You did England proud! SQUAD Teams Lists! Birmingham Leeds Gabriel Newy Harvey Coleman Joseph Dennis Alexander Fraser Koby Brooks Kron Abdiu Josh Franks Jack Ainley Matt Richards Sam Appleyard Sam Bakewell Charlie Ball Zubair Mahmood Oliver Baugh Jake Welldon Jack Clarke Ellis Lloyd George Courtney Christopher Walker-Twigg Leo Diffey Kye Billingham-Belle Tom Douglas Lewis Alison Elliott Farrell Kane Taylor Luca Fella Rio Grant Owen Keeney Paul Samuels Ewan Kelleher Renayo Tweede Alasdair Kerr Laurence Ben Littlewood Evan Simmons Ben Moss Jahdell Hamilton Max Pearson Adam Lamin Bradley Pride Kyreece Gordan Oliver Pryszczyk Kieran Nicholls Ben Redshaw Troy Smikle-James Cameron Thorpe Dquan Dawkins Charlie Tokarski Beiago Bolton Bradley Wood Cameron Penlington Alfie Write Birmingham Primary SchoolsFA Aston - East Birmingham - Erdington and Saltley - Harborne - Kings Norton - South Birmingham - Sutton Cold- Match Day Arrangements Saturday 21st October 2015 BCFC Training Ground Wast Hills, Redhill Rd, Birmingham, B38 9EL Arrive - 2:00pm Kick off - 2:45pm Team Photo to be taken at 2:05pm All players must arrive in their full school uniform The match will be played on a 3G pitch, therefore no metal studs can be worn.