Around 70 boys attended various ISFA U14 events during the Summer Holidays.  The main ISFA Squad attended the August Festival at Repton where they took on the academies and centres of excellence of a number of professional clubs.  In addition 50 boys, who came close to selection for the main ISFA A Squad, attended two Development Camps where they were able to play matches and stake a claim for the A Squad later in the season.

AUGUST DEVELOPMENT CAMP AT BRADFIELD

A Development Camp took place at Bradfield College for U14 players who last Easter narrowly missed out on selection for the main ISFA U14 Squad which attended the August Repton Festival.

On Day One, two ISFA teams were selected to play matches against Wycombe Wanderers and Chinnor FC.

ISFA BLUE 1 CHINNOR 0
Oliver Potts crossed for Bonar Maguire to score the crucial winning goal.

ISFA WHITE 0 WYCOMBE WANDERERS 3
A respectable performance by an ISFA side which met up only hours earlier and which had never played together before, against a Wycombe side which had been very successful at U13 level last season.

ISFA BLUE 1 WYCOMBE WANDERERS 1
Alex Loucaides's wonderful volley looked as though it might give ISFA a superb victory but Wycombe scored a deserved equaliser. An excellent performance by ISFA.

ISFA WHITE 1 CHINNOR 2
Jack Powell scored for ISFA with a 30 yard screamer!

Two further matches were played on Day Two:

ISFA 4 ALDERSHOT TOWN 2

ISFA went 2-0 up early in the game with goals from Joe Williamson and Callum Maltese but Aldershot hit back in the middle period of the game to equalise at 2-2.  However, ISFA finished strongly and, in a very pleasing performance, two further goals from Callum Scutt and Alex Loucaides (pen) gave ISFA  a well deserved victory.

ISFA 4 PLAYMAKER FC 4

In a good and exciting game, Jack Powell opened the scoring for ISFA from outside the area and Domnic Chentrens turned in a cross to make it 2-0.  Playmaker hit back to equalise at 2-2, Jack Powell's left footed strike restored ISFA's lead, once again Playmaker equalised and then, with 3 minutes, left it looked as the game would be lost as Playmaker went ahead 4-3.  However, ISFA pressed forward and a fine cross was turned into his own net by an opposition defender to tie the game up at 4-4.

ISFA SQUAD
The following players attended the Bradfield Camp: Harry Anstock, Joel Atkin, Nick Bell, Fred Bloem, Joffe Bradley, Ben Burgess, Jack Calvin, Finn Campbell, Dominic Chentrens, Sam Dyvenor, Charlie Gilhooley, Edward Jabbari, Sam Jones, Sam Kebbell, Conrad Lewis, Alex Loucaides, Tim Lovett, Cory Mears, Bonar Maguire, Callum Maltese, Rory Mathers, Oliver Potts, Jack Powell, Matthew Price, Kieran Robinson, Nick Rosenhagen-Christenson, Marcus Schneck, Callum Scutt, Bradley Smith, Roshan Sooriah, Mason Tonks, George Thomas, Joe Williamson, Matthew Wisdom,

AUGUST FESTIVAL AT REPTON  

The ISFA U14 A Squad completed a successful Festival at Repton between 9th-12th August 2010 and
acquitted themselves well against high profile opposition.



ISFA 4 BURTON ALBION U15 4

ISFA opened the Repton August Festival with an exciting ding-dong encounter with an older Burton Albion side. Lewis Cumpsty opened the scoring with a cross-shot which sailed over the goalkeeper and went in at the far post. Burton equalised but, amazingly, Cumpsty then repeated the trick with a replica goal to put ISFA 2-1 up. Burton equalised again to make it 2-2 at half-time and they then went ahead early in the second half. Alex Kelly pulled ISFA level with a fine finish from outside the penalty area but, with 4 minutes remaining, a fourth Burton goal appeared to have won the match. However, with 2 minutes left, Christian Scales crossed for Casey O’Gorman to burst into the six yard bos and tap the ball home to secure a 4-4 draw.

ISFA 2 LEICESTER CITY 2

Playing with the wind, ISFA started the match encouragingly and took the lead when fine play down the left by Christian Scales and an early through ball put in Alex Kelly to finish. Then a free-kick on the left was headed home by Casey O’Gorman to give ISFA a two goal lead. However, in the second half, Leicester pulled a goal back and, now playing into the wind, ISFA began to tire. When Leicester scored an equaliser, ISFA’s prospects momentarily seemed ominous but the team battled on bravely to secure a deserved draw.

ISFA 0 CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1

After a bright start, ISFA conceded a sloppy goal after 8 minutes as a result of an underhit backpass. Sadly this proved to be decisive. Lewis Cumpsty did hit the bar in the first minute of thesecond half but, this moment apart, neither side looked likely to score.

ISFA 1 ABERDEEN (Scotland) 0

Irrespective of the result, this was ISFA’s best performance so far. James Quigley hit the bar in the first half but a goalless draw looked the likely result until 7 minutes from time when Christian Scales produced another of his surges down the left and crossed for Lewis Cumpsty to tap in and secure a morale boosting victory.

ISFA 2 MAYO (Ireland) 1

A poor start and a sloppy goal conceded, from an unnecessary corner which was not properly cleared, was a setback. However, ISFA gradually fought their way back into the game and Casey O’Gorman equalised from the penalty spot after Christian Scales had been brought down. Legs tired in the second half but Kieran Beardmore kept the side going with his composed passing in midfield and, five minutes from time, Alex Kelly was brought down to earn another penalty and once again O’Gorman stroked the spot kick home with aplomb.


ISFA (navy/red) take on Mayo

ISFA 0 RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 1

Once again the first game of the day proved a tough one for ISFA and a somewhat lethargic start resulted in Rushden taking a deserved lead on 6 minutes. ISFA gradually played their way back into the game and Alex Kozak hit the crossbar in the first minute of the second half, Alex Kelly forcing the goalkeeper to a good save from the rebound, but that early goal was to prove decisive.

ISFA 1 MILTON KEYNES DONS 1

This was a good footballing game with plenty of fine passing from both sides. ISFA improved as the game progressed and looked marginally the better side until, with 10 minutes remaining, MK Dons opened the scoring. However, five minutes later, Christian Scales burst down the left and cut in to score a deserved equaliser.

ISFA 1 IPSWICH TOWN 2

This was a disappointing defeat as it was completely undeserved. Ipswich took an early lead but ISFA gradually forced their way back into the match and began to gain the upper hand. The equaliser came when Christian Scales played a one-two with Oliver Grayson and finished confidently and, but for some missed chances, ISFA would have been ahead. Then, right on half-time, Ipswich scored in unfortunate circumstances to regain the lead. ISFA tried everything to level the score in the second half though, in fairness, there were chances at both ends and George Roberts made one outstanding save. In the last minute ISFA had a shot brilliantly cleared off the line but Ipswich held on to win.

ISFA 0 CREWE ALEXANDRA 4

The ISFA boys were not at their best in the mornings at this Festival and this was another sluggish start by a squad who were admittedly now fatigued and injury hit and facing a giant sized centre forward who was a constant threat. Two goals in each half completed a comfortable win for Crewe

ISFA 0 WATFORD 3

The Festival was now becoming something of a struggle for the ISFA side and, although this was an improved performance from the Crewe match, Watford were full value for a 2-0 half-time lead and added a third in the second half.

ISFA 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 1

ISFA showed considerable character in the final match of the Festival. The sight of the famous red, white and black kit seemed to galvanise the squad which found new energy and passed the ball a great deal better than in recent games. United took the lead after 14 minutes from a move down the right but ISFA stuck to the task and played superbly in the second half. Both Marcus Schneck and Christian Scales had opportunities to equalise when they were through with the keeper to beat, the United keeper making one excellent save. Meanwhile Cameron Barr also made a fine save to keep ISFA in the game. United ran out 1-0 winners but this was an excellent performance, a wonderful experience to play against one of the most famous clubs in the world and a euphoric end to the Festival.


A happy ISFA Squad at Repton following the match with Manchester United

ISFA SQUAD - REPTON 2010

George Roberts (Hampton), Cameron Barr (Berkhamsted), Adam Anson (Liverpool College), Alex Voice-Joice (St. Bede’s), James Quigley (QEGS Blackburn), Aaron Nutman (Highgate), George Hankins (Millfield), Christian Scales (Haileybury), Brady O’Farrell (Stockport Grammar School), Kieran Beardmore (Chilton Cantelo), Lewis Cumpsty (QEGS Blackburn), Alex Kozak (Manchester Grammar School), Frank Charnock (Alleyn’s), Casey O’Gorman (Berkhamsted), Alex Needham (Foremarke Hall/Repton), Oliver Grayson (Holmwood House/Felsted), Alex Kelly (Dulwich College), Will Abbotts (Manchester Grammar School), George Silk (Bishops Stortford/Stowe), Marcus Schneck (Foremarke Hall/Repton)

JULY DEVELOPMENT CAMP AT REPTON 

The ISFA Under-14 Season got underway with a Development Camp for those hoping to break into the 'A' Squad at Repton School between 14th-16th July. One match was played during the camp:

ISFA U14B 3 DERBY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT SQUAD 6

This was a brave display by the ISFA team against a team of giants from Derby County, including some Under-15 players. Throughout the match ISFA played some fine passing football but struggled to match the superior physique of their opponents. Sam Poulter and Kieran Beardmore (2) scored for ISFA, Beardmore's second goal coming after an excellent move, involving a large number of passes before he crashed the ball past the Derby goalkeeper.



The following players attended the July camp:

Kieran Beardmore (Chilton Cantelo), Theo Brierley (The Ryleys), Bolton), Liam Brown (Langley), Jack Bywater (Prestfelde), Rory Dawson (Newcastle School for Boys), Sam Hirons (King's, Ely), Jamie Humes (Packwood Haugh), Josh Johnson (Bedford Modern), Oscar Jones (RGS Newcastle), George Law (Bolton), Matthew Lawson (RGS Newcastle), Daniel Murphy (Langley), Alex O'Donoghue (Bolton), Sam Poulter (Chigwell), Matthew Price (St. Andrew's), Camilo Rey (Millfield), Will Semple (The Grange), Kieran Sivewright (Cheadle Hulme), James Wright (Kimbolton).

A further Development Camp for those on the fringes of selection for the A Squad will take place between 21st-23rd Aug at Bradfield College (for directions, click here).

NOMINATION PROCESS

A full programme of ISFA U14 fixtures, at both A and B levels, will take place during the 2010-11 Season. Any school wishing to nominate genuinely outstanding players, who the PE staff believe will be amongst the best players in independent schools football in the country, may do so by e-mailing Tom Statham.