Teddies Select XI played Chelsea FC Soccer Schools in a landmark football match, part of a long-term initiative at the Oxfordshire school
A team of talented young footballers from across the Oxford community – the Teddies Select XI – took on Chelsea FC Soccer Schools players at the Premier League club’s Surrey training ground in early summer. The landmark fixture was the first community match in the partnership between St Edward’s School, Oxford and Chelsea FC.
St Edward’s School announced its collaboration with Chelsea FC at the beginning of this year. It is designed to bring world-class sporting expertise into the daily experience of pupils and extend training and play opportunities across the wider Oxfordshire community.
The school has significantly expanded boys’ and girls’ football programmes recently, reflecting increased interest in the game. At the heart of the partnership is a shared commitment to community-wide engagement. Teddies Select XI brings together keen 11- and 12-year-old players from state and independent schools and clubs in the local area.
There are three teams in this Teddies Select cohort – U11 Boys, U11 Girls and U12 Boys. The selected teams have already played practice matches at St Edward’s and at Chelsea FC’s Cobham training ground, where they received coaching from Chelsea FC and St Edward’s coaches.
The fixture was an exciting opportunity to play a competitive match on professional-grade pitches against a strong side from the Soccer Schools department’s Player Development Programme. It is hoped this will be the first of many, establishing a regular fixture that connects young players in Oxfordshire with the Premiership club.
“We are very excited about this first match between the Teddies Select XI and Chelsea FC Soccer Schools players,” says Chelsea FC Football Projects Manager at Chelsea FC Steve Shipp. “Who knows, maybe in a couple of years, the Teddies Select XI will be playing Soccer Schools Performance Centre players from the local Oxfordshire community.”
“We’ve seen the popularity of football at Teddies increase at pace in recent years, to become a core sport available to girls and boys across all year groups,” says St Edward’s School Director of Sport Jen Law. “With Chelsea coaches working alongside our own Football Professional, pupils gain access to professional coaching of the highest standard, tailored programmes designed to improve skill development, and pathways that build resilience, leadership and teamwork on and off the field.”
St Edward’s Oxford stedwardsoxford.org
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