Schools and children within the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire region, will have the opportunity to represent Port Vale and potentially play on the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium thanks to the Utilita Kids and Girls Cup.
The Utilita Kids and Girls Cup – delivered by the EFL partners, Utilita Energy, the EFL and its 72 Club Community Organisations (CCOs) – are two of the country’s biggest national football competitions for schools and children.
Thanks to Port Vale Foundation since 2015, hundreds of schools and children have participated in competitive football. Last year Port Vale Kids Cup Team from St Giles’ & St George’s CofE Academy made it all the way to Wembley and this year we are hoping a girls team representing us can do the same!
At Port Vale, we are proud of our girls pathway and the commitment and dedication we have to ensuring all girls get the opportunity to play regular football. In addition, the support we give to schools over the year and the connection this builds from our community to the club is so important to us.
In 2024/25, the annual football competition will see more than 20,000 boys and girls from across 2,500 local schools take to the pitch to represent the 72 EFL Clubs across England and Wales, bolstering the existing ties between Clubs and their local communities.
Each school aims to progress through Area and Regional phases of the competition to earn the right to represent EFL Clubs regionally and play in their official colours. Respective winners will then proceed to national finals played before the Bristol Street Motors Trophy Final, Championship, League One and League Two Play-Off Finals at Wembley.
The competitions have been the birthplace of some of the biggest names in football including Germany and Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, England and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, and Barcelona and Lionesses goalkeeper, Ellie Roebuck.
Trevor Birch, Chief Executive Officer at the EFL, said: “The Utilita Kids and Girls Cup continues to develop key partnerships and productive relationships between Clubs, CCOs EFL in the Community and their local schools.
The commitment from Clubs in helping to inspire young people to live healthy and active lives, firmly demonstrates the important role that football plays in our communities throughout England and Wales. I wish all participants the very best for this season.”
Alongside the Kids and Girls Cups, Utilita’s Football Rebooted movement is testament to supporting football at all levels, encouraging people to donate used boots they no longer need or have grown out of and redistributing them to pupils, local children or community groups in need of a pair, free of charge. Find out more at www.footballrebooted.co.uk.
Bill Bullen, Chief Executive Officer at Utilita Energy, said: “At Utilita, we believe everyone should have access to play football. The sport plays an important role in supporting local communities and providing a sustainable pathway for future generations – it unites both businesses and fans across the UK.
“We’re proud to be able to cheer on every competitor in this season’s Utilita Kids and Girls Cup and to provide children with the once in a lifetime opportunity to play at Wembley Stadium.”
To find out more, visit: https://www.efl.com/utilitakidscup or https://football.utilita.co.uk/kids-cup