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Playing Football at Aldenham
There’s a rich tradition of elite level football at Aldenham. In fact, Aldenham was instrumental in devising the original rules of the game! Our teams compete at the top school levels and inter-house competition is just as intense.
The school has 9 full sized football pitches, three 9-a-side and three 5-a-side training areas for elite coaching. Each team has a dedicated member of staff to coach and run the side. Football is the major boys’ sport in the Christmas term.
Football is played from Year 7-13 against other schools on a yearly rolling programme and in the ISFA, ESFA, Elgin League & Hertfordshire County cups. We have A and B teams at every age group and 4 senior teams (Years 11-13). Matches are generally played on Tuesday and Saturday for Years 9-13 and on Wednesday and Saturday for Years 7-8.
Our extended campus offers specialised pitches for different age groups and pupils benefit from a highly experienced group of staff including ex-professionals. U14 & U15 Footballers at Aldenham can also take advantage of the tour every two years to Madrid where there is an opportunity to train at Professional clubs training grounds and play local teams whilst also watching a live La Liga match.
“Aldenham School provides a wonderful environment for its pupils. The staff are friendly, organised and take time to get to know each pupil and their individuality. Every effort is made to make learning enjoyable and rewarding. Communication between the school and home is excellent and help is always at hand and nothing seems too much trouble.”
PARENTS OF YR 9 BOY, YR 7 GIRL
National Success in Football
The school 1st XI competes in the ISFA National Cup (for all ISFA schools), the ESFA National Cup, the Herts County Cup and the SFA Southern Schools’ Elgin League.
In recent years we have enjoyed success in winning both the Herts County Cup & Elgin league.
The Aldenham U15 footballers have been crowned the National Independent Schools’ Football Association (ISFA) champions in 2018, 2019 & 2024. Victories over Cheadle Hulme (4-1) in 2018 and Royal Russell (2-1) in 2019 & Whitgift (2-1) in 2024 has seen them win the trophy 3 times in the last 5 years it has taken place. The U13 side also won the cup in 2023 beating Dulwich College 3-2.
There has also been great success in the Hertfordshire County Cup, winning 11 cups at different ages since 2015, the most of any school. Added to that we have also won 5 Elgin League Cups in the last 5 years.
Another triumph was winning the 2023 U15 ESFA Elite Schools National Cup beating The Horizon Community College in the final 3-0. This crowned Aldenham as definitively the top performing school for football in England (of all schools, Independent and state maintained).
Over the last few seasons the school has had 9 International footballers. Xavier Amaechi and Zico Asare went to Rio to play for England vs Brazil in November 2015 whilst Charlie Patino & Malachi Hardy have captained the England team at U16 level whilst another former pupil Myles Lewis-Skelly has captained the England U18 side in 2024. Furthermore, Pedro Neves-Virginia has represented Portugal at U16 level, Max Bustamante represented Chile U17s & Lewi Richards England U15s. 2023 saw our first girl International when Scarlett Kagalwala played for England U16s.
Students also have the opportunity to represent the ISFA national side from U14 upwards and this season we have had 8 representatives. Some senior pupils also have the chance to play in the second term for the old boys’ team (and of course once they have left), which keeps the Aldenham footballing spirit well and truly alive. If you love football, you will love Aldenham!
EXPRESS INTEREST