# Independent Schools Football Association

Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) oversees football in independent schools in the United Kingdom. The ISFA is affiliated to the Football Association.
The chairman is current Headmaster of Hampton School Kevin Knibbs.

## History

Dick Sale, headmaster of Brentwood School and public school representative on the F.A. Council, formed the Public Schools Football Association and was its first chairman. The name was changed to the Independent Schools FA in 1986 under the chairmanship of Chris Saunders, headmaster of Eastbourne College and later Lancing College. In 2005, the Independent Schools Football Association for Girls division was formed. The current chairman is the third person to hold that post.

## Boodles ISFA Cup

The association organises the Boodles ISFA Cup, a knockout competition among ISFA member schools. The final usually takes place at a Football League ground, with recent finals taking place at the Stadium MK, home ground of Milton Keynes Dons.
Previous winners are:
| Year | Winners | Runners-up |
| 1992–93 | Forest School | Charterhouse School |
| 1993–94 | The King's School, Chester | Ardingly College |
| 1994–95 | St Bede's College, Manchester | Ardingly College |
| 1995–96 | QEGS Blackburn | Bury Grammar School |
| 1996–97 | Lancing College | Bolton School |
| 1997–98 | Ardingly College | Bolton School |
| 1998–99 | Hampton School | Wolverhampton Grammar School |
| 1999–00 | Shrewsbury School | Charterhouse School |
| 2000–01 | QEGS Blackburn | Brentwood School |
| 2001–02 | Brentwood School | St Bede's College, Manchester |
| 2002–03 | Bolton School | Bradfield College |
| 2003–04 | QEGS Blackburn | Millfield |
| 2004–05 | Millfield | Hampton School |
| 2005–06 | The King's School, Chester | Millfield |
| 2006–07 | Hampton School | Charterhouse School |
| 2007–08 | Charterhouse School | Millfield |
| 2008–09 | Millfield | Hampton School |
| 2009–10 | Shrewsbury School | Repton School |
| 2010–11 | Charterhouse School | Eton College |
| 2011–12 | Hampton School | Millfield |
| 2012–13 | Millfield | Alleyn's School |
| 2013–14 | Millfield | Bradfield College |
| 2014–15 | Ardingly College | Hampton School |
| 2015–16 | Ardingly College | Bradfield College |
| 2016–17 | Royal Russell School | Millfield School |
| 2017–18 | Bradfield College | Repton |
| 2018-19 | Royal Russell School | Millfield School |
| 2019-20 | Millfield School | Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate |
| 2021-22 | Bradfield College | Rossall School |
| 2022–23 | Royal Russell School | Charterhouse School |
| 2023-24 | Bradfield College | Cheadle Hulme |
Note that the 2020-21 tournament was not played due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

## ISFA U15 Cup

In season 2007–08 two new cup competitions were introduced: the Investec ISFA Under-15 Cup and the Investec ISFA U13 Cup. The finals for both of these competitions have so far taken place at Burton Albion F.C.
Investec ISFA Under-15 Cup Winners:
| Year | Winner | Runners-up |
| 2007–08 | Manchester Grammar School | Latymer Upper School |
| 2008–09 | Manchester Grammar School | Eton College |
| 2009–10 | Brentwood School | Repton School |
| 2010–11 | Whitgift School | Bolton School |
| 2011–12 | Hampton School | Bolton School |
| 2012–13 | Whitgift School | Brentwood School |
| 2013–14 | Ardingly College | Manchester Grammar School |
| 2014–15 | Hampton School | Manchester Grammar School |
| 2015–16 | Millfield | Brentwood School |
| 2016–17 | Whitgift School | Forest School |
| 2017–18 | Aldenham School | Cheadle Hulme School |
| 2018–19 | Aldenham School | Royal Russell School |
| 2021–22 | Cheadle Hulme School | Eton College |
| 2022–23 | Dulwich College | Moorland School |
Note that the Final (Royal Russell School vs Whitgift School) of the 2019-20 tournament and the whole of the 2020-21 tournament were not played due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

## Other Competitions

Investec ISFA Under-13 Cup Winners:
| Year | Winner | Runners-up |
| 2007–08 | Brentwood School | King's School, Chester |
| 2008–09 | The Grange School | Alleyn's School |
| 2009–10 | Bolton School | Forest School |
| 2010–11 | Whitgift School | Hampton School |
| 2011–12 | Whitgift School | Brentwood School |
| 2012–13 | Whitgift School | Priory |
| 2013–14 | Whitgift School | Chigwell School |
| 2014–15 | Whitgift School | City of London School |
| 2015–16 | Whitgift School | Bury Grammar School |
| 2016–17 | Moorland School | Whitgift School |
| 2017–18 | Whitgift School | Lochinver House School |
| 2018–19 | Whitgift School | Alleyn's School |
| 2021–22 | Dulwich College | Manchester Grammar School |
| 2022–23 | Aldenham School | Dulwich College |
Note that the Final (Aldenham School vs Manchester Grammar School) of the 2019-20 tournament and the whole of the 2020-21 tournament were not played due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The organisation also organises football in Independent Schools for Girls, and runs an Under 18 Cup competition for girls.
ISFA Under-18 Girls Cup winners:
| Year | Winner | Runners-up |
| 2007–08 | ACS Cobham | Wellingborough School |
| 2008–09 | Repton School | ACS Cobham |
| 2009–10 | St. Bede's School | Stamford High School |
| 2010–11 | ACS Cobham | Stamford High School |
| 2011–12 | Stamford High School | ACS Cobham |
| 2012–13 | ACS Cobham | Stamford High School |
| 2013–14 | King's College, Taunton | Sevenoaks |
| 2014–15 | Oakham School | ACS Cobham |

## ISFA Accredited Competitions

ISFA is accredited with these competitions:
The HUDL Independent Schools League is a league consisting of the following schools: Ardingly College, Bede's School, Bradfield College, Hampton School, Millfield School, Repton School, Royal Russel School, Shrewsbury School.
The Southern Independent Schools Lent Term League is a league run in the Lent Term consisting of the following schools: Berkhamsted School, Epsom College, Haileybury School, Harrow School, Radley College, St John's, Leatherhead, St Paul's School, Tonbridge School.
The London Independent Schools Cup is a knockout competition between 1st and 2nd XI sides from select independent schools based in London; the final 32 is the first round of the cup.
Other competitions include: Birkdale U13 North-East Tournament, Mercian Independent Schools League, South-East Girls U15 Tournament, Thames Valley League, Barry Burns Northern Eights, Thomas' Five-A-Side Football Tournaments, etc.

## Representative teams

ISFA also organises teams to represent Independent Schools in England at Under-14, Under-15, Under-16 and Under-18 levels. The Under-18 and Under-16 sides undertake an annual overseas tour, as well as numerous fixtures, including an annual Under-18 fixture against Scotland Independent Schools. The Under-14 and Under-15 sides play matches mainly against academy teams from various English professional clubs.

## Notable former players

* Olly Lee – Brentwood School
* Elliot Lee – Brentwood School
* Frank Lampard – Brentwood School
* Max Kretzschmar – Hampton School
* James Beattie – QEGS Blackburn
* Quinton Fortune – Forest School
* Nedum Onuoha – Hulme Grammar School
* Dan Harding – St. Bede's School, Hailsham
* Neil Mellor – St Bede's College, Manchester
* Adam Virgo – Ardingly College
* Andy Frampton – Lancing College
* Neil Harris – Brentwood School
* Chris Porter – QEGS Blackburn
* Robin Shroot – Alleyn's School
* Lawrie Wilson – Millfield
* Fraser Forster – Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
* Jordan Spence – Chigwell School
* Josh O'Keefe – QEGS Blackburn
* Frank Fielding – QEGS Blackburn
* Will Hughes – Repton School
* Johnny Gorman – Repton School
* Duncan Watmore – Cheadle Hulme
* Solomon March – St. Bede's School, Hailsham