Aldenham School, Founded 1597

Football

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, one 7-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 & 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 an ex-professional footballer actually being on the staff. U13 & U14 Footballers at Aldenham can also take advantage of the tour every two years to Madrid where there is an opportunity to stay at the Spanish FA headquarters.

The school 1st XI competes in the Boodles Cup (for all ISFA schools) and the ISFA Southern Schools' Elgin League. In recent years we have had success in both competitions, getting to the quarter final stages in the ISFA Cup and finishing as runners up in the Southern Schools' League.

The Aldenham U15 footballers have been crowned the National Independent Schools' Football Association (ISFA) champions in 2018 & 2019. Victories over Cheadle Hulme (4-1) in 2018 and Royal Russell (2-1) in 2019 rounded off a remarkable double for the school.

There has also been great success in the Hertfordshire County Cup, winning 6 cups at different ages in the last 5 years.

Over the last few seasons the school has had a number of International footballers. Xavier Amaechi and Zico Asare went to Rio to play for England vs Brazil in November 2015 whilst Charlie Patino has captained the England team at U16 & U17 level in the last two seasons. Furthermore, Pedro Neves-Virginia has represented Portugal at U16 level.

Students also have the opportunity to represent the ISFA national side form U14 upwards and this season we have had 5 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!

Aldenham School Football Honours 

Trophies 

2015 – U12 Hertfordshire Schools County Cup

2016 – U12, U13 & U15 Hertfordshire Schools County Cup

2017 – U14 Hertfordshire Schools County Cup

2018 – U15 ISFA National Cup & U14 ISFA National Futsal Winners

2019 – U15 ISFA National Cup, U15 Hertfordshire Schools County Cup & U14 ISFA Elgin League Cup

2020 – U12 District Futsal Winners

International Honours 

2015/16 - Zico Asare – England U15/16

2015/16 - Xavier Amaechi – England U15/16

2018/19/20 - Charlie Patino – England U15/16/17

2019/20 – Pedro Neves-Virginia – Portugal U16

Academy Graduates

2014 Macauley Keating – Southend Utd

2014 Idris Benourad – QPR

2017 Xavier Amaechi – Arsenal (now professional playing for Hamburg)

2017 James Olayinka – Arsenal (now professional & on loan at Northampton)

2017 Zico Asare – Fulham (now professional)

2017 Mauricio Pochettino – Tottenham Hotspur (now professional)

2018 Lewis Smith – Stevenage

2019 Ryan Hayes – QPR

2020 – Charlie Patino - Arsenal

Part of the
Aldenham Foundation