London, United Kingdom – 20th May 2023 – Teams from across the country competed in the Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup National Finals on the 17th May at Derby’s Pride Park Stadium, following a phenomenal 23/24 season which saw over 50,000 primary school children compete.
Throughout the friendly competition players have demonstrated outstanding football skills, had the chance to build positive relationships with teammates, as well as make new friends along the way.
The following teams were crowned at the National Finals:
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U11 Schools’ Cup Winner: Longlevens Junior School
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U11 Girls’ Cup Winner: Dovedale Primary School
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U11 Small Schools’ Cup Winner: Bentley St Paul’s CE Primary School
“It’s great to be back for a second year of the Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup and see so many children with happy faces being cheered on by Pikachu whilst competing. The skills demonstrated have been truly impressive, congratulations to the players who made it through to the Finals, everyone from the players to the coaches, referees and supportive parents should be proud,” said Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at The Pokémon Company International. “This only drives us forward to continue the fantastic partnership we have with the ESFA for primary school children to further develop their skills and above all have fun.”
Marvin Robinson, ESFA Chair said “This year’s Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup Finals have been a testament to the dedication and hard work of each team, having progressed through various stages of the competition from District to County to Regional and now, to have reached the National Finals of these competitions for 2024 is a wonderful achievement. I commend all involved for their commitment throughout the season. The Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup allows the English Schools’ FA to provide fun, footballing opportunities for year 5 and 6 children from across the country, bringing them a competition that is both exciting and full of joy. I would like to once again congratulate all three of our winners of this year’s National Finals on their fantastic achievement and on becoming National Champions.”
The Pokémon Company International is on a mission to delight their fans through excellent products and meaningful experiences. They hope to help make the world a better place for everyone by creating opportunities to bond and grow through shared journeys and friendly competition.
To take part in the 24/25 season, schools can get in touch with their local County Schools’ FA and register to take part in local rounds of the competition.
About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk.