2013 will see the Football Association mark its 150th Anniversary with a number of events which includes an event on Monday 8 July to celebrate 20 years of women’s football. Saturday 10 August is National Football Day.
Footballing legend and local hero Sir Bobby Robson is to have a National Football Day named in his honour. The special event will be held on August 10 to coincide with the start of the 2013-14 season. It will include around 150 clubs at all levels in a bid to promote grassroots sport.
A calendar of events has already been confirmed for the next 12 months, with highlights including:
- Sunday 3 February – FA England Awards, St. George’s Park
- Wednesday 6 February – England v Brazil, Wembley Stadium
- Friday 22 March – San Marino v England, FIFA World Cup Qualifier
- Tuesday 26 March – Montenegro v England, FIFA World Cup Qualifier
- Sunday 28 April – 90 years of Wembley Stadium
- Saturday 11 May – FA Cup with Budweiser Final, Wembley Stadium
- Saturday 18 May – Army FA v FA XI celebration match
- Tuesday 21 May – Friday 24 May – XXXVII UEFA Congress, London
- Thursday 23 May – UEFA Women’s Champions League Final, Stamford Bridge
- Saturday 25 May – UEFA Champions League Final, Wembley Stadium
- Wednesday 29 May – England v Republic of Ireland, Wembley Stadium
- June – England tour of Brazil
- Wednesday 5 June – Tuesday 18 June – UEFA European U21 Championship, Israel
- Monday 8 July – 20 years of Women’s football
- Wednesday 10 July – Sunday 28 July – UEFA Women’s Euro 2013, Sweden
- Saturday 10 August – National Football Day
- Wednesday 14 August – England v Scotland, Wembley Stadium
- Friday 6 September – England v Moldova, Wembley Stadium, FIFA World Cup Qualifier
- Tuesday 10 September – Ukraine v England, FIFA World Cup Qualifier
- September/October – Celebration of 150 grassroots heroes
- Saturday 26 October – Gala Dinner at the Grand Connaught Rooms
- Thursday 19 December – 150th anniversary of first match (Civil Service FC v FA XI)
Football has changed a lot since The FA was formed 150 years ago. The ball, the kits and the stadia are just three elements to have undergone drastic change since the Laws of the Game were first codified in 1863. In fact if you have a spare 150 seconds go to http://www.thefa.com/News/2013/jan/fa150-150-years-150-seconds-alex-oxlade-chamberlain.aspx and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will talk you through some of them.
FA Chairman David Bernstein cannot wait to get the year under way. He said: “The coming year will be a terrific opportunity for us to showcase our work to the whole country and the wider world. It is a wonderful achievement for any organisation and I certainly hope it will capture the imagination in the way it has mine. From humble beginnings to today’s global spectacle, we can be proud of this country’s contribution to football.”
For more information and to keep up to date on whats happening during 2013 or to see how you can get involved in the FA special year go to http://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/fa150
For more information on Sir Bobby’s Foubndation to find out more on the great work it continues to do go to http://www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk/
