"SOMETIMES ONE IS INCLINED TO PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO THE RESULT OF A GAME AND NOT SUFFICIENT ATTENTION TO THE MANNER IN WHICH IT HAS BEEN PLAYED." - CHARLES WREFORD-BROWN
History of the Schools XI
The Schools XI vs Charterhouse, 1950's.
From the club’s outset in 1882, both The Corinthian & The Casuals had played schools such as Charterhouse, Brighton College and Westminster and we’re proud to continue these fixtures today - some of the longest running fixtures in the game.
During WW2 the matches against the schools were the only ones to remain when football was suspended throughout the conflict - and ever since - the club has proudly continued to try and play it’s part in the development of school boy football in the Independant Schools - with the Corinthian-Casuals Schools XI.
The side maintains this ‘missionary’ tradition, the current fixture list of some 30 schools even includes some rugby playing schools - keen to foster the round ball game!
The side's run by Chris Watney, an ex-first team player who is a veteran of both the 2001 and 2015 Brazilian tours, the second of which he entirely organised for the BT Sport film he produced & directed about the event, called Brothers in Football. Having played at the club since 1999 - Chris has taken over the role as team manager from Brian Wakefield, who stepped down after 40 years in charge in May, 2017.
The team includes a considerable range of footballing talent from the various levels of the footballing pyramid. They all now spend their Saturdays travelling at their own expense to the far corners of England to share with school teams their enthusiasm for the game and doing their skilful best to show how football can be played in line with the Corinthian Spirit.
The former Corinthian and England captain, Charles Wreford-Brown, who famously coined the word "Soccer" once summed up the ethos which the team espouse, he said: "Sometimes one is inclined to pay too much attention to the result of a game and not sufficient attention to the manner in which it has been played"... it's with this philosophy very much in mind that the Schools XI compete.
During WW2 the matches against the schools were the only ones to remain when football was suspended throughout the conflict - and ever since - the club has proudly continued to try and play it’s part in the development of school boy football in the Independant Schools - with the Corinthian-Casuals Schools XI.
The side maintains this ‘missionary’ tradition, the current fixture list of some 30 schools even includes some rugby playing schools - keen to foster the round ball game!
The side's run by Chris Watney, an ex-first team player who is a veteran of both the 2001 and 2015 Brazilian tours, the second of which he entirely organised for the BT Sport film he produced & directed about the event, called Brothers in Football. Having played at the club since 1999 - Chris has taken over the role as team manager from Brian Wakefield, who stepped down after 40 years in charge in May, 2017.
The team includes a considerable range of footballing talent from the various levels of the footballing pyramid. They all now spend their Saturdays travelling at their own expense to the far corners of England to share with school teams their enthusiasm for the game and doing their skilful best to show how football can be played in line with the Corinthian Spirit.
The former Corinthian and England captain, Charles Wreford-Brown, who famously coined the word "Soccer" once summed up the ethos which the team espouse, he said: "Sometimes one is inclined to pay too much attention to the result of a game and not sufficient attention to the manner in which it has been played"... it's with this philosophy very much in mind that the Schools XI compete.
“The Corinthians and the Casuals played a major role in the development of football in independent schools and offered a chance for the best to play at the highest level.
The link between independent schools football and the Corinthian-Casuals continues today with the club still challenging the boys week by week and playing against the South of England selection every year at Charterhouse.
Independent schools football owes the Corinthians and the Casuals, both separate and combined, a great deal.”
The Independent Schools Football Association
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Team Officials
- Chris Watney - Manager - 07909 991563
- Mike Tomlinson - Team Secretary - 07979 524036