History of the Schools XI
Both the Corinthians and the Casuals regularly took teams to play against schools across the land to promote the game. Corinthian-Casuals still maintain this ‘missionary’ tradition with a "Schools Team" of veterans and ex-first teamers. The current fixture list of some 30 schools includes some rugby playing schools keen to foster the round ball game.
The side is run by Brian Wakefield, ex-Oxford captain, a member of Great Britain's Olympic squad in 1960, one time manager of the club and a player at a series of famous non-league football clubs.
The team includes a considerable range of footballing talent and several have won honours at the highest level in non-league football. 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.
The side is run by Brian Wakefield, ex-Oxford captain, a member of Great Britain's Olympic squad in 1960, one time manager of the club and a player at a series of famous non-league football clubs.
The team includes a considerable range of footballing talent and several have won honours at the highest level in non-league football. 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 addition to playing in the F.A. Cup and in friendlies and Sheriff of London matches against the great professional clubs of the country, the Corinthians also visited the schools, playing most of them in turn once each year. The excitement and interest aroused by these matches, in which the boys got the opportunity of playing against some of the great amateur players of the day who would be playing in the F.A. Cup that same season, can well be imagined… Independent schools football owes the Corinthians and the Casuals, both separate and combined, a great deal.”
The Independent Schools Football Association
Team Officials
- Brian Wakefield - Manager - 0208 940 9208
- Mike Tomlinson - Team Secretary - 07979 524036
