Oxford private school community XI in Chelsea football match

The Teddies Select XI took on Chelsea FC Soccer Schools players at the Premier League club’s Surrey training ground on May 15.

The fixture marks the first community match in the partnership between St Edward’s School in Woodstock Road and Chelsea FC, which was announced earlier this year.

READ MORE: Oxford pupils meet Reece James as Chelsea partnership begins

As well as the independent school increasing its boys’ and girls’ teams, the partnership has seen the Teddies Select XI assembled, a squad of 11- and 12-year-old players drawn from local state schools, clubs and independent schools in the local area.

There are three teams in this Teddies Select cohort – U11 Boys, U11 Girls and U12 Boys – with each team playing a competitive match on professional-grade pitches at Chelsea’s training ground, facing a side from the Soccer Schools department’s Player Development Programme.

The Teddies Select XI played Chelsea in a football match (Image: St Edward’s School)

The match is intended to be the first of many, establishing a regular fixture that connects young players in Oxfordshire with the leading football club.

Steve Shipp, football projects manager at Chelsea FC, said: “We want to give people from the Oxfordshire area the Chelsea experience, and we couldn’t have done that without Teddies.

“Though our partnership with the school, we are hoping to develop our work and engage with other schools in the local area.”

The warden (head) of St Edward’s termed the partnership “transformational”.

Pupils from St Edward’s training with Chelsea FC men’s captain Reece James at the start of the partnership (Image: St Edward’s School)

“We are delighted,” said Alistair Chirnside, “to be able to share the expertise with young footballers beyond our school gates in a community programme as part of the partnership”.

Meanwhile dad of Year 7 Chipping Norton School pupil, Toby, called it a “brilliant experience”.

Alex Ward said: “The standard of football on the pitches is high and the Chelsea coaches really have the kids engaged, working hard on a range of skills and having lots of fun.”

The Teddies Select XI played Chelsea in a football match (Image: St Edward’s School)

Rachel Henshilwood, director of development and commercial partnerships, added that a key aim in the partnership was to bring world-class expertise and coaching to the Oxfordshire community.

She added: “The Teddies Select XI project really embodies those aims, and we look forward to cheering them on as a flagship team for the partnership.

READ MORE: Oxford private school reveals major expansion programme

“We think all players will benefit from this unique experience working together as one team.”

Jen Law, director of sport, said that the popularity of football at Teddies has increased.

She added: “With Chelsea coaches working alongside our own Football Professional, pupils gain access to professional coaching of the highest standard, tailored programmes designed to improve skill development, and pathways that build resilience, leadership and teamwork on and off the field.”