Walsall help launch the biggest grassroots football tournament in the country

Walsall played host to some potential stars of tomorrow when they hosted the launch of the Utilita Kids and Girls Cup last week.

The competitions are the two largest national competitions for schools and children in the country, with more than 2,500 schools and 20,000 children set to take part this season.

Previous editions of the tournament have seen the likes of Jamal Musiala, Adam Wharton and Ellie Roebuck take part before going on to have a big impact in the professional game.

The competition is presented by the EFL and title partners Utilita Energy and, in the Kids Cup, sides who qualify from their local area matches will have the chance to represent their local EFL team, with the chance to play at Wembley during the play-offs at the end of the season up for grabs.

In the Girls Cup, teams will progress through local, area and regional finals, with two lucky schools representing their local EFL side at Wembley before the final of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy in April.

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Walsall had the honour of hosting the launch of the competition as the Saddlers are the local EFL club represented by reigning back-to-back Kids Cup winners Cooper & Jordan Church of England School.

To launch the competition this season, ex-Lionesses winger Toni Duggan and former Birmingham City forward Clinton Morrison joined more than 100 young players at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium.

“I’m excited to be back involved with the Utilita Kids Cup, it’s a fantastic competition and the opportunity that these kids will get to potentially play at Wembley is amazing,” Morrison said.

“Not even some of the very best footballers in history have had that chance, so to be able to do so at such a young age will no doubt inspire them for years.

“I wish every participant all the best this season.”

Duggan feels the Girls Cup is the perfect sort of competition to help boost participation numbers in girls football.

She said: “Heading into a Women’s Euros year next year, it’s so special to see the amount of support that the Lionesses have received translate into strong participation in school football for young girls.

“From what I’ve seen and heard, the standard of the Utilita Girls Cup continues to rise year-on-year and I’m hopeful that this tournament will see a young girl follow the same path as one of my old team-mates, Ellie Roebuck.”