January 16 – The (English) Football Association, The FA, launched its 150th year anniversary at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London today.
The event, held on the former site of the Freemason’s Tavern, where The FA was founded in 1863 and the first 13 rules of football were written, was broadcast live on Sky Sports.
FA Chairman David Bernstein welcomed 400 guests to the launch and followed a current post-Olympic theme in English sport by praising the more than 400,000 volunteers throughout English football who he described at the ‘heartbeat’ of the game. Volunteering and grassroots football will be an integral part of the year’s celebrations
Prince William, President of the FA, in a recorded message, said: “Over 150 years, football has become part of the very fabric of our society and I hope the year ahead will allow us to celebrate every aspect of this great game…The Olympics and Paralympics highlighted the spirit of the British people to volunteer, but I know it is something that has always been part of our great game.
“I am delighted that The FA will be honouring this army of volunteers through a special 150 Grassroots Heroes initiative. They deserve our full praise and unstinting thanks.”
Present at the event were current England manager Roy Hodgson, previous England manager Fabio Capello as well as an array of England’s greatest players including Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, David Beckham, Alan Shearer and Michael Owen.
Main events during FA150 include:
· Sunday 3 February – FA England Awards, St. George’s Park
· Wednesday 6 February – England v Brazil, Wembley Stadium
· Sunday 28 April – 90 years of 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
· Monday 8 July – 20 years of women’s football
· Saturday 10 August – National Football Day
· Wednesday 14 August – England v Scotland, Wembley Stadium
· 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)
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