A pilot Essex U13 Trophy has been launched for season 2023/24 to compliment the existing Essex Cordell U13 Cup.

As Essex FA continues its ongoing engagement with clubs and leagues, a second extensive consultation took place over the course of last season with clubs expressing an appetite to explore additional county-wide competitions in youth football.

The county’s boys U13 cup will now be split into two, with teams being placed into the Cordell Cup and new U13 trophy based on the league and division in which they compete.

“Having conducted a detailed consultation with stakeholders across the county, it was evident there is a desire to explore an additional tiered County Cup structure for youth county cups with the aim to encourage more participation and competitiveness in a county-wide competition. This pilot will help monitor this through the 23/24 season and we are excited to see this progress” explained Essex FA Competitions Officer, Mark Wallis.

Mark added: “We plan for the additional U13 trophy to provide further opportunities in the youth game at competitive level, allowing those who typically don’t enter County Cup competitions now to have further opportunities to compete as well as creating a more competitive environment for teams in lower divisions of leagues.”

Clubs are able to submit entries into each of our U13 youth comp as well as each of our other County Cups across youth, girls, men’s and women’s football within its Club Portal until 31 July.

Essex U13 County Cup Entry qualification 2023/24

Essex Cordell U13 Cup

• All Eastern Junior Alliance teams
• Teams in top divisions of all other leagues
• Second tier teams from Brentwood Community Alliance, Colchester & District Youth League, Echo Junior League, Mid Herts Rural Minors League, Southend & District Junior League.

Essex U13 Trophy

• All teams outside of divisions listed above.