A Brief History of our Association
Gravesham Schools' Football Association can be traced back to July 30th 1912, when at a meeting of schoolmasters in Northfleet at the Factory Club, Northfleet and Swanscombe Schools' Football Association was formed. That Association functioned alone until 1946 when it joined forces with Gravesend to form the Thames-side Schools' Football Association. Many unknown teachers gave up their time week after week, month after month and year after year to give youngsters the opportunity to play school and representative football. This included Mr Les Clements who gave 25 years service to the association, including being Chairman from 1952 to 1970.
In 1974 following local government boundary changes, the name changed again and became Gravesham and District Schools' Football Association.
In 1977 at a Special General Meeting it was decided to split the Association into separate Primary and Secondary bodies. Sanction was sought and approved by the English Schools' Football Association, and on 16th May 1977 the split was formally made. At the time of the split the Secondary Association had one tatty set of red shirts and £3.73 in cash! A feature of those early years was the regular pre-season coaching weeks and trips to the Wembley schoolboy internationals.
The 1980s were difficult times with diminishing number of teachers willing to manage district sides and so by the end of the 1980s Mr John Thrush at Northfleet School Boys was the sole teacher running district teams. John Thrush started teaching at Northfleet School For Boys in April 1975 and in June of the same year became Secretary. He was instrumental in driving district football forward in Gravesham, often with the support of non-teaching colleagues - notably Peggy White, John Pearson, Daryl Lucas and Rob Perkins - and the district established it's base at Northfleet School For Boys. Activities included the organisation of inter-association festivals and the district participating in a number of tours as well as participating in the ESFA Festivals at Durham (U13s) and Isle of Wight (U14s). In 1993/94, after three years of planning and hard work, the Gravesham Pavilion at Northfleet School For Boys became the District's headquarters after being officially opened by Sir Trevor Brooking. John Thrush also served as Chairman of Kent Schools' Football Association during this time, before retiring from teaching in the early 2000s.
In recent times we have played our home games at AEI (which became Elite Venue), and more recently have been grateful to Greenways FC for allowing us to use their ground at Old Southfields Playing Fields.
In 2016 / 17 Gravesham fielded a girls district team for the first time.
In 1974 following local government boundary changes, the name changed again and became Gravesham and District Schools' Football Association.
In 1977 at a Special General Meeting it was decided to split the Association into separate Primary and Secondary bodies. Sanction was sought and approved by the English Schools' Football Association, and on 16th May 1977 the split was formally made. At the time of the split the Secondary Association had one tatty set of red shirts and £3.73 in cash! A feature of those early years was the regular pre-season coaching weeks and trips to the Wembley schoolboy internationals.
The 1980s were difficult times with diminishing number of teachers willing to manage district sides and so by the end of the 1980s Mr John Thrush at Northfleet School Boys was the sole teacher running district teams. John Thrush started teaching at Northfleet School For Boys in April 1975 and in June of the same year became Secretary. He was instrumental in driving district football forward in Gravesham, often with the support of non-teaching colleagues - notably Peggy White, John Pearson, Daryl Lucas and Rob Perkins - and the district established it's base at Northfleet School For Boys. Activities included the organisation of inter-association festivals and the district participating in a number of tours as well as participating in the ESFA Festivals at Durham (U13s) and Isle of Wight (U14s). In 1993/94, after three years of planning and hard work, the Gravesham Pavilion at Northfleet School For Boys became the District's headquarters after being officially opened by Sir Trevor Brooking. John Thrush also served as Chairman of Kent Schools' Football Association during this time, before retiring from teaching in the early 2000s.
In recent times we have played our home games at AEI (which became Elite Venue), and more recently have been grateful to Greenways FC for allowing us to use their ground at Old Southfields Playing Fields.
In 2016 / 17 Gravesham fielded a girls district team for the first time.