Dina Asher-Smith at the English Schools' Championships (© Mark Shearman)
The English Schools’ Athletic Association (1925), which was founded in the Victoria Hotel, London on this day a century ago, has been recognised with the award of the World Athletics Heritage Plaque (category: Competition).
The English Schools’ Athletic Association (ESAA) which was formed to allow school athletes to compete at regional, national and international level, becomes only the third youth-based organisation in the world to be honoured with a plaque. The previous two recipients were the Jamaica Inter-Secondary Schools Boys and Girls Championships (1910), affectionately known as ‘Champs’, and the Carifta Games (1972), which were both honoured on 22 April 2019.
The ESAA’s plaque will be officially presented by World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon, 1983 intermediate & 1984 senior ESAA sprint hurdles champion, at the association’s annual championships in Alexander Stadium, Birmingham on Saturday 12 July. The plaque will be placed on permanent public display at the stadium.
The World Athletics Heritage Plaque is a location-based recognition, awarded for an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track & field athletics and of out of stadia athletics disciplines such as cross country, mountain, road, trail and ultra-running, and race walking.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe commented: “I warmly welcome this award to the English Schools’ Athletic Association which marks the centenary of an entirely volunteer-based organisation which has done so much to foster a lifelong passion for our sport among generations of young athletes.
“The ESAA provides aspiring athletes with a crucial championship platform to compete against the best in their age group across the nation in the disciplines of cross country running, combined events, race walking and track and field athletics.
“The scale of the ESAA championships is impressive. More than 4000 competitors compete every year, over a quarter of a million athletes since they started.
“The ESAA has for a century been the bedrock of athletics success in England helping to discover, nurture and develop athletics talent, who go on to become the sport’s senior stars. Long may this incredible athletics success story continue.”
‘Democratic access to athletics’
Paul Allison, Chairman of the English Schools’ Athletic Association, commented: “It gives me immense pleasure in accepting this award on behalf of the English Schools Athletic Association as recognition of the dedication and affiliation of so many volunteers, teachers, athletes, and officials over such a prolonged period.”
"Established in 1925, the English Schools’ Athletic Association’s primary objective is to foster athletics excellence among school-aged children, providing a platform for competition and nurturing talent from grassroots to elite level. We promote a wide-reaching programme, including school competitions, district and regional championships and national events in the disciplines of cross country, track and field, combined events and race walking.
Dorothy Odham, 1934 ESAA U16 high jump silver medallist, the first British woman to win an individual Olympic medal (© Mike Fleet)
“The English Schools has made athletics more accessible to students from various backgrounds and schools across the country. This inclusivity, alongside the promotion of a healthy competitive spirit, has helped elevate the importance of athletics as part of the physical education programme in schools. This democratic access to athletics has played a crucial role in uncovering hidden talent and broadening the scope of the sport across the country.
“The English Schools has significantly influenced the growth and sustainability of athletics in the UK, creating a legacy of young athletes who have gone on to achieve success in national and international competitions, many athletes often cite their early experience with the English Schools as key to their future success, as it gave them a taste of the high-level competition and chance to hone their skills in a supportive environment.
“The English Schools will continue to be the cornerstone of young athletic development and as we celebrate our 100th year, it is our aim to continue to contribute and adapt to the landscape of athletics in this country, so we can continue to inspire the next generation to participate in the sport.”
Walk of Fame
In 2020, the ESAA curated with The Athletics Museum, which is a joint heritage project managed by the Amateur Athletic Association and England Athletics, a digital exhibition about the history of the ESAA Championships.
The English Schools’ Athletic Association Walk of Fame celebrates athletes and officials whose journey through the English Schools has led them to great things. The ESAA Walk of Fame was instigated in 2023, with a pop-up exhibition at the ESAA Championships. Each year new names are added.
The history of the association documented by John Mackie ‘ESAA History – The First 100 Years’ will be published in 2025 to mark the centenary. Please contact the ESAA for more information.
World Athletics Heritage