The Utilita Kids and Girls Cup is back for the 2024/25 season, offering a thrilling opportunity for young talents to make their mark on the pitch—and possibly their first steps toward a professional career.
From local fields to the iconic Wembley Stadium, this year’s tournament may unearth the next Jamal Musiala, Adam Wharton, or Ellie Roebuck.
Musiala, now dazzling on the international stage, was once a two-time Kids Cup champion himself, representing Brentford in 2013 before taking to the pitch with AFC Wimbledon the following year.
Other rising stars like Denmark and Brighton’s Matt O’Riley and Scotland’s Scott McTominay are also alumni of the Kids Cup.
Meanwhile, in the Girls Cup, England’s Ellie Roebuck showed her competitive edge long before she joined the Lionesses—making her debut in the tournament with Sheffield United between 2011 and 2013.
This season, the excitement is set to reach new heights with more than 2,500 schools and 20,000 kids from across the UK competing.
Presented by the EFL in partnership with Utilita Energy, the Kids and Girls Cups are among the country’s biggest school tournaments, aiming to inspire young players and promote community spirit through sport.
The Girls Cup will journey through Local, Area, and Regional Finals, with two schools ultimately representing their local EFL clubs at Wembley ahead of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy Final on April 13, 2025. Meanwhile, the Kids Cup participants will progress through local and regional matches, culminating in a showdown at Wembley for the EFL Play-Off Finals over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
To kick off the season, former England Lioness Toni Duggan and ex-Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison joined 100 young footballers at Walsall Football Club.
Walsall’s local school, Cooper & Jordan Church of England School, happens to be reigning back-to-back Kids Cup champions, adding extra motivation for the aspiring players.
Reflecting on the excitement, Duggan 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 numbers 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 teammates, Ellie Roebuck, who played in this cup during her school years, into representing her country.”
Morrison added, “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.
Not even some of the very best footballers in history have got that chance in their lifetime, and 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.”
Beyond the Cup, Utilita’s Football Rebooted initiative continues to make a difference at the grassroots level, inviting people to donate used boots for kids and communities in need.
This effort ensures that financial barriers don’t prevent anyone from experiencing the joy of the game.
To date, thousands of boots have been collected and distributed to budding players who need them most. For more details, head to footballrebooted.co.uk.
Bill Bullen, CEO of Utilita Energy, is enthusiastic about the competition and its impact on young players. “At Utilita, we believe everyone should have access to play football.
The sport plays an important role in supporting local communities and providing a sustainable pathway for future generations – it unites both businesses and fans across the UK.
“We’re proud to be able to cheer on every competitor in this season’s Utilita Kids and Girls Cup and to provide children with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at Wembley Stadium.”
To find out more, visit: https://www.efl.com/utilitakidscup or https://football.utilita.co.uk/kids-cup