Each season, EFL clubs run local Kids Cup and Girls Cup competitions through their club charities, giving schools the chance to represent Luton Town in the regional and national phases.
This year, more than 50 schools across Luton and Bedfordshire are taking part in our Utilita U11 Kids Cup and U13 Girls Cup tournaments. The winning teams will go on to face schools representing other EFL clubs, competing for a place in the Utilita Kids and Girls Cup Grand Finals, held ahead of the EFL Trophy Final and the EFL Play-Off Finals.
In 2022, one of our schools, Sacred Heart Primary School were winners at Wembley in the EFL Utilita Kids Cup final, which you can read about here.
The Utilita Kids and Girls Cup are two of the country’s biggest national football competitions for schools and children. The annual football competition sees more 20,000 boys and girls each year take to the pitch to represent the 72 EFL Clubs across England and Wales, bolstering the existing ties between Clubs and their local communities.
Earlier this month, we hosted our Utilita Girls Cup County final in partnership with Luton School Games, with 24 teams and more than 200 girls taking part.
Gilbert Inglefield Academy (pictured above) emerged as champions and will now represent Luton Town in the Area Final in Norwich in January 2026. They played eight games, winning seven, drawing one, scoring 15 goals and conceding just one.
Wixams Academy finished as runners-up, with Lincroft Academy in third place.
In the Plate competition, Houstone School were crowned champions, followed by Bedford Academy in second and Lealands School in third. Vicki Dockerill, Luton School Games Organiser, said: "The tournament was a tremendous success. It was great to see so many teams taking part, with 24 schools taking on the challenge. Every school should be incredibly proud of their pupils who showed remarkable resilience, skill, and spirit throughout the event.
"It is great to work with Luton Town and to see their commitment and support in helping to increase women’s and girls’ participation in football across Luton and Bedfordshire.” In November, we hosted our Utilita Kids Cup Luton final in partnership with Luton School Games, with 21 teams taking part.
Sacred Heart Primary School (pictured below) emerged as winners, Hillborough Junior School finished second, Wigmore Primary School third, and William Austin Junior School fourth. All four schools have now qualified for our Utilita Kids Cup County Final in January 2026, where 14 teams from across Bedfordshire will compete for a place to represent Luton Town in the Area Final later in 2026.
Bert Klemmer, Programmes Manager (Education, Employability & Learning), said: “Our local schools and community are incredibly important to us, and we place a strong focus on providing meaningful opportunities each season.
"The Utilita Kids and Girls Cups give young people a valuable chance to participate in football, develop a love of the sport, and be inspired to stay active, healthy, and work as part of a team. We are proud that each year more schools and young people take part in our local competitions.
"It is also inspiring to see them represent Luton Town with pride in the Area, Regional, and National phases, competing against schools from other EFL clubs.”
