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Extract from "The History of the English Schools' Football Association" leaflet
The English Schools' F.A. (ESFA) was formed in 1904 … thirteen Schools' Football Associations were represented at a meeting held on November 5th, 1904 at the Birmingham Athletic Institute. Unanimous agreement was reached to form an "Elementary Schools' Football Association" and rules were formulated for the constitution of the National Association and for the Charity Shield Competition. The Shield was presented by the National Union of Teachers for competition among Schools' Football Associations. A Council was appointed to administer the affairs of the Association, the main aim of which was to be 'the mental, moral and physical development and improvement of schoolboys through the medium of Association Football', and so it remains today.
Nineteen Associations took part in the Competition for the Charity Shield in its first season. The Competition was arranged in four geographical areas to avoid long-distance travel as far as possible, a system which is still followed today for the much enlarged English Schools' Inter-Association Trophy Competition. The finalists in that first year (1904-1905) were London and Sheffield, London being the eventual winners. The finalists were presented with medals by The Football Association.
