EnjoyFootball

about us

about enjoyfootball

Ray Dean
Founder of The Stewards Championships, Ray has dedicated the last nine years to the event and through his enthusiasm has made the tournament what it is today.

Andrew Dean
Having spent the past nine years in sponsorship and event management, Andrew brings his skills to enjoyfootball, committed to developing the future of the tournament.

winners since 1994
1994 Norwich City
1995 Norwich City
1996 Queens Park Rangers
1997 Norwich City
1998 Norwich City
1999 Liverpool
2000 Southampton
2001 Southampton
2002 Charlton Athletic
2003 Charlton Athletic
2004 Charlton Athletic
2005 Charlton Athletic
2006 Liverpool
2007 Liverpool

history of the stewards championships
The Stewards Football Championships have been an annual event since 1994. It was inaugurated at Anfield by founder Ray Dean, a senior steward at Liverpool F.C. The encouragement Ray received from the clubs former Chief Executive Mr Peter Robinson was instrumental in him pursuing the dream of an annual festival of football for the stewards of Premiership and Football League clubs. The inaugural winners were Norwich City who went on to dominate the event for a few seasons. There were only eight teams competing in 1994 compared to the twenty clubs due to gather
in 2003.

In 1995 Carrow Road, Norwich, was the venue for the final, and yes the hosts were triumphant once again. The lads from East Anglia were proving difficult to beat and would not relinquish their crown easily.

The tournament hosted by the Blackburn Rovers stewards in 1996 saw the emergence of a resilient Queens Park Rangers side that prevented the Canaries' completing a Hat-Trick of victories.

Our hosts for 1997 were Q.P.R. at their Loftus Road Ground. The final this season was contested by Liverpool and the eventual winners Norwich City, back to their best.

To Newcastle for our 1998 contest which attracted our first sponsor in Thistle Hotels. This season we had attracted twelve clubs, but a repeat of our 1996 final saw the Norwich City stewards clinch a fourth win by outclassing Q.P.R.

Arsenal stewards under the expert guidance of Jim Miller had managed to secure the clubs training facility at London Colney in 1999. The event was filmed for the first time by Sky Sports and the final lived up to all expectations. A classic contest was eventually won by the Liverpool stewards, coached by Mick Wright.

For the Millennium the hosts were Leeds United. Our numbers had increased to sixteen clubs including the first European club, Feyenoord of Rotterdam. The ultimate winners were Southampton led by Steve Harris in only their second tournament defeating newcomers Aston Villa.

Sanctioned by The FA - supported by The FA Premier League, The Football League and PFA

..continued
Aston Villa stewards, led by John Heath offered the facilities at Bodymoor Heath the Villa training H.Q. for the 2001 tournament. We were able to have our first high profile draw when John Gregory and Gerard Houllier officiated at Villa Park. It became apparent in the early stages of the event that Southampton would be odds on to retain the new trophy supplied by Thistle Hotels. They were extremely popular winners and also had in their ranks the Outstanding Player of the tournament who was the first recipient of this award now sponsored by the Professional Footballers Association.

The tournament returned to its original venue in 2002 when the Liverpool F.C. Academy was made available to us. The Sky Sports commentary team officiated at the draw which was made at Anfield. All the matches were closely fought and a debutant club Charlton Athletic triumphed over an unlucky Blackburn Rovers team.

In 2003 the Championship returned to Newcastle with the backing of The FA and FA Premier League. The tournament draw took place in January 2003 with Sir Bobby Robson and Gerard Houllier. Charlton Athletic once again took the title in a repeat of the 2002 final against Blackburn Rovers. The Championships also saw the introduction of Nike and Carlsberg as Official Partners.

2004 returned to Arsenal and their former Training Facilities at London Colney. The draw had been made earlier that month by Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of The FA Premier League. In what was probably the most competitive tournament to date Charlton Athletic made it a hat-trick of victories beating the tournament's surprise package Ipswich Town.

In 2004 enjoyfootball also organised its first international trip with a England Select Stewards Goodwill Tour to Euro 2004 in Portugal. The Tour was met with great enthusiasm from The FA and the Portuguese and enjoyfootball hope to build on this for the World Cup in 2006.

2005 saw the tournament return to Birmingham with hosts West Bromwich Albion. The draw had been made earlier that season by life long Baggies fan, comedian, Frank Skinner. Charlton Athletic were again victorious equalling the record of four wins by Norwich City beating Blackburn Rovers in another tough final.

This event is not only the culmination of ten years hard work, but a tribute to all who have competed, supported, officiated and hosted this tournament for a decade. Our thanks to you all.

Let us look forward to many more tournaments in sportsmanship and friendship.