Newcastle proud of performance at Premier League Primary Stars National Girls Football Tournament 2026
Newcastle United Foundation were proud to join Premier League Primary Stars National Girls Football Tournament – Regional Qualifiers last week alongside teams of talented young footballers.
Ten regional tournaments are being staged at community facilities across the country, with hundreds of young people representing Premier League, EFL and National League clubs, hoping to win the opportunity to represent their club in the Premier League Primary Stars National Girls Football Tournament finals in summer 2026.
Year 5 and Year 6 pupils from Caedmon Primary School in Gateshead headed to Foundation of Light’s Beacon of Light community hub in Sunderland on Friday.
Winning their games against Sunderland’s Foundation of Light and Middlesbrough FC Foundation, the team representing Newcastle United Foundation narrowly missed out on making it to the final, finishing third overall.
David Hall, Senior Primary Coordinator at Newcastle United Foundation, said: “We are incredibly proud of the huge effort the girls have put into this tournament and the skill, teamwork and determination they’ve shown throughout.
“The Premier League Primary Stars National Girls Football Tournament is a unique way to bring together students from across the region and the country who are exploring new opportunities through Premier League Primary Stars.
“The team should be very proud of their achievements and will be leaving this tournament with some great memories.”
Every year, thousands of girls from across England and Wales take part in the regional qualifying rounds. Willow’s Primary School, representing Altrincham FC, are the current champions having won the tournament finals in 2025 at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux Stadium.
The Premier League Primary Stars National Girls Football Tournament is one of the competition elements of the Premier League Primary Stars programme. Launched in 2017 and available to every primary school in England and Wales, Premier League Primary Stars uses the appeal of football to inspire children aged five-to-11 to be active and develop essential skills.
Premier League Foundation Chief Executive, Alex White, said: “The Premier League Primary Stars National Girls Football Tournament is a fantastic opportunity for young players to experience the joy and excitement of the game.
“These regional events unite girls from all walks of life, giving them the unique privilege of representing their club and creating memories that will last a lifetime as part of the Premier League’s commitment to supporting the wider game.”
More than 100 football club charities across England and Wales deliver Premier League Primary Stars, supporting pupils in the classroom, the playground and on the sports field. More than 75,000 teachers have signed up to access free online national curriculum-linked resources, to date.
Premier League Primary Stars also provides teachers and parents with downloadable resources across a range of curriculum subjects at Key Stage 1 (age 5-7) and Key Stage 2 (age 7-11), developed by teachers for teachers, and in collaboration with experts such as the National Literacy Trust and the PSHE Association.
The Premier League Primary Stars National Girls’ Football Tournament is part of the Premier League’s commitment to providing better accessibility and more inclusivity for young female players and enhancing player development from grassroots to the professional game. Between 2022-25, the Premier League invested over £41m into women’s and girls’ football across the grassroots game and a £20m loan to Women’s Super League Football.
The Premier League has committed more than £15 million into women’s and girls’ football between 2025 and 2028.
This includes £6.87m for the FA’s network of girls’ Emerging Talent Centres (ETCs) and £2.7m for the strategy behind the FA Women’s National League. The Premier League also provides wide-ranging support to women and girls through its facilities, funding and community programmes.
More than 100,000 girls and young women take part in Premier League community programmes each year.
To find out more about the Premier League’s commitment to increasing girls’ participation, please visit premierleague.com
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