Circle Agency on the ball with The PlayStation Schools Cup Festival

The PlayStation Schools’ Cup Festival 2016 welcomed hundreds of talented young footballers to Reading FC’s Madejski Stadium, all competing for the chance to be crowned national champions in front of a stadium full of fans.

Taking place from the 16^th – 18^th May, PlayStation School’s Cup is a partnership between PlayStation and the English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA), working to inspire and nurture young football talent. The festival was the finale of a seven-month long process, which saw the youngsters partake in a host of regional tie-of-the-round tournaments to secure their team’s place in the national finals.

Circle Agency, worked alongside PR agency HPS Jardine to activate the festival. The 15 finals ranged from U12 to U15 age categories and were all broadcast live in HD to supporters watching back home. The Circle Agency team was also on hand to ensure a number of engaging supporter activities entertained the fans, including PlayStation® branded t-shirt cannons, gaming pods and prize giveaways. Supporters were given the opportunity to win their very own PlayStation4 console by taking part in a number of competitions, including crossbar challenges and #SchoolsCupSelfie.

To complement the on-pitch talent, a number of professional footballers including Crystal Palace FC’s Jason Puncheon, England Women’s captain Steph Houghton and England’s Danny Rose, tried their luck on the latest PS4 games, signed autographs for the fans and gave out medals to those who took part.

Football Freestylers also provided additional pitch side entertainment over the three days, showcasing their fantastic skills for the spectators and players.