R3 Events & Tournaments
Great football days out. Every team welcome.
One-day festivals, friendly cups and small-sided tournaments run to the same organisational standard as our national pathway, but built around enjoyment. No qualification pressure, just fun and participation. Turn up, play plenty of football, go home happy.
- Fun first
- All abilities
- No obligation
What every team gets
Everyone plays
Guaranteed minimum matches for every team, every event.
Every ability
Grouped by level so games stay close, competitive and fun.
Family friendly
Published timings, short waits and a proper day out.
The first 2027 events are planned for Essex. Exact dates, venues and formats are confirmed in writing before entries open and remain subject to approval.
Event types
Pick the day that suits your team.
Every R3 event is built around playing time, not trophies. Whether your squad is brand new or has been together for years, there is a format that fits.
- U6 to U9
Half-day festivals
Short, sharp morning or afternoon football. Small-sided games, everyone plays, medals for every player.
- U8 to U16
Friendly cups
Group stage into knockouts, with teams banded by ability so nobody spends the day losing 9-0.
- All ages
Small-sided tournaments
5v5, 7v7 and 9v9 across a single day, with a published minimum number of matches per team.
- All ages
Holiday one-days
Half-term and school-holiday events for clubs, school teams and friendship groups alike.
Our promise
Well run. Welcoming. Worth the Saturday.
The organisation is serious so the football can be fun. These are the commitments every R3 event is held to, whatever the level.
Banded by ability
Teams tell us their level at entry. We group accordingly so games are close and worth playing.
Short waits
A published cap on the gap between matches, so nobody stands around all morning.
Everyone goes home with something
A medal for every player at youth festivals, not just the winners.
Sideline standards
Respect on the touchline is a condition of entry. Friendly, encouraging, no shouting at children.
A proper day out
Food, drinks and seating planned in, with parking and toilets confirmed before entries open.
Siblings welcome
Events are planned for whole families, not just the eleven players in the squad.
Age groups & pricing
U8 to U11. Formats that fit the age.
Indicative formats for 2027, aligned to FA youth guidelines. Final formats are confirmed with registered clubs before entries open, and every team gets a guaranteed minimum number of matches.
U8
- Format
- 5v5
- Squad size
- Squad of 8
- Duration
- Half-day festival
U9
- Format
- 7v7
- Squad size
- Squad of 10
- Duration
- Half-day festival
U10
- Format
- 7v7
- Squad size
- Squad of 10
- Duration
- Half-day or full-day
U11
- Format
- 7V7
- Squad size
- Squad of 12
- Duration
- Full-day tournament
INDICATIVE ENTRY: £75–£105 PER TEAM, BY AGE GROUP
The research range registered clubs are shaping now. Final per-event pricing is confirmed in writing before entries open, payable by secure online checkout, with nothing to pay until your club chooses to enter. Spectator admission at R3 events is planned at £2, supporting venues, officials and facilities.
All formats, squad sizes, durations and pricing are indicative and subject to County FA sanctioning and final confirmation to registered clubs.
Referees and officials
Qualified officials are central to the R3 Event Standard: match schedules published 14 days ahead, age-appropriate appointments and a named event lead on the day. We're building the panel now.
Straight answers
Questions, answered plainly.
- Do we need to be a registered club?
- No. Club teams, school teams and one-off friendship groups are all welcome at R3 events. Affiliated clubs and independent teams enter the same way. Academy teams and professional teams are not eligible for these events.
- What if our team is not very strong?
- That is exactly who these events are for. You tell us your level when you register and we band teams so games are competitive both ways. A heavy defeat all day helps nobody.
- How many games will we get?
- Every event publishes a guaranteed minimum number of matches per team before entries open, and we honour it on the day.
- How much does it cost?
- Indicative entry is £75 to £120 per team depending on age group and event length. Final pricing is confirmed in writing before entries open, payable by secure online checkout. Spectator admission is planned at £2.
- Where are events held?
- We are beginning in Essex in 2027 and planning around five Sundays across July and August. Wider East of England dates will follow only when the right venues, demand and approvals are in place.
- How is this different to the R¹ to R³ pathway?
- The pathway is a connected competition beginning with Essex R¹ and progressing to the East of England R² Regional Final in 2027, then building towards R³ in 2028. R3 Events and Tournaments are standalone days out with no qualification attached. Plenty of teams may do both.
2027 calendar
Tell us where you want to play.
Thirty seconds, no payment and no obligation. Registering interest tells us which age groups, areas and weekends to build the calendar around.