The FA Futsal Cup Finals 2010
Friday 10 September - Sunday 12 September 2010
English Institute of Sport, Sheffield
Futsal’s very own FA Cup takes centre stage at the English Institute
Of Sport in Sheffield this weekend where the exhilarating speed and
skill of Futsal will light up the Finals of The FA Futsal Cup.
Starting on Friday, 32 of the best men’s and women’s teams in the
country will begin their quest to get their hands on the Cup in a
competition where the standard of the teams and individual brilliance on
show is always a great spectacle for the watching crowds.
The route to the Finals has been a long one for clubs from all over
the country. Teams have qualified for the Finals following success in
The FA National Futsal Leagues, the University BUCS Championship and
from a series of regional qualifiers. Everyone deserves their place at
the Finals but in true cup tie fashion there is every chance of a few
upsets along the way.
Last
year’s men's champions Helvecia will be looking to win the cup for the
third year running, whilst other contenders such as Spartans, Sheffield
FC and Team United Birmingham will no doubt have their eyes on claiming
the silverware this year. There are also several newcomers involved such
as London outfit Team Unum and Torpoint Athletic from Cornwall who will
be out to make a name for themselves in English futsal.
Watford Ladies lifted the women’s title for a second time in 2009 and
they will also be back to defend their title again this year.
Competition in the women’s section will be stronger than ever this year
and the inclusion of BUCS representatives Northumbria University and MMU
Cheshire will ensure that several teams within the women’s groups will
be out demonstrate their futsal prowess over the weekend.
Helvencia FA League South Champions
2010 - FA National Champions 2010 -
FA Futsal Cup Holders 2009
The FA
Futsal Cup format sees four groups of four teams play each other, before
the top two from each group progress to the knock-out stages which
include a Quarter Final, Semi-Final and then The Final.
The bottom two from each group also get the opportunity to keep on competing, as they go on to contest the Plate competition.
Gavin Sartain & Lucas Lopez deliver a futsal refereeing 'master class'
Written by Kevin Bryant
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Grimsby accepted the rare opportunity to host a FC Grimsby vs. Grimsby Institute League Select game with the added bonus of two experienced referees. Grimsby referee Gavin Sartain is well known throughout English futsal, he recently was senior official in the FA National Play Off Final - Helvecia vs. Spartans.
Lucas was introduced to us by a local futsal player who was hosting Lucas whilst he visited to learn English. Lucas refereed 11 years in the Spanish League division 3, taking in games in the Balearic region. Lucas told us that in the Spanish League referees work as a pair for 1 season. usually not exceeding a travel radius of 2 hours, but not possible when they fly to Majorca to officiate.
A difference in style and interpretation was anticipated, it never transpired, both Gavin and Lucas was 'on the same song sheet.'
Both referees are commended for their professionalism to work together having met only minutes before the game and to 3rd referee Dean Gladwell and Dan Mawer for their assistance.
Referees left - right:
Dan Mawer, Lucas Lopez, Gavin Sartain, Dean Gladwell.
The score was incidental, but for the record FC Grimsby beat their opponents 6-2 helped by a superb display of futsal goal keeping by Gavin Broughton.
The 'Select' team included Sheffield and England star Ben Mortlock.
FCGY included Boston Town football star Paul Goodhand; Paul was a member of England's first ever futsal team. Paul has the dubious record of being England futsal teams first ever red card!
Also in the FCGY team FA League top scorer 2009 Mathew Payne.
Amazingly both matt and Paul work together and yet this was the first time they have been in the same team.
Finally my apologies to Lucas who was surprised that facilities in Grimsby are so poor that we play our league on an outdoor court; that said it has purpose marked international size futsal markings unhindered by other sport markings.
FC Grimsby stars, Mathew Payne, Paul Wilkinson & Simon Taylor all played for Gav's Galacticos at the finals (Champion Soccer Leagues). Matt Payne went onto secure the Golden Boot with 14 goals.
Mathew Payne said' futsal gave his team a head start as most of the opponents was used to playing football off walls and the finals was outdoors on a marked pitch.'
Gav's Galacticos was only team to play full tournament undefeated.
The tournament had 64 teams , all winners from local Champion Soccer Leagues.
The Grimsby Futsal League was honoured that referee Gavin Sartain was appointed to referee the 2010 FA National League Play Off Final (Helvecia and Spartans). This is a head to head between 2 London teams with substantial prize money at stake and the honour to represent England in the UEFA Futsal Cup. Helvecia has twice been national champions and Spartans once under their previous title White Bear.
Spartans has historically been Russian and Eastern block players, Helvecia- Brazilian dominated. This game has side issues. Futsal's equivalent of Manchester United vs. Liverpool.
The FA headlines read 'Greatest futsal game ever?' Some compliment that Gavin controlled such a tight game brilliantly well.
Great day at the office for FC Grimsby. The national eliminating system
meant that FCGY had to win a 3 team group including Real
Mabrid (Scarborough) and Oldham Athletic. Nothing was known about our
Scarborough opponents, Oldham was not the case as we had both beaten
each other in FA League North home games during the 2010 season.
An intriguing situation, win both games and team was through, beat Real
Mabrid by a close margin, losing was not an option, and Oldham was
playing last knowing the goal difference they would need to achieve to
go through.
The day started badly as a defencive slip let Real Mabrid in to score
0-1. A second close call was an even bigger wake up call. FCGY was
creating chances but failing to do what the best clubs do, finish a high
percentage of those chances. Once FCGY had equalised the game became
more 'ours to win.' At 3-1 half time the signs was good, but yet again
unforced errors let team down - 3-2. The game was still alive and our
Scarborough opponents had players in their squad capable of causing
opposition problems. Finally 4-2, 5-2, 6-2 and one last slip to finish
the game (6-3).
A +3 goal difference and Oldham next.
Totally different performance, the FCGY defence played as a unit, the game was slowed
to a pace that suited Grimsby and opportunities were coming our way. 1-0
half time. 2-0 final score and a place in last 16.
The September
finals are 'world cup' format . Teams play 1 game Friday, 2 Saturday, and
1, 2 or 3 games Sunday depending on qualifying position and results in
knockout stages.
Team captain Mathew Payne (pictured) was delighted with his team performance, ' the team rose to the occasion after a stop start season its great to have a big occasion to work towards.' Mathew singled out Gavin Broughton for a stunning performance in goal.
Team manager Kevin Bryant gave the Grimsby Institute ‘man of the match’ award to his captain for his work rate and goals
over the 2 games, he added that the defensive organisation against Oldham deserved
special mention.
The finals are at the prestigious English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
Grimsby referee Gavin Sartain will be officiating at the Finals.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 July 2010 )
Newton Heath - reign of success
Written by Kevin Bryant
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
The following tables chart the success of Danny Rodgers Newton Heath futsal team over past 2 leagues; an ongoing process with the team now challenging all 3 Second Avenue Divisions.
After a slow Premier League start the team has risen to the challenge, the 1-1 result vs. Fulstow Rovers this week being the highlight.
Keeping 1 team organised is a success in this day and age when, not everyone, but some players don't have the manners to return calls immediately or at worst don't bother at all. To keep 3 teams playing is a commendable achievement, to achieve such results on a continuous basis is remarkable.
Course Title: Preventing Sports Injuries
Course Code: 125
For all enquires about this course please contact:
LYNSEY NORRIS 01522 585580
Course Details:
Venue: University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS
Date: 21st July 2010
Times: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: £20
Closing Date: 12.7. 2010
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 June 2010 )
Leeds 4 FC Grimsby 4
Written by Kevin Bryant
Monday, 07 June 2010
Leeds 4 FC Grimsby 4
In team captain Mathew Payne’s opinion this was team’s best
performance of the season.
Not for the first time this season did we have to include a
newcomer, this time it was the experienced Kirk Russell who was
making his season’s
debut. Kirk would have made the start
line up many more times but for family illness.
From the early opening plays I was comfortable that Grimsby
was on their game and capable of taking the Leeds scalp. Leeds had
one player who posed a real threat
if left unchallenged, fortunately FCGY worked out early that his left
foot was
for standing on!
2 great Higgo saves was a warning that less than 100% defensive
concentration would be punished. An
early FCGY goal settled the nerves, FCGY then had a period of play
that warranted
at least 1 additional goal reward. As so
happens in futsal the game changes in seconds; Leeds keeper made a
stunning
save, the ball ends up within seconds in front of ‘Higgo’ who could
have kicked
it out of play, he went for a dribble and 1-1.
His only error.
The character of the team was being tested, would they allow
Leeds to dominate?
Manchester United under 10's to play at FA Youth Futsal Festival
Written by FA News
Saturday, 05 June 2010
FA NATIONAL
YOUTH FUTSAL FESTIVAL 2010
The Football
Association will once again be staging the National Youth Futsal
Festival in
Sheffield at the English Institute for Sport on the 3rd and 4th
July 2010. This will be the fourth year
that this showpiece festival in the FA Futsal calendar has been held
in
Sheffield, and this year will see a number of professional football
club
academy teams entering the festival for the first time.
The FA National
Youth Futsal Festival will see 80 youth teams from across the country
playing over
the weekend at under 10, under 12, under 14 and under 16 age groups.
These youth teams will travel from all
corners of the country after winning their local county Futsal
Festival, and
then progressing through their Regional Festival to represent their
region in
the National Finals. The FA National
Youth Futsal Festival celebrates both boys and girls Futsal, with the
focus
being on enjoyment, skill and fun.
This year will
be the first occasion that leading boys and girls’ football academies
will be
involved in the Festival. Clubs of the
calibre of Manchester United, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Leeds
United
amongst others will join local club Sheffield United in sending their
under 10
boys and girls academy teams to take part.
These professional clubs are not only keen to provide an enjoyable
football experience for their young players, but are also interested
to explore
how Futsal can be integrated into their training to support the
technical
development of their young talent.
“The FA National Youth Futsal
Festival is a wonderful occasion that brings together young people
from across
the country to participate in a game that they love. The atmosphere
of the event is terrific and
the young players really thrive at being involved in an FA national
event. This year’s Festival can only be enhanced
with the addition of a number of professional football club academies
and it is
pleasing to see that these clubs are beginning to embrace Futsal.
Futsal is a game that can really play a
positive role in assisting the technical development of the young
players in
this country.”
(Simon Walker, FA National Manager for Small
Sided Football)
