The FA UMBRO Futsal Cup Finals take place this weekend, as a total of 32 teams from both the men’s and women’s game converge on the English Institute Of Sport in Sheffield to contest the relevant titles on offer.
It has been a long road to The Finals for many of the teams, with qualification taking place over the last few months across the country.
This year’s Final should also provide an indication as to the rise in standard of Futsal in England, with many of the participating teams also taking part in The FA Regional Futsal Leagues.
Beginning in March, the North, South and Midlands Leagues have pitched the best teams in the country against each other and The FA Umbro Futsal Cup will provide the first opportunity for the best teams from each region to lock horns. The qualifying process has also thrown up some new teams who disposed of well regarded Regional League teams to secure their place in The Finals.
The favourites for The Men’s Cup are the most likely the holders Ipswich Wolves. Manager Jorge Ribiero has assembled a formidable team from the Portuguese community in Suffolk and the Wolves will use this competition as preparation for the first round of the UEFA Futsal Cup which begins in August.
They will be desperate to progress to the later rounds of that competition in order to test themselves against the professional teams of Europe.
London White Bear appear best placed to challenge the Wolves, as they have dominated The FA Southern League this year and once again have assembled a formidable squad of Eastern European and talented English players.
Tranmere Victoria have often faltered at the Semi-Final stage in recent years but are once again in fine form going into these Finals with a 5-2 victory over Manchester Futsal Club confirming their leadership of the Northern League.
Baltic have twice reached The Final of this competition and return to Sheffield this year with a younger and fitter team. Baltic have the knack of finding a ‘winning game’ against showier opponents and will be a danger once again this time around.
Futsal origins in South America should mean that Brazilian teams start with an advantage, but they have so far failed to progress beyond the quarter final stage in this competition. However, Helvecia from London appear to be a genuine contender this year, with Raoni Medina who has played professional Football in Asia and Europe, and alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the Sporting Lisbon B Team, having proved a valuable asset this season.
Also from the London region, Corinthians come into these Finals having knocked out last year’s finalist Vaughans in a regional qualifier.
The worldwide appeal of Futsal is also reflected in the Birmingham Tigers team, who have a number of Iranian players with Davood Aria a former international for the Asian Champions.
Team United, also from Birmingham, have had an inconsistent season but will benefit from the development of a youth team that impressed at the recent FA Youth Futsal Festival.
Various Universities have also embraced Futsal and Loughborough University have a place in Sheffield courtesy of victory in the BUSA Championships. With a world famous reputation for sporting excellence, the University side is a potential threat to any team.
Worcester University have similarly taken up the game and will be looking for England international Shane Gill to help them progress.
Sheffield has developed the game of Futsal more than any other location in the country and two teams from the host city will be represented in The Finals.
Sheffield FC were established in 1857 and are the oldest football club in the world and they have now supported the establishment of a new Futsal section (left) that competes in the Northern Regional League.
Meanwhile, the Sheffield and Hallamshire CFA have assembled a team of England internationals and foreign talent, with former Haitian international Pierre Mercier the most exotic.
Manchester Futsal Club will be making their first appearance in The FA Futsal Cup since forming in April 2006. The club have quickly progressed from the Manchester FA Futsal League to lead The FA Futsal Conference North. The North are also represented by Hull Futsal Club, who have the ability to beat any team if they can bring their best side to the competition.
The two qualifying rounds for the competition pitched teams from new leagues against well established Futsal sides. The Newham Genesis have recruited players from one of the country’s most successful five-a-side teams and it will be of interest to see whether these talented players can transfer their skills to the more tactical and skilful game of Futsal. Watch out for Ferrad Sofiane whose free-styling technique has made him a legend in the five-a-side world.
I Security from Essex shocked many people when they took one of the last qualifying places ahead of more experienced Futsal teams and they will have little fear of reputations going into The Finals this weekend.
In the Women’s competition, many of the teams are an unknown quantity but Watford Ladies will remain the team to beat. Last year, the Hornets won both The FA UMBRO Fives and The FA Futsal Cup and then went on to have a very credible first season in The FA Women’s Premier League.
TNS Ladies had a great tournament last year with a small squad and the addition of some new players could make all the difference for them. The competition has also attracted the interest of Yeovil Town, Rushden and Diamonds and West Ham United.
Bino United bring together players from the Birmingham and Aston Villa Ladies squads, so it will be of interest to see how these eleven-a-side teams tackle the technical and tactical demands of the small sided game.
The FA’s network of Women’s Development Officers has initiated a range of local leagues to produce qualifiers and both Cambridge Regional College and South Downs College will compete against the reputations of established Women’s Futsal Teams.
Team United are part of a thriving Futsal club and won the BBC ‘Your Game Tournament’ earlier this year so should be regarded as one of the favourites.
Tranmere Ladies also have a parent Men’s team so are sure to receive some noisy support from their club mates. Also from the north-west are Dingle Ladies, who won the Liverpool League this season.
Willesden Ladies promise to bring exciting inner city talent from around the world to the Tournament whilst the Loughborough Foxes and Worcester City Ladies (left) are new to the competition, but have an exciting group of players to draw upon.
As in the Men’s draw, the Women’s competition is completed by two teams from the host city in Sheffield FC and Sheffield and Hallamshire CFA, who will wish to keep The Cup in the Steel City.
