Kevin Nolan could well be in line for an appearance at Wembley Stadium later in the year – but it’s nothing to do with his club Bolton Wanderers.
Bolton’s skipper is a great supporter of grassroots football and has a direct link with a side tipped to go all the way in The FA UMBRO Fives competition.
The world’s top five-a-side football tournament is back for a second year – capturing the imagination of thousands of small sided players the length and breadth of the country – with the finals day once again being hosted by Wembley Stadium.
Dermot Collins, Head Of Small Sided Football at The FA, says that the event is once again the talk of five-a-side players throughout the country.
“Playing small sided football is a great way of having fun while at the same time improving the basic skill level of players,” he said.
“The chance to play at Wembley is the ultimate dream for any football fan - and The FA UMBRO Fives will help make this dream come true for a few lucky teams later this year.”
Nolan is backing a team calling themselves New York – containing family members and friends – by helping out with kit for the occasion.
They’ve certainly stamped themselves as one of the favourites to lift the overall title, storming through their heats in the North West at PlayFootball, Crosby and thrashing Da Bouyz 8-1 in the final, with Lee Madin scoring a hat-trick.
The midfielder’s support of grassroots football was perfectly illustrated in April 2004 when he turned up at Anfield to cheer Liverpool’s Nicosia – again containing members of his family – to victory against UK Flooring, in The FA Sunday Cup Final. His gesture of making a point of shaking the hands of the UK squad as they sat dejectedly on the pitch at the final whistle, is well remembered by those who saw it.
Another side from the North West could pose an awesome challenge though. A team by the name of Awesome had to contend with thunderstorms at PlayFootball, Preston – but made light of the terrible conditions by thrashing Larches 9-2 in the final.
A Cornwall cricket club has also switched to football with great effect. Camborne CC won the men’s final by a 3-1 margin against Hendra FC. In the women’s competition, it was an all home affair, with Newquay First Team eventually beating Newquay Second Team by 3-0 on penalties after the match itself had finished scoreless.
And how fitting it would be if a side from the Crawley heats made it through to the national finals? They’re appearing under the name of Wembley Allstars. The Allstars and Royz Boyz have both progressed with unbeaten records, earning compliments from the organisers for their sportsmanship and quality football alike.
The spirit of Bobby Moore could live on at Wembley as well, following the Eastern Region women’s qualifying heats at Southend Garons Tennis and Leisure Centre.
A fantastic tournament, with a spread of teams from across the Essex County FA’s area, saw West Ham United Ladies emerge as champions.
Other teams earmarked as potential overall winners in the women’s event are Cheltenham Town, who romped through the Worcestershire FA tournament with an unbeaten record – and Lincoln City Reserves, who will be hoping Tanya Dickinson maintains the kind of goal-scoring form which saw her net twice in the East Midlands final against Grimsby Town.
So things are warming up nicely for a competition which is again capturing the imagination of footballers throughout the county. And with the finals being staged under the floodlights at Wembley Stadium, who can blame them.