Thrilling days of Futsal

The FA Futsal Youth Festival
3-4 July 2010
The English Institute Of Sport, Sheffield

This weekend saw over 60 young Futsal teams arrive in Sheffield for this year’s FA National Youth Futsal Festival and what proved to be an exciting couple of days for all concerned.

Taking place at the impressive English Institute Of Sport, the event had two days of Futsal action featuring teams from across the country who had qualified through their own Regional Festivals, with professional club Academies also sending teams to feature in the U10 boys' competition.

With both boys’ and girls’ teams taking part in the Festival, Saturday saw the U10 and U12 teams contesting, whilst Sunday was the turn of U14s and U16s. With matches taking place throughout both days, each section of the competition saw the eight teams separated into two groups of four in each age group, with a round-robin system used to decide which four teams would progress to the Semi-Final, and then the Final.

Speaking about the Festival, The FA’s Small-Sided Manager Simon Walker said: “Each year The FA National Youth Futsal Festival gets better, and this year’s event was exceptional. 

“The quality of the Futsal being played in all age-groups was outstanding and helps to demonstrate the rapid growth of Futsal in schools and youth clubs. The future success and development of Futsal in this country is very much dependant on young people continuing to gain opportunities to play the game, and the National Festival can help to encourage schools and other agencies to provide more localised Futsal competitions for children. 

“The atmosphere at this year’s event was electric and it was great to see the enjoyment of the young players at playing Futsal and attending an FA national event.”

Peter Sturgess, Head Coach of England Senior Men’s Futsal Squad was also present and added: “I see Futsal as an integral part of the development of our young players (at all levels) and this was confirmed at the weekend in The FA National Youth Futsal Festival.

“The way that the players were challenged physically, technically and tactically through Futsal will help build deeper foundations for their football futures. 

“It was exciting to see some of the professional clubs involved at the Festival with their Academy and Centre of Excellence players in the U10 age group: the level of skill, movement and comfort on the ball was very encouraging and bodes well for the future.”~

For all of Saturday's results, click here.

For all of Sunday's results, click here.

The Finals

U10 Boys

Wycombe Wanderers 1-3 Sheffield United Academy

U10 Girls

Middlesex FA 2-1 Leeds United

U12 Boys

Griffstars Bushloe School 3-0 Eastlea Community School

U12 Girls

Poynton High 0-1 Shenfield School

U14 Boys

Shenfield School 2-1 Northampton Futsal Club

U14 Girls

The Denes High School 4-1 Barnsley Academy

U16 Boys

Northampton Futsal Club 4-2 Branksome School

U16 Girls

Queens School 0-4 Saints