Hitchin Belles won the 2017 Girls’ Futsal Challenge Cup at St. George's Park

Tuesday 04 Jul 2017

St. George’s Park hosted the 2017 Girls’ Futsal Challenge Cup tournament at the weekend – won by Hitchin Belles.

The five-team event, made up of U16 players, took place in the Futsal Arena at the national football centre.

City Youth Futsal, Spurs Ladies Whites, Spurs Ladies Blues and Hayes & Yeading also competed in matches across two days.

Hayes & Yeading lifted the plate and secured third spot with two wins in as many matches while Hitchin Belles saw off Spurs Ladies Whites 4-1 in the showpiece final.

Tournament director Chris Johnson, who completed the FA Level 2 in the Coaching Futsal course at St. George’s Park last year, declared the event a success.

He said: “The tournament provides an opportunity to showcase this fast, highly-skilled and tactical version of the game to other clubs within Hertfordshire and beyond.

“Our club has supported and provided investment in its futsal programme for several years now.

“There are not many places that offer the futsal course, but I’m so glad I came here.

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“My visit was inspirational and I wanted our youth players to share the same experience so I was delighted that we were able to bring the competition here.”

As this was the final year of youth futsal for many of the original teams and players, host club St Albans City chose to stage this year’s competition at the home of the national teams.

The girls section at St Albans City Youth incorporates sixteen squads from U7 to U18, totalling close to 250 players from the Hertfordshire area.

They are a charter-standard club and are proud to be able to offer football for all, while also providing further opportunities for high-performing players thanks to their sister club status with Arsenal Ladies.

Johnson added: “The City Youth Futsal programme has shown vast benefits in terms of wider, long-term player development, in addition to giving our girls and boys an incredibly exciting format in which to learn, compete and have fun.”

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