Press release by the Sheffield & Hallamshire County F.A.

FA Futsal Cup 2009 preview

The FA Futsal Cup Finals 2009
3rd – 5th July
English Institute of Sport, Sheffield, S9 5DA

With both a men’s and women’s title up for grabs, the competition will be as fierce as ever over the three days of Futsal with a total of 32 teams involved.

Teams qualified via The FA National Futsal League, the university BUCS Championship and from a series of regional qualifiers and the countdown is now on until the start of the games this Friday (3 July).

Last year’s men's champions Helvecia will be back to defend their title, whilst the likes of FC White Bear, Tranmere Victoria and Kickers amongst several newcomers like Streetly will be out to challenge them.

Doncaster Rovers Belles lifted the women’s title in 2008, but they won’t be back this year to defend it so that will leave last season’s beaten Finalists and the 2007 champions Watford Ladies determined to prove their Futsal worth again.

However, with a growing number of teams beginning to compete in Futsal, they could face a serious challenge this time around.

The FA Futsal Cup format sees four groups of four teams drawn out, 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 Sheffield and Hallamshire FA representative futsal team will be flying the flag for the host city of Sheffield in the men’s competition. The team has a mixture of experience, including some of the younger players that have been involved with the junior programme. The team finished runners up in plate competition at last years final and are currently top of the league in the FA Futsal League North.
The team have been drawn in Group B, and face last year’s winners Helvecia along with FA Futsal League North rivals Loughborough.

GROUP B
Helvecia
Sheffield & Hallamshire
Loughborough University
Lietuva

Brian Peck, Sheffield and Hallamshire Head of Football Development said “The representative team are very much looking forward to the tournament this weekend; all the players have worked hard in training in preparation and are proud to be representing the County FA, competing against the top Futsal teams from across the country. We are hoping that people will come down and support the team, watch our progress and find out a bit more about Futsal.


FA Futsal Cup 2009 Draw

GROUP A
Middlesbrough
Worcester University
Team Bath
London United

GROUP B
Helvecia
Sheffield & Hallamshire
Loughborough University
Lietuva

GROUP C
Hartpury College
Kickers
Dengo United
White Bear

GROUP D
Leeds Met University
Tranmere Victoria
Streetly School
Genesis

The FA UMBRO Futsal Cup Final Event Schedule

Friday 3rd July – Play starts at 1PM, with last matches scheduled to finish at 8.15PM

Saturday 4th July – Play starts at 9AM, with last matches scheduled to finish at 7.15PM

Sunday 5th July – Play starts at 9AM, Semi Finals and Finals will be played from 12PM

The Sheffield and Hallamshire FA region has become somewhat of a centre of excellence for Futsal and other small-sided games. For the sixth year in a row, Sheffield has been chosen to host the tournament at The English Institute for Sport. The event will see both the Men’s and Women’s FA Futsal Cup Competition played out over three days.

For more information on Futsal and small-sided football in the area contact Darren Gale on Freephone 0800 652 0858 or email info@soccersceneleagues.com















Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com