Courtesy: Middlesbrough Futsal Club Official Web Site


Three former Boro captains named in England squad

Thursday, 19 November 2009

The latest England squad, for the away trip to Libya features three former Boro players, all of whom were captains during their time with Middlesbrough. Ryon Leyshon, the most recent Middlesbrough captain, and newest to the England set up joins Ben Mortlock and Curtis Holmes.

Curtis Holmes was the first ever captain when the club started out as Teesside University, and kept a clean sheet in the first ever game against York University. In the club's second year, Ben Mortlock was named as captain after representing Great Britain in the World University Futsal Championship in Poland in August 2006. He then also became Middlesbrough's first club captain when the club was formed in early 2007.

He captained Teesside University to the British University Championship, and Middlesbrough to second place in the Northern Futsal Premier League, as well as winning the York Open in a successful 2007.

2008 was Boro's first season in the FA Futsal League and Mortlock captained the side to their flying start, a historic 10-1 win against Leeds, formerly FC Barsa. 2008's early promise withered when the class off 2005 graduated and left Teesside, leaving Damon Shaw with a rebuilding job, as Curtis Holmes and Ben Mortlock went on to play for other teams and established themselves in the England team.

Ryon Leyshon stood in as captain for the remainder of 2008, where Boro finished 6th place in the FA Futsal League North, but had trialled several players and were building for 2009. Leyshon was instated as club captain officially at the start of 2009 and led Middlesbrough to their most successful season in their short history, winning the Tees Valley Futsal League, The North Riding Futsal Cup and the FA Futsal League North. At the start of 2009, he became involved with England, but didn't make his debut until last month against Israel. He will now fly with the squad to Libya as a member of the 14 man squad to face the African champions along with former team mates Holmes and Mortlock.

All three will be reunited at club level next season as they join Sheffield in the FA Futsal League North.

England play Libya in two friendly games on 4th and 5th December.







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