Courtesy: North-West Evening Mail


Student selected to play in international futsal comp

Friday, 13 May 2011

AN Ulverston university student has been selected for the senior England futsal squad barely a year after taking up the sport.

Will Rooke has been included in the 14-man Three Lions outfit to face Montenegro on May 20 and 21 in Hereford.

The 21-year-old earned the call-up after first impressing with the England development squad during a training day in March.

The former Ulverston Victoria High School pupil’s talent caught the eye and he was then selected to attend a three-day training camp will the full England side.

After impressing alongside the country’s elite, he was then named in England head coach Peter Sturgess’ actual squad for next week’s friendly matches with the Montenegrins.

Will’s dad, John, of Whinfield Road, Ulverston, said: “Both myself, Will’s mother Kath and his brother Matthew are all very proud of Will’s achievements and his selection to represent England is the icing on the cake.

“Kath and I are travelling down to Hereford next weekend to support the team.”

Will, a former GSK Ulverston Rangers junior footballer, got involved with futsal at the University of Loughborough where he is studying a joint honours degree in maths and sports science.

He has made his mark as a prolific goalscorer.

He and four other Loughborough futsal players were selected to attend the senior England camp at Moulton College in Northamptonshire, but only Will and one other made the squad.

Dad John said: “Will is thrilled to have been selected and is really looking forward to the games against Montenegro. He will give his best as always and hopes to impress the England coaches and be selected for future internationals.”

WHAT IS FUTSAL?

FUTSAL is a variant of football. It is played on a smaller pitch and mainly indoors.
There are five players per team and there is no limit on the number of substitutions that may be used from a bench of seven players.
The ball is smaller than a football and less bouncy.
The game originated in Uruguay in the 1930s.
Brazil won the last FIFA Futsal World Cup in 2008.
Will Rooke’s England are ranked 88th in the world and did not qualify for the last World Cup in Brazil.
Montenegro, Will’s opponents, are ranked 59th.


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