Courtesy: The FA.com

Dell names Futsal squad

Futsal National Coach Graeme Dell has unveiled his latest squad for England’s upcoming friendly home internationals against Belgium in Bath later this month and for the prestigious KL World 5’s tournament in Malaysia during June.

These will be England’s first ever Futsal home internationals, which will be hosted at the new English Institute of Sport at Bath University on Monday 24 May and Tuesday 25 May.

Dell’s latest squad contains several new caps alongside players from the squad that played in the UEFA Qualifying Group tournament in Albania in January. Among those receiving their first call-ups are Football Conference duo Mario Daniels (Leigh RMI) and Steve Perkins (Gravesend & Northfleet) who both have small-sided backgrounds.

The squad has been drawn from all areas of the national game, from grassroots to the professional levels, highlighting the extent to which the game of Futsal is fast becoming an integrated element of football development in England. Such is the diversity of this team that it demonstrates an unusual blend of both Futsal and football backgrounds on the same court, which will see Sheffield United’s Dan Wood, line up alongside Lowestoft Town's Jamie Godbold.

Marc Canham from team Bath is another notable inclusion having put in performances in their Southern League campaign this season, attracting interest from several Football League clubs. The growing number of dedicated Futsal clubs have also shown how they can produce players for the national team with the trio of Graham Smith, Louis Axcell and Stephen Harrison included from current National Champions, Sheffield Hallam.

Forest Green's Alex Sykes earns another call following his impressive performances in Albania and his clear understanding of the Futsal discipline.

Looking ahead to the Belgium games Dell said: “I am excited by the challenge that these two fixtures present and by the potential within this squad in these early stages of our Futsal development.

"There could potentially be a new squad each time but that doesn’t give us any legacy from one squad to the next. However, the desire to be selected for this national team is now clearly evident and the players are going away and working hard at their Futsal.

Dell continued: "By finding these new players and working with them, and then adding to this squad each time, we are moving in the right direction of improving the national team, but we still have a long way to go.

“The players retained from the Albania group rightly deserve another call up and the new caps have shown great potential in everything that I have seen in them, from technical ability, fitness levels, right through to their Futsal understanding.

“This squad will potentially have six games together within four weeks and that is a massive benefit to me as a coach in order to do some quality work with them whilst the players can use the time create a better understanding between each other.

“Marc Canham, Ben Walker and Louis Axcell are three exciting young prospects who I think will have a great future in this game and their athleticism and brightness makes them stand out on any court. In fact, the whole group is quite young but with some experience within it from players such Sykes and Gallen we are well balanced," Dell added.

“With Belgium narrowly failing to qualify for next January’s European Championship finals in the Czech Republic their team is likely to consist mainly of U21 players as they move these players up to senior level to gain experience.

"Many of them will be playing at professional Futsal clubs across northern Europe and they will certainly act as a continuing guide as to how far we have yet to go to compete with the best national teams in Europe.”


Player (Club)

Graham Smith (Sheffield Hallam Futsal Club)
Tim Mullock (Hyde United)
Dan Wood (Sheffield United FC)
Steve Perkins (Gravesend & Northfleet FC)
Stephen Harrison (Sheffield Hallam Futsal Club)
Louis Axcell (Sheffield Hallam Futsal Club)
Ben Walker (Worksop FC)
Marc Canham (Team Bath FC)
Stephen Gallan (Hendon FC)
Mario Daniels (Leigh RMI FC)
Jamie Godbold (Lowestoft Town FC)
Mark Simmons (Thamesmead Town FC)
Richard Follett (Tamworth FC)
Alex Sykes (Forest Green Rovers FC)


The two fixtures will take place in a specially constructed indoor arena at the English Institute of Sport at Bath University with a 7.30pm kick off on Monday 24th May and a 1.00pm kick off on Tuesday 25th May.

Entry to the matches is free but with a limited capacity at the EIS, spectators are advised to arrive early for both games.