SANTOS QUALIFY FOR FA FUTSAL FINALS

Santos Futsal Club have become the first team to qualify for the 2004 FA National Futsal Finals.

The Lancashire-based side secured their place in the unique soccer
tournament by narrowly-winning the Pendle regional qualifying league.

The Futsal Finals are being staged at Sheffield's English Institute of Sport on June 18-20, with the winners representing England in the UEFA Futsal Cup.

Pendle's regional league, which is the oldest in the country, began in
October at the Pendle Leisure Centre in Colne, Lancashire.

Santos clinched the title in dramatic style, with a 6-5 win over runners-up Papermarc in their penultimate game of the season.

Santos Manager Clive Dinsdale said: "Papermarc pushed us all the way and it was a very close affair. They had been leading the table for most of the season, but the eleven-goal thriller edged the title our way."

Santos are one of the most established and successful teams in the country and were disappointed to be knocked out of last year's finals at the group stage.

Clive believes his side will go much further in this year's championships in Sheffield.

He added: "We are delighted to reach the finals and hopefully we can go all the way. We will have a stronger squad than we did last year and we are determined to claim another piece of silverware."


PENDLE QUALIFYING FUTSAL LEAGUE

Final Standings

1. Santos A -----------------20-19--0--1-168-70--57
2. Papermarc ----------------20-18--0--2-156-77--54
3. Santos B -----------------20-15--0--5-143-72--45
4. Banana Splits ------------20-14--1--5-155-106-43
5. P.E. St. Germain ---------20--9--3--8-120-102-30
6. Cleaner World ------------20--8--2-10-136-128-26
7. Redbacks -----------------20--7--0-13-106-131-21
8. B.A.F.C ------------------20--6--0-14-113-177-18
9. Buy the T-Shirt.com ------20--3--3-14--91-160-12
10. Barrowford --------------20--3--1-16--72-139-10
11. Engineers ---------------20--2--2-16--73-171--8