Courtesy: The FA.com




Best Fut forward

Friday, 21 July 2006

With The FA Futsal Cup just hours away from the big kick-off, here is your complete guide to the teams taking part.

The 16 best teams in the land will battle it out from Friday afternoon as the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield with the prize of national champions awaiting the winners.



Here are the teams...

Baltic United FC

Runners-up last year, Baltic United have kept all the players who lost the final as well as adding some new faces, one of them 19 year old Andrew Brown, who is a very strong physical player. This year the team were invited to play in the first International Futsal Tournament in Portugal where they faced professional teams from Portugal and Spain. They finished fourth and were awarded the Fair Play Trophy. Baltic United also took part in the Futsal Premier League competitions - Seria A - National, and Seria B - London.

Barsa

Formed by Kevin Barr, Barsa have an average age of just 18. Winning 12 of 14 games, as league winners, they played Metro Cabs of Halifax in a regional play-off, winning 5-3. With most players studying for exams and all suffering the tragic loss of friend and team-mate Chris Black, Barsa have shown admirable focus.

Doncaster College for the Deaf

Doncaster College for the Deaf are the defending champions. Being in the finals is an achievement within itself, as they are the first disability team to compete in a mainstream event. Last year they came through from the Sheffield and Hallamshire Elite League after a rocky season. They outdid all expectations by getting through to the final and beating Baltic United 3-2.

FCF Corinthians

First Class Football Corinthians are managed by Ben Tadmor and qualified for the finals via the Eastern play-off.

FC Trudovye

FC Trudovye finished third in the Futsal Superleague with seven wins and three loses - a fine achievement as it was only their second time in a Futsal league. The previous year they finished fifth. The team regularly took part in powerleague competitions and enjoyed some good results.

FC White Bear

White Bear, who are made up of Eastern European players, go into the tournament in formidable form having won all their games in the London based Futsal Super League. Previous winners in 2004, White Bear played in UEFA Futsal Cup and were unlucky not to progress to the knock-out stages.

Ipswich Wolves

Ipswich Wolves were created by a group of young Portuguese friends in 2004. Two years later they qualified for the National Finals. This achievement was a result of a good team spirit and the contribution of captain Hilton Diogo, experienced Ricardo Ferreira "Kadu", the magic of Jordão Diogo and the goals of Bruno Ferrage.

Kickers Futsal

The champions of the very competitive Futsal Premier League in London had to work hard to reach Sheffield. After eight months of stern competition against teams like Helvecia do Brasil and Baltic United, Kickers topped the league and secured their place at the National Finals for the third time in as many years.

Nicol Magpies

Nicol Magpies progressed from the Grimsby Futsal League with an impressive 100 per cent record to qualify for their third consecutive National Finals. Key players for the Magpies will be frontmen Paul Goodhand and Mark Huntley. The skilful Goodhand has been the Magpies' top scorer at the two previous nationals, while skipper Huntley will provide a physical presence and eye for goal.

Norwich Union Futsal Club

NUFC started their Futsal life in early 2005 when they took part in the first Futsal League in York. They finished second but improved in their second season to seal a league and cup double. The club produced some remarkable comeback performances throughout the season, including in the play-off for the Futsal Cup when they edged past a very good Selby side.

Ravenous Taverners

The Ravernous Taverners were formed four years ago and have had much success in small sided football. This is their first season of Futsal and they have successfully integrated long standing members of the Taverners with former players of national champions Sheffield Hallam. Players to look out for include Graham Smith, Stephen Harrison and Louis Axcell who have all been capped by England.

Reckitts

Reckitts qualified for the finals via the East Riding League.

Salford Victoria

Salford Victoria will be representing the Manchester FA after defeating University of Teesside 4-2 after extra-time in a thrilling regional Futsal play-off fixture. Salford Victoria compete in the Manchester FA Futsal League and qualified by winning six out of their seven league games and finishing first in the league, scoring 55 goals in the process.

Santos

Santos have qualified for the finals via the Pendle League.

Sporting Shropshire

Sporting Shropshire are managed by Mick Murphy, the County Development Manager for Shropshire FA. The captain James Watkins was the top scorer in qualifying with 59 goals in ten games. The team features several ex-trainees – Dean Cunningham and Matthew Burton were both with Port Vale, while Owain Prosser was with Plymouth Argyle.

Tranmere Victoria

Tranmere Victoria are based on the Wirral and started playing Futsal abroad over 15 years ago. During this period they played over 400 matches in more than ten different countries. A number of their players have as much as ten years' experience. They were the first team to represent England in the UEFA Futsal Cup.

Team United Birmingham

Team United are managed by Ikhlaq Hussain, a football development coach for Birmingham City Council who features in The FA’s Get into Football campaign. This is their second National Finals appearance.

Vaughans FC

Last year's plate winners, Vaughans once again qualified undefeated. With inspirational captain Alex Sykes, also of England, leading an experienced side they managed to overcome the highly rated Helvecia do Brasil in their final regional qualifier 9-4. The free scoring team managed to score nearly 40 goals in their qualifiers with a solid defensive record as well.



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