The Deeside Leisure Centre in Queensferry was the setting for a major sporting breakthrough for Wales, with five Teams from around the Principality competing in the first Futsal Tournament held in Wales.

The inaugural Welsh Futsal League Cup was organised by the new Welsh Futsal Association, under the auspices of the F.A.W., and featured all five of the nation's existing Futsal Clubs, Futsal Conwy, Colwyn Bay, Llandrillo College, Glamorgan Academics, plus Deeside's own representative side, the formidable Deeside Dragons .

Futsal is the only FIFA recognised form of five-a-side football, and is now the approved format for indoor soccer around the world. It's a game which requires and promotes speed, agility and skill and is widely regarded as a major factor in the success of the traditionally skil ful South American nations, such as Brazil.

The competition was sponsored by Zomp Internet Solutions, and amongst the dignitaries present were Trevor Lloyd-Hughes, the Hon. Treasurer of the F.A.W., and Bryan Roberts, the North East Wales F.A.'s Development Officer.

The competition was based on a league format, with each team playing four thirty minute matches on a pitch of some 800 sq. metres, and at the close it was Deeside Dragons who emerged victorious, closely followed by Colwyn Bay.

The trophies were presented by the sponsors' representative, Liz Whelan, and Mr. Lloyd-Hughes, who expressed his pleasure in the standard of play he'd been able to enjoy during the day.

The General Secretary of the Welsh Futsal Association, John Hardy, congratulated the Teams for their performances, the excelent spirit in which the games were played, and for making the launch of Futsal in Wales such a huge success.

He confirmed that the next step is the launch of the Welsh Futsal League in December, which will lead on to the National Finals in the New Year, with the Champions then eligible to represent Wales in next season's UEFA. Futsal Cup, subject to the approval of the F.A.W.

He went on to add that the plan is to then establish a National Training Squad, with the aim of creating a National Team capable of competing in international competitions at the highest level, and he invited anyone interested in learning more about the sport to contact him via the Association's website.

Final Standing
1. Deeside Dragons -------------4-4-0-0-36--5-12
2. Colwyn Bay ------------------4-2-1-1-13-20-7
3. Glamorgan Academicals -------4-1-1-2--9-13-4
4. Futsal Conwy ----------------4-1-0-3-12-18-3
4. Team D ----------------------4-1-0-3--7-22-3

Results:

Futsal Conwy - Colwyn Bay 3-5
Deeside Dragons - Glamorgan Academicals 7-1
Futsal Conwy - Llandrillo College 7-2
Colwyn Bay - Deeside Dragons 2-11
Llandrillo College - Glamorgan Academicals 3-2
Futsal Conwy - Deeside Dragons 2-8
Colwyn Bay - Llandrillo College 3-2
Futsal Conwy - Glamorgan Academicals 0-3
Llandrillo College - Deeside Dragons 0-10
Colwyn Bay - Glamorgan Academicals 3-3




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