Courtesy: Newham Recorder


Youngsters impress Hammers ace Matt

21 May 2008

ROYAL DOCKS got a chance to showcase their skills in the annual Redbridge College Futsal tournament in front of West Ham star Matthew Etherington.

Redbridge College played host to the event for the second year running, putting on an excellent tournament, with sports studies students assisting with the management and coaching of the sides providing important skills training.

Lana Bond, Essex football development officer for education, said: "The expertise of the coaches and students plays a key role in the development of players and was important for the growth of the game.''

The FA-sanctioned Futsal indoor football tournament is a five-a-side game played with hockey sized goals and relies on players' skills and ability to react quickly.

The sport is slightly different from normal five-a-side football as the game is played to touchlines rather than rebound boards and the reduced pitch area encourages technical development and a greater level of skill.

In total, eight schools participated in the tournament, producing some excellent performances and Andy Russell, of Football First and coach at Redbridge College, was impressed by the level of play produced by the year sevens.

One of the stars of the tournament, 11-year-old Thomas King from Seven Kings, was ecstatic to take part on the day, he said: "Futsal is great as it helps improve your skills and develops your standard of play when you move on to the full size pitch."

The tournament was played in great spirit, with all the teams providing entertainment during both the pool and play-off stages and following a number of nail-biting matches, it was last year's winners, the Royal Docks, who made it through to the last match where they met Shenfield in a pulsating final.

The match was played at a high tempo and went down to the wire, with the defending champions eventually scoring the vital late winner deep into extra time.

Chief executive of the Essex FA, Phil Sammons, and Etherington handed out the winner's trophy to the Royal Docks, bringing to an end a successful tournament.

The win secures the Royal Docks a place in FA National Futsal Festival later this year where they will represent Essex in the under-12 category at the national event.






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