Courtesy: Scunthorpe Telegraph


Scunthorpe United futsal teams seek derby revenge over Grimsby

November 06, 2013

FROM the streets of Brazil to the North Sea coast, futsal is developing a growing following in Scunthorpe.

Gav Cooper is futsal scholarship manager with the Scunthorpe United Community and Education Trust, which now runs four futsal teams in a branch of the national league.

The 30 youngsters representing the Iron in the five-a-side, indoor game are enrolled as part of a scholarship which sees them study a BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport.

Gav, 26, said: “We’re in our second year now, so there are two groups of 15 on our futsal and education programme.

“The qualification they study is worth three A-Levels, so it’s a lot of hard work.”

The two-year course combines honing training and studying, with opportunities to work in schools included.

Gav said: “We want to develop the lads as people as well as footballers, so to give them that responsibility is something we’re keen to do.

“We’ve recently enrolled a bunch of the guys on their FA Level One coaching course, which they’re really excited about.”

The Scunthorpe group have brought success to the club - last season, the ‘B’ team won their North East league and reached the national finals.

This season, despite heavy defeats to local rivals Grimsby Town on Saturday for the ‘A’ and ‘B’ line-ups, Gav has high hopes for the new ‘C’ and ‘D’ sides when they line up today.

“Our ‘C’ team are unbeaten so far this season, so we’ve got high hopes of returning the favour.

“We’ve got some really talented lads in the group. Look out for Ryan Bonser and Oliver Burton. Zach Meadows has got 15 goals in three games so far, so we’re to get a little bit of revenge.”

All teams in United’s league play their games at Leeds Arena, removing the need to travel to teams such as Middlesbrough and Accrington.

The league itself is funded by the Football League Trust, which is working to boost participation in the sport in a bid to improve technique.

Gav said: “There’s been a bit of an explosion of the game in this country over the last couple, and that’s because people have looked at what other countries are doing and asking why we aren’t.

“Futsal is a big part of development in places like Brazil, Spain and Germany - countries that are a long way ahead of England at the moment.

“Because it’s five-a-side and the ball is heavier, it stays on the ground and encourages quick passing. It’s all about technique and movement.

“There’s nowhere to hide with so few players, so you have to be really fit.”

The teams train in Bottesford Sports Hall, with games being played in Leeds every Wednesday throughout the academic year.

This season, Iron first team goalkeeper, Sam Slocombe has been working with the futsal stoppers on a weekly basis, and said he too had learned from the experience.

The 25-year-old said: “What I have found is that I’ve taken some of the things that I’ve learnt from doing this futsal coaching into my own professional game.

“It’s really good to work with all the young guys.”

Applications for next year’s intake will open in early 2014.

To find out how to get involved in the sport, email gavsufcfutsal@hotmail.co.uk or visit http://fltfutsal.co.uk/club/scunthorpe-united/






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