Source: ManchesterFutsal.com

First there was the men’s team, then there was the youth development project followed swiftly by the return of our FA Futsal Fives league.

Now, Manchester Futsal Club is proud to announce that the wheels have been put in motion to begin a brand new and exciting adventure: Manchester Ladies Futsal Club.

Heading the project is Leanne Skarratt, who first came across futsal six years ago when she discovered clips of Brazil legend Falcao on YouTube.

“I've played football since I was five years old and have always been obsessed with watching players with great technique and skill,” said Skarratt.

“I started coming down to watch the men train and play, and I was surprised by how fast and technical the game was, and I also saw how fun it looked to play. My first question was: ‘Where is the women's team?’

“When I found out that women's futsal isn't even off the ground yet in this country, particularly in Manchester, that's when I decided I wanted to help get it up and running.”

Promotion for a ladies’ team only started last month but there has been a high volume of interest with over 30 enquiries so far, however Skarratt is aware that it is still early days and there is a challenge that lies ahead.

“I think it's always difficult to gauge these things before the sessions have actually started,” she continued. “But with the interest and feedback we've had I think we have good reason to be optimistic that the project can be successful.

“The most important thing initially is to have a committed group of players attending the weekly sessions. This will then enable us to look towards organising some friendlies against other women's futsal teams across the country.”

The long term goals for the project are to have a competitive ladies side participating in a National Futsal League and to encourage more young girls in the area to get involved in the sport.

Futsal is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK and, as shown by the level of interest from the Club’s Youth Development Centres, more players are interested in taking part in futsal from a young age.

“As seen in Brazil and Spain, the younger players start playing futsal, the better developed their technique and tactical awareness as an adult,” said Skarratt. “There is an under-19s championship coming up in March which we will be looking to enter a team into.

“In the long term it would be great if we could emulate the boys and have Development Centres for girls, all the way up to open age.

“We are currently working closely with the Manchester FA to ensure that women's futsal is developed across the region as a whole. Eventually we would like to have a women's futsal league where, perhaps, local 11-a-side clubs would enter teams into the competition.”

The ladies team will be training at Wright Robinson College, Gorton on Wednesday evenings. Contact Leanne Skarratt at: leanne.skarratt@manchesterfutsal.com for further details and to register your interest.





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