Courtesy: Gloucestershire Live


Who is the international player in Cinderford Town's squad?

by Jon Palmer

September 06, 2016

Cinderford Town have an international player in their ranks.

Midfielder Simon Prangley has represented Wales at futsal, winning 17 caps and scoring five goals, including two against Holland.

Futsal is a modified form of football played with five players per side on a smaller, typically indoor, pitch.

One of the leading players in the sport, he also plays for Cardiff University, who broke all the records last season, going on to play in the UEFA Futsal Cup in Moldova last month.

The 26-year-old, who is a courier by trade, returned for a second spell with Cinderford in the summer, having played under Steve Peters' management four years ago.

"The chairman (Stuart Tait) got in touch and asked me if I'd come and have a go in the higher league and I jumped at the chance," Prangley said.

"It's the highest level I've played at and I was relishing the test because its a very tough league with some lovely grounds and experienced players.

"It's all a learning curve for me and I will only get better playing against these teams and players so I'm really enjoying it."

New managers Chris Burns and Allan Gough had to build a team a short notice after nearly all of the players that took Cinderford to the Division One South and West title last season left.

The only real aim for the Causeway club is to avoid relegation and with two wins from their opening seven games, Prangley believes they can pull clear of danger as the new-look team settles in.

"The aim for the season is to stay up of course," Prangley said.

"Considering we have two players from last season (Josh Nelmes and Nick Rhodes) here and to have put a team together two weeks before start of the season is unbelievable achievement by all at the club, especially Chris and Allan, who have been superb."

Prangley started out with his local team Malpas Gladiator before spells at Cwmbran Town, Caldicot, Newport County, Neath, Bryntirion and Taffs well and Afan Lido before going to Chepstow Town then onto Cinderford

"As a team we have no pressure when we cross that white line because all the other teams are expected to beat us, but we will continue to defend as a unit and grind results out," he said.

"We were disappointed to lose to Hitchin after being 3-0 up and all our games bar the Biggleswade defeat (5-0) have been close, losing by the odd goal.

"We will continue to improve and we are a young team considering I'm the third oldest at 26."

Cinderford return to action on Saturday with a home game against Dunstable Town.


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