Author Archives: Kevin Bryant

The Grimsby Futsal League is honoured by the visit of Daniel Berdejo Del Fresno & Andrew Oldham and thank them for their inspirational coaching sessions.

Wind rain and no sunshine, what a greeting for our Spanish futsal guest Daniel Berdejo-del-Fresno. Dan was accompanied by Adam Oldham, an ex Barnsley pro’, more acclimatised to the worst of our weather.  Adam played for Sheffield Futsal team when Daniel managed them to become national champions.

Daniel is currently on contract with The Saudi Arabian national futsal team.

The morning sessions were with Saints u11s & 13s. Followed by an evening session with GSC u10s.

It would have been great to have teams represented across the ages but unfortunately it was not a workable possibility.

With a ball for every player Dan and Adam opened up each session with a ball control session emphasising the importance of using the sole of the shoe rather than the side of the shoe.

They then placed players in two’s opposite each other.  The ball was passed from player to player, the emphasis being again on using the sole of the trainer, receiving and moving in one motion.  The players were then challenged to receive, move and pass off the opposite foot.

They then moved onto a shooting and defending drill.  The players were split into two groups.  Group one attacked at speed vs. a single defender, they had a time limit of seven seconds to score.  Immediately the ball was dead in group one, group two attacked.  The key points were attacking at speed, and for the defenders patient defending and angling the body to force the attacker away from the goal.  Everyone, excepting the keeper rotated which kept the whole group working at high speed, whilst learning to both attack and defend.

Last they finished with a match, with occasional instructions of advice offered.

During the sessions some of Dan’s influential futsal friend’s came down to meet up with him, which made the day even more enjoyable.  I don’t often get to share a coffee discussing World Cups and Premiership managers that played futsal.

I have spoken to the managers and am pleased that they got to take something from the sessions, and doubly pleased that their players was grateful for their opportunity to be coached by coaches at the elite level of the game.

NB: Dan and Adam will be at Hull this coming Saturday.  There is space for an u12 team if anyone is available?  Note the session is indoors at the fabulous Hull University venue.  Call Kevin Bryant 0n 07980286663 for more details.

Visit by Daniel Berdejo Del Fresno Monday 31st July. Venue: YMCA Muga, Kent Street, Grimsby.

Daniel Berdejo Del FresnoA rare chance to watch an international futsal coach at work, Daniel has managed Sheffield FC to be English champions and then moved to Loughborough University, and then to Bay City FC, San Francisco. In between Daniel finds time to work with the Saudi Arabian national futsal team. Daniel was at the last FIFA world football cup as part of the backroom staff for the Saudi Arabian football team.

All are welcome to come and watch.

My apologies for the late notice, which on this occasion, has been unavoidable.

Daniel Berdejo Del Fresno Daniel Berdejo Del Fresno

The Grimsby Futsal League has closed now for its traditional summer break.

The 5 teams that played the last night
2023

The last night was a mixed u9/10s, 5 team mini tournament.  Grimsby Soccer Club supplied two teams, Saints, Grimsby Panthers and Discoveries Wolves a team each.

Recently all five managers have mentioned to me the progress their players (team) are making by playing futsal. This is gratifying to hear as it endorses my own observations from my referee position.

Uefa sports science studies all point to futsal as being the start point to creating the grass footballer.  Messi and Ronaldo are the prime examples.

Thanks to the 5 teams that made Friday such an excellent night, but also to all the leagues teams.

This is your league, only the referees get paid.  Another season completed with a referee for every match and no team fined.

Kevin Bryant

Welfare Officer & Fixture Secretary

Cleethorpes Town All Stars are the winners in a very strong four team mini tournament

After two seasons playing on the full court, four under 13’s teams moved to the two regular sized futsal courts.

How would they adapt? As a match referee my observation is that they all adapted easily to the smaller court. That said the teams was split 50/50 on whether they preferred the larger or smaller court.

The teams’ Clee Patterson’s All Stars, Grimsby United, Waltham and Clee Pattersons’ Black’s played a 4 team mini tournament, with the top two teams playing a final and the runners up playing a third/fourth place match.

Grimsby United just edged Waltham for third place.

The Patterson’s teams continued their strong league form into the final. Patterson’s stealing the final glory.

Pictured are the Clee Patterson’s All Stars team.

Clee Patterson’s All Stars
2023

Under 12s League completes after the top 4 teams split into a straight knockout competition.


In the semi finals Discoveries Salters was set against Discoveries Dynamo’s & Discoveries PPR vs. Healing Hammers.

It has wisely been pointed out to me that I missed the fact that 3 of the last 4 was from the Discoveries stable of teams. Some achievement. Equally important is the fact that 3 of the final 4 was under eleven teams. Dynamo being the u12 team.

I had the pleasure of refereeing Healing vs. PPR, both u11 teams. Without question the best 11 aside futsal game I have refereed. 0-0 at half time, 1-1 all at the finish, the game was as tight as the score suggests. PPR edged through on penalties.

On the pitch behind me were continuous loud celebrations, particularly in the first half. All for good reason as in the first half both teams shared 6 goals. Second half Salters won 2-0 taking them to the final with a 6-4 result.

Finals, after semi finals can be notably unpredictable. Some teams don’t have the energy or mental strength to repeat their semi final heroics. Without wishing to offend anyone, Dynamo’s and Healing both failed to reach the levels achieved in their semis. Healing beating Dynamo by 9-1.

In the final Salters knew they had to subdue the younger PPR team from opening up their quick passing game. This was accomplished with fast pressing all over the pitch. Salters scored on their first attack, which did not help the PPR game plan, regular goals was added to take the score to 4-0 at the break.

The second period PPR, to their credit, kept Salters working but unfortunately PPR could not get the ball and support players in positions to work the Salters keeper.

Final score 7-1

Salters are Championeeeeeees!

A big thanks to Phd Ceilings and Partitions Ltd; who as well as putting a great deal of effort into the league itself also sponsored the trophies.

Such support and assistance is great valued by the Grimsby Futsal Leagues and the participant teams.

Discoveries PPR 2023 Healing Hammers
2023

Pic 1 Champions Salters
Pic 2 PPR team debrief
Pic 3 Healing Hammers
Apologies Dynamo, at time of press I have no picture

To join and play:
07980286663
info@futsal.org.uk

U12 futsal teams; Borough Whites & Sidney Park serve up a great game for so many reasons

One of the best things about refereeing futsal is the many great games I get to referee. Sidney Park vs. Borough Whites was yet another match to add to my list.

Both teams are relatively new to futsal, but are learning fast.  Borough Whites, it’s worth noting are an all girls team, feisty, tough and don’t give up.  Sidney lads are fast learners and played their best passing futsal since starting out.

Why was the score 0-0 at half-time, because the Whites keeper was exceptional.

Second half she was still exceptional, but her defence was tiring and Sidney by the law of averages had to score at some point.  Steadily Sidney built up a 4-0 lead, game over you would have thought.  Not the case as the girls defied logic to pull back to 4-3, only to be denied by the clock.

The girls have a player of the game trophy; I was rude enough to ask if I could present it, I was so impressed with their keeper.

Thanks to both teams for a great watch for the spectators.

The U13s Ladder League goes down to on a winner take all game between Discoveries Eagles and Clee Patterson’s Black’s.

Eagles u14 futsal team 2023The first ten minutes of the game was, as anticipated, very close, with Eagles edging the game.  Their reward was to take a 1-0 lead, which they took into the break.

The Clee half time conversation had to be ‘how they could get at the Eagles defence without weakening our own’?

Clee Patterson's Blacks 2023 u14s

The second half was as tight as the first but with Clee starting to press the Eagles defence, for which they was rewarded with an equaliser. Was the game about to swing?

The game stayed level until the last few minutes, at which point Eagles took a 2-1 lead.  Clee had to score or the title was going to the Eagles. As so often happens when a team is forced into a must score situation, they leave gaps that can be exploited and the opposition benefits to score. This is what happened on this occasion.

The late Eagles goals distorted the real game picture.  Both teams fought tooth and nail in a match that was locked for 95% of the game. There were moments of individual brilliance, great passing and movement throughout, against defenders that knew how to defend. Both the keepers’ was exceptional when called upon.

Both teams were a credit to their clubs, their managers and other leagues they support. Final score, Eagles 4 Clee Patterson’s Black’s 1

Pictures, Eagles are the team in the black and white kit.

Grimsby Borough Colts win Plate Competition

U12’s Plate Play Off Finals

The finals were competed between Louth Juniors; Grimsby Borough Colts; Grimsby Borough Athletic & Saints.

In the semi finals Louth and Colts fought out a high scoring battle.  Colts opened a 2-0 lead and was never behind in a game that ended 11-7.

Athletic and Saints went to a sudden death penalty shootout.  Saints nicking the shoot out after their opposition missed their first two penalties.  All part of lives learning curve.

The 3rd/4thl play-off ended 5-5. Borough Athletic, winning the penalty shoot-out.

The final, Saints vs. Colts, was controlled by Borough Colts who was full value for their 6-2 win.

Colts demonstrate 3 ways to take a picture:

1) How not to take a picture 2) Great shot with their managers included 3)  South American style with hands’ on their knees.

worst pic of the year colts v Saints