FC Grimsby had a mixed FA National Futsal Cup 2010.

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The last 16 teams in the country play off in a World Cup format final.

FCGY was grouped with Spartans Futsal Club (rated number two nationally), Team Unum (an unknown quantity) and Loughborough University who as one of the country’s premier sports science universities can be relied upon for quality and preparation.

 Teams played at the same times so they did not get a chance to watch each other in the group stages.   FCGY opened with a major challenge – Spartans.  This was compounded with player problems in getting or not getting as the case may be time off work for a 4PM Friday kick off.  Grimsby had a bare 6 v 10 playing squad. No excuses, as our opposition did not have same problem.  Down 2-0 within 5 minutes on the premier show court, a route looked on the cards.  The team reorganised brilliantly and stemmed the tide to one more goal to half time.   After a half time team talk from our Dutch coaching advisor the second half was one of the best 20 minutes I have seen from the Grimsby team.  Spartans was kept to one more goal and we had several well worked opportunities. Whilst we played Team Unum was beating Loughborough University 4-2. 

 portrait_gifhe_reduced.jpg  Saturday, with a reinforced squad was our turn to play Loughborough. After 5 minutes their GK was bruised and battered as GY dominated, then as so often happens, a goal against the run of play (0-1).  To compound a Gy own goal from a tackle that somehow squeezed the ball into the air and bizarrely spun into the top corner of the GY goal (0-2). Half time.  Again our Dutch fiend came to the rescue, a change of offensive tactics. Loughborough was dominated for 20 minutes. 2-2. The elusive third would just not go in.  The FA score sheet had GY’s Shane Garvey as man of the match. Team Unum was beaten 6-2 by Spartans. 
2010_p1000587_web_ready_to_go.jpg Team Unum was in reality a very skillful London team packed with foreign players. 2-2 was a fair reflection of the first half.  The second half we knew a draw would not be enough and chased the game to early, Unum was clinical on the break and within two minutes the score was 2-4.  Moving onto 2-8 and finally 3-8.  Loughborough duly lost to Spartans. Bottom of the group on goal difference, but a group that produced the second and third placed teams in the tournament, the tournament’s top scorer and the player of the tournament.   In the Plate Competition we left at the first round to old rivals Teesside University 2-4.  The team did score a superb team goal that was appreciated by the spectators. Result wise a poor tournament, but many pluses from what was learnt. Three of the last 16 teams did not have an English name in their team, their movement, tactical nous, tackling, blocking, comfort and technique with the ball when under duress was on another level.

 

   
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Spoke to two sports scientist at Sheffield and they was both of the opinion English futsal cannot get close to top foreiners until a younger generation is exposed to ‘real’ futsal. 

 How long will that be? October 2010 the FA and Premier League are to host a Premier League academies futsal tournament which they are trying to sell to the television media companies’.  Could this be the tournament to kick start futsal? 11 super futsal stadiums are planned in our biggest cities.  The Swindon, Cardiff ones are established, Birmingham is being built, the largest in Europe.

London is next, Grimsby?  I have asked but our population takes us of their hit list.

 Videos and full FA report http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFAFutsalCup/NewsAndFeatures/2010/review-130910