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| Home » News » Helvecia and Doncaster Rovers Belles win FA UMBRO National Futsal Cup
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| Helvecia and Doncaster Rovers Belles win FA UMBRO National Futsal Cup |
Helvecia Futsal became the new FA Futsal Cup 2008 champions after they beat last year’s winners Ipswich Wolves in Men’s National Futsal Cup final at the English Institute for Sport, Sheffield with a last second goal
The Final looked all set for extra time when it was still goal-less in the last few seconds, but a piece of quick thinking from Thiago Roberto Diorio won it for the London-based team made up mainly of Brazilians, final score 1-0 to Helvecia.
In the women’s competition, Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC beat last year’s winners Watford Ladies in the final one nil to clinch the title and keep the trophy in South Yorkshire. Against all odds, Doncaster Rovers Belles battled through the group and knock out stages and then to eventually win the final even though they had only entered the competition as a late replacement for the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA and had never played Futsal before the weekend.
In the men’s plate competition the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA representative team battled their way to the final, to face Northern Futsal League Rivals Hull Futsal Club, in a South versus East Yorkshire encounter.
Sheffield and Hallamshire FA battled hard but Hull took advantage in the first half after Sheffield and Hallamshire FA and England goalkeeper, Graham Smith was injured early in the semi final. Hull clinching the Men’s plate competition, beating the home County FA representative team 3-2.
Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC players, Tanya Rich was awarded the Golden Boot award in the women’s competition after scoring 10 goals.
The FA UMBRO Futsal Cup is an annual three competition, now in its sixth year which took place this weekend (4-6th July 2008), and saw the best 32 Men and women’s Futsal teams coming together to compete for the FA Futsal Cup 2008.
The event has gone from strength to strength since it was launched in 2002 with this year’s competition being the best yet with entertaining, passionate games of futsal being played throughout the weekend.
Over the weekend we have had tears of joy and of defeat, fanatical fans, pom pom girls, samba bands, cruel penalty knockouts and passionate play a plenty, and not forgetting to mention three days of Futsal.
For the men, the majority of teams reached the men’s final via the newly formed FA Regional Leagues, which has provided teams with a regular competitive arena to play Futsal. Since its introduction, the teams have sharpened up on their skills and abilities, and more team were in the running for the title at this years finals weekend, they were also out to prove whose best on the national stage, win the cup and grab the UEFA qualification spot to compete against the best in Europe.
Ipswich Wolves, last winners were favourites to take the title again at the start of the finals. Manager Jorge Ribiero has assembled a formidable team of Portuguese players all living in the Suffolk community.
Flying the flag for Sheffield in the finals was the representative Sheffield and Hallamshire FA Futsal team, along with their local rivals Sheffield FC, both qualifying via the FA North Futsal league. Both teams were out to show that Sheffield and South Yorkshire is fast becoming a breading ground for Futsal talent and looking to progress through the finals on home soil, against the best in the country.
In the Women’s competition, Futsal is also increasing in popularity with well established 11-a-Side teams adopting the game. Again last year’s winners Watford Ladies were favourites to retain their title, who came into the finals with the advantage of experience, over the other teams. 
Dermot Collins, The FA’s National Development Manager for Small Sided Football said ' The County FA and the EIS have once again helped the FA stage a really successful tournament in one of the world's finest facilities. We hope to continue this relationship for many years to come'.
The Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA is committed to promoting and developing the game of Futsal. We are working hard to improve local participation in football for both children and adults and we hope that the fast-paced, exciting and skilful game of Futsal is set to become one of the most popular in the region.
For more information on Futsal and small-sided football and for a free Futsal DVD call Darren Gale on freephone 0800 652 0858 or email info@soccersceneleagues.com. Information on Futsal is also available on www.sheffieldFA.com |
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