Futsal teams from across the country came together at the University of Wolverhampton, Walsall Campus, to take part in the first ever grand final of the Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup. The tournament was in its first full season of the Pokémon Youth Futsal Cup and was a showcase of the fantastic club futsal talent in England and the partnership between Pokémon and England Football.
Each of the finals saw some excellent futsal skills all round with each of the teams below being crowned as the inaugural champions in their respective finals.
Boys U10 – Paulton Rovers – Somerset FA
Girls U10 - Vauxhall Motors – Cheshire FA
Boys U12 - La Boca Youth – Birmingham FA
Girls U12 - Worthing United – Sussex FA
Boys U14 - Timperley FC - Cheshire FA
Girls U14 - City of Peterborough Futsal - Huntingdonshire FA
Boys U16 – Sala Futsal – Manchester FA
Girls U16 - HFR Haringey Girls - Middlesex FA
The finals were the culmination of a fantastic season of futsal. In the 2021/22 Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup over 1,000 teams have competed in the competition from across England and spanning multiple age groups including both boys and girls teams from under 10 all the way up to under 16.
Competing in the finals were –
Gender Group | Age Group | Team Name | Affiliated County FA |
Boys | U10 | Paulton Rovers FC Development Centre | SOMERSET FA |
Boys | U10 | PSA Futsal Club Orange U10 Boys | LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND FA |
Boys | U10 | Magic FA | MIDDLESEX FA |
Boys | U10 | Shotton Colts Juniors U10s Futsal | DURHAM FA |
Girls | U10 | Vauxhall Motors FC U10 Nova's GTE | CHESHIRE FA |
Girls | U10 | Kesgrave Kestrels U10 Girls | SUFFOLK FA |
Girls | U10 | U11 Panthers | HAMPSHIRE FA |
Girls | U10 | Boldon CA Colts & Girls Youth U10s Whites Girls Futsal | DURHAM FA |
Boys | U12 | La Boca Youth U12 | BIRMINGHAM FA |
Boys | U12 | Cambridge Futsal Club U12 | CAMBRIDGESHIRE FA |
Boys | U12 | BRS Reds | HAMPSHIRE FA |
Boys | U12 | Spennymoor Town Youth U12s Shields Futsal | DURHAM FA |
Girls | U12 | Hunter District Phoenix FC U12 Girls | DEVON FA |
Girls | U12 | Quorn Lionesses U12 | LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND FA |
Girls | U12 | Worthing United U12 Girls | SUSSEX FA |
Girls | U12 | Sala Futsal U12 | CHESHIRE FA |
Boys | U14 | PSA Futsal Club Orange U14 Boys | LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND FA |
Boys | U14 | Chessington Sports FC | SURREY FA |
Boys | U14 | Hebburn Town Juniors U14s Venom Futsal | DURHAM FA |
Boys | U14 | Timperley FC Barca | CHESHIRE FA |
Girls | U14 | Marine Academy Plymouth Juniors U13 Girls | DEVON FA |
Girls | U14 | Peterborough Futsal U14 Girls | HUNTINGDONSHIRE FA |
Girls | U14 | HFR Haringey Girls U14 | MIDDLESEX FA |
Girls | U14 | Sala Futsal U14 | CHESHIRE FA |
Boys | U16 | Heavitree Youth U16 St Peters | DEVON FA |
Boys | U16 | Blaby Bullets U16 Boys | LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND FA |
Boys | U16 | Braintree Futsal Youth U16 | ESSEX FA |
Boys | U16 | Sala Futsal U16 | CHESHIRE FA |
Girls | U16 | Marine Academy Plymouth Juniors U15 Girls | DEVON FA |
Girls | U16 | Northgate Olympic U16 Girls | LINCOLNSHIRE FA |
Girls | U16 | HFR Haringey Girls U16 | MIDDLESEX FA |
Girls | U16 | YORK RAILWAY INSTITUTE GIRLS U16 | NORTH RIDING FA |
Blue Peter presenter Richie Driss was on hand at the Finals to host the two days and provide encouragement for the players taking part. After the conclusion of the final Richie, said: “The standard of futsal being played in the tournament over the last few days has been incredible. Everyone who has taken part should be incredibly proud of the effort they put in. It’s great to see so many young people out here enjoying futsal.”
“We were delighted to see so many teams from across the country take part in the first full season the Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup and to have crowned the first Pokémon Futsal National Champions. Congratulations to all the teams and their coaches from over 1000 clubs who took part, it has been thrilling to watch all the participants out there enjoying themselves,” said Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at the Pokémon Company International. “It’s been great working alongside the FA to give young people the opportunity to showcase their futsal talent and we would like to thank the teams there for making the first full season a success. We are looking forward to continuing to work together and kicking off the 2022/2023 tournament.”
Louise Gear, The FA’s Head of Development commented: “The Pokémon Youth Futsal Cup is a fantastic energy-packed competition and it has been great to see the quality and spirit on show throughout the different stages, all the way to the finals. The first full season of the Pokémon Youth Futsal Cup has been a big success due to the partnership with Pokémon and the efforts of all involved.”
Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced form of football that originates in South America; several world stars have roots in the game. Played on hard pitches with small-sided teams, futsal places emphasis on technical skill in restricted spaces and creates an environment that allows young people to simulate and develop many skills and proficiencies that are transferrable to the 11-a-side game. The partnership works to encourage children of all abilities to play futsal and develop their skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Pokémon is the title partner of the FA’s Youth Futsal Programme which aims to work with boys and girls aged eight–sixteen. Alongside the Pokémon Futsal initiative in schools, youth football clubs across the country have taken part in this season’s Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup by England Football, which kicked off in November last year and culminated at the national finals this June.
Teams looking for more information on next year’s competition can head to - https://www.mastertheball.com/
For images of teams please email pokemon@pitch.co.uk