Manchester Futsal Women's Club have made it a season to remember by winning the 2018/19 FA National League title and the FA Futsal Cup, in the space of 4 days. 

The team, whose home is the HSBC National Cycling Centre in Manchester, are hoping their triumphant season will inspire more girls to play the game on the back of their national success.

Following a 5-3 win over Peterborough Ladies in the semi-final of the FA National Futsal Women's League, the squad qualified for the final, where they faced Southern League Champions Helvecia Ladies at St Georges Park on 3rd May. The team convincingly beat Helvecia 5-0, with goals from Katy Morrison, Lauren Beckford, Beth Tattersall, Rebecca Kemp and Leah Hartshorne in the final, to become the national FA Futsal Women's League champions. 

Just two days later, the team returned to SGP to face Helvecia once more in the semi-final of the FA Futsal Cup. Falling just short of their last result against the London team, the team delivered a defensive master class and achieved a remarkable 4-0 score line to seal their place in the final, where tough opponents lie ahead in the form of London United Ladies. However, the strong squad did Manchester proud yet again and completed the 2018/19 double, with a convincing 4-0 win over London United Futsal Club to lift the FA Women’s Futsal Cup. Goals again came from Kemp, Hartshorne with Carla Armstrong and Katy Morrison finding the back of the net too.  

Sergi Saldana, who has seen monumental success in his first season as the Women’s team Head Coach, explained that things didn’t start easily for the team this season, suffering 3 defeats in their first 6 games.

“This was the first season for me as a coach of the Women’s team and we started the season with back to back losses against Tranmere and Fylde. When we played Fylde again just a few games later, we suffered our heaviest defeat, being beat 10-5. As a team we knew had a lot to learn and that things had to change. 
However, we dug in and worked hard in training and off-the-pitch to build confidence in ourselves. The players really applied themselves and it began to pay off as a few games in, we found our stride and started to believe in what we could achieve as a group! I noticed a big change in the team, as we started to play with more patience and sense, and we were a lot calmer in our play. This showed in our results, as we then went on an unbeaten run, which still stands today as we close off this fantastic season!

Here you have a good example of what hard work and believing in what you are doing can achieve. When you believe in what you do, you work in a good atmosphere and give your best for the squad, you can achieve anything!”

How to get involved: 

Manchester Futsal Women’s Club are currently delivering FA Wildcats Futsal sessions from the age of 7 years through to 16 years old on Friday nights at MMU Platt Lane Sports Complex in Fallowfield. 

These sessions are delivered by coaches from the Women’s Team.  For more information on how to get involved, please contact Leanne Skarratt, Manchester Futsal Club Women’s Co-ordinator on email – leanne.skarratt@manchesterfutsal.com 

Image credit: The Futsal Independent