Bootham Ladies swapped the Yorkshire drizzle for the south coast sunshine last weekend, making the long trek to Portsmouth for the Aztec Preseason Summer Futsal Tournament. It was a proper road trip, setting off Friday, clocking up nearly 500 miles, spending close to 13 hours in the car, and squeezing in six intense matches on Saturday before heading back north on Sunday.

The opponents were no pushovers: Aztec Greens, Aztec Red, Bloomsbury, Bolton, Dorset, and Maidenhead, all crammed into 20-minute games with a constant running clock. It was full-throttle from the first whistle to the last.

Bootham brought a strong and spirited squad, bolstered by the debuts of Erin Elliott and Abbie Drewer, both of whom made an instant impression and will be signing for the Ladies this season. The full lineup was: Katie Samson, Allegra Sellschop-Evans, Ellie Whittaker (C), Heather Smith, Suzy Collins, Abbie Drewer, Erin Elliott, Jess Baker, Jess Barnes, Nikki Brown, Natascha Eustance, and Charlotte Broad.

The trip wasn’t just about results — it was about sharpening skills, building team chemistry, and putting in the hard work before the season kicks off. And from the looks of the energy, camaraderie, and laughs along the way, Bootham Ladies are more than ready for the challenges ahead.

Game 01 – Bootham Vs Bloomsbury

No gentle warm-up here — Bootham Ladies kicked off against one of the strongest teams in the country. It was a tough, high-tempo opener, but the squad rose to the challenge brilliantly. They battled for every ball, stayed organised, and created some great chances. In the end, they just couldn’t find the goal their performance deserved, but it was an early statement that Bootham had come to compete.

Full time – Bootham 0 – 5 Bloomsbury

Game 02 – Bootham Vs Aztec Green

In a tense, end-to-end battle, Bootham edged ahead when debutant Erin Elliott pounced from close range to score her first goal for the club — a perfect way to announce herself. Moments later, Nikki Brown went close to doubling the lead, but as the minutes ticked away and legs began to tire, Aztec found two late goals to snatch the win. A cruel ending, but another strong performance full of grit and promise.

Full time – Bootham 1 – 2 Aztec Green

Game 03 – Bootham Vs Aztec Red

This was one Bootham will feel got away. From the first whistle, they carved out chance after chance, but somehow found themselves a goal down. Charlotte Broad stepped up to level the scores, sparking another wave of Bootham pressure. They pushed hard for a late winner, creating opportunities right up to the final seconds, but the ball just wouldn’t cross the line.

Full time – Bootham 1 – 1 Aztec Red

Game 04 – Bootham Vs Bolton

A clash with the old enemy is always a highlight, and this one burst into life when Nikki Brown unleashed a thunderbolt from her own half to give Bootham a dramatic lead. The team dug in brilliantly, repelling wave after wave of Bolton attacks and keeping their composure against some aggressive fly goalkeeping. But as fatigue crept in, Bolton found late goals to turn the game around and finish comfortable winners.

Full time – Bootham 1 – 5 Bolton

Game 05 – Bootham Vs Dorset

Sometimes it all just clicks, and this was one of those games. Bootham put on a futsal masterclass, storming to a stunning win. Suzy Collins opened the scoring with her first goal since Bootham’s debut competitive match, sparking a goal rush. Nikki Brown bagged a brace, Erin Elliott and Jess Barnes each found the net, and Heather Smith unleashed an absolute thunderbolt to seal the rout. Every pass, run, and finish oozed confidence, a joy to watch.

Full time – Bootham 6 – 0 Dorset

Game 06 – Bootham Vs Maidenhead

This is why we love futsal! Bootham’s final game was an absolute rollercoaster — a ten-goal thriller where momentum swung wildly and either side could have taken the win. After falling behind, Abbie Drewer netted her first Bootham goal, quickly followed by another from Suzy Collins. Nikki Brown added yet another to her tally before an own goal put Bootham ahead. Then came a frantic final three minutes: both sides scored, with Erin Elliott completing her hat-trick for the day, only for Maidenhead to grab an equaliser with almost the last kick. Breathless, brilliant, and a fitting finale to an epic weekend.

Full time – Bootham 5 – 5 Maidenhead

A smiling coach Chris spoke to us after the long day, he said, ‘What a fantastic day, great games, great goals, and honestly couldn’t have been any better. We got to play five teams we wouldn’t normally play, so that has to be good for our long-term development. And to see the young players coming through against some of the best teams in the country was a huge bonus.”

As for whether Bootham will be back next year? Chris didn’t hesitate — a definite yes.

Here a few images from the day curtsy of Suzy Collins