On Saturday 5 February 2022, Bootham Ladies’ Futsal Club – York travelled to Warrington for their first ever encounter in the FA Futsal Women’s Super Series North against Cheshire Ladies Futsal Club.

Cheshire missed out on the top of the table play-offs with the last kick of the regular season when Bolton Futsal beat Manchester Futsal, so they had a point to prove.

Bootham had 10 players making their debut at this level, and the game couldn’t have started any worse when they conceded an own goal within the first minute.  From that moment onward Cheshire scored at regular intervals and Bootham struggled to match the quality of the opposition.  Botham’s moment of the game came when a good one touch move, involving captain Ellie Whittaker and Denva Coupland, saw Hannah Pearce just fail to convert a second post chance.  The game continued in the same pattern and Cheshire ran out comfortable winner 19-0.

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Coach Chris said after the game, ‘We always knew this was going to be a very big step up.  Cheshire have 5 to 7 years of experience in their squad, and we have less than 15 weeks.  They are a superb side to watch, and it was a good education for our players to see the standard this league has.  We know this is a long journey and today was the first step.  That said, at times we held our own, we got our shape right and did cause them a few problems.  Cheshire had a couple of quality players who dominated from the first whistle.  In Futsal you have nowhere to hide and today Cheshire were ruthless.  This is the hardest game and they do get easier, no-one in the squad is downhearted, and we go again in two weeks.’

A few days later Bootham learnt that player of the match and goalkeeper Lauryn Zareba-Gilbank will be out of action for 6 months with a serious ankle injury.  Coach Chris said, ‘We knew Lauryn was carrying an injury, but we only found out this week how serious it was.  She was superb in the match and will be a big miss.  We are now on the lookout for anyone who can step in and help us out, even for just one game.’

If you are a female goalkeeper, aged 16 and over, and can help Bootham out, no futsal experience necessary, please contact Head Coach Chris Collins on 07720 441953 or email info@boothamfutsalclub.co.uk