On Sunday 8 June, Bootham Futsal U16s made the long journey to Liverpool to compete in the regional qualifiers for this season’s England Futsal U16 Cup. With only four teams in the mix and high stakes on the line, winners securing a place in the national cup final and runners-up earning a spot in the national plate final, every game was crucial.

With GCSE exams in full swing, the Bootham squad was made up entirely of U15 players, showing the depth and promise of the club’s younger talent. Representing the team were:

Molly G, Amie S, Erin E (Captain), Heidi J, Eleanor C, Abbie D, Hattie F, Daisy S, and Lacey B.

Each match was contested over 20 minutes with a running clock, demanding sharp focus and intensity from the first whistle.

Their opponents where:

Lancashire Spitfires	Sala Soccer School	Project Futsal Liverpool

Game 01 – Bootham vs Lancashire Spitfire

A promising start and a brilliant goal from Erin gave the girls early hope, but despite their efforts, they couldn’t hold on and were edged out 3-1.

Full Time – Bootham 1 – 3 Lancashire Spitfire

Game 02 – Sala Futsal vs Bootham

Up against a strong mix of academy talent from across Lancashire, the girls put in a standout performance. They created several good opportunities but were unlucky not to convert. The 2-0 scoreline doesn’t reflect the effort and quality they showed, they should be proud.

Full Time – Bootham 0 – 2 Sala Soccer School

Game 03 – Bootham Vs Project Futsal

The girls started brightly once again, with Molly netting a classic toe-poke finish. But as tiredness set in, a few mistakes crept in, leading to a flurry of late goals and a harsh 5-1 loss. Still, plenty of positives to build on.

Full Time – Bootham 1 – 5 Project Futsal

Player of the Match as chosen by Coach Tyler was Heidi J – She made several crucial saves at key moments to keep the team in contention and showed remarkable composure with the ball at her feet. Her passing and distribution were as sharp as any player on the court today. Top job, Heidi!

After the game, Coach Tyler said: ‘I’m really pleased with the way the girls battled against strong opposition. We had a couple of players returning from injury, and with the entire squad made up of U15s, the results they achieved showed real determination and fight in every game. It’s a great sign of things to come ahead of our upcoming trip to Italy.‘