On Sunday 5 February 2023 Bootham Futsal Club – York welcomed five U16 teams to take part in the first round of the FA Pokemon Futsal Cup. With twice winners York RI back to defend their title and new comers Great Driffield, it was going to a busy morning.

Bootham Futsal Club Harriers were represented by Ave W (captain), Sophie T, Katie D, Heather S, Elena R, Tiegan H, Evie C,  and Esmee R.

Bootham Futsal Club Falcons by Emily-Sue (captain), Freya D, Clare I, Katie J, Megan G, Mila L and Ella T.

The games in the were 12 minutes long, with everyone playing everyone, below is the final league table:

As with last weeks U14s the game where very close and teams looked like they anyone could beat anyone. Bootham Falcons started with two wins before being overtaken by York RI and Bootham Harriers. Wigginton and Great Driffield were both being hard to beat, and with both teams being made up of U15s, the future is very bright for both of them. What looked like being a winner take all game between Bootham Harriers and York RI finished 1-1 and set up a 5min play-off game. Both sides went close but couldn’t find the winner, so we had our first penalty shootout of the year. In the best of 3 shoot out, both teams scored twice before Bootham goalkeeper Evie pulled off a wonder save to leave captain Ava to score the winner and and send the home parents wild!

Special mention to Evie and Megan, the Bootham goalkeepers, who produced unbelievable save after save, with Evie only conceding 1 goal in the whole tournament. Her penalty save will long be remembered by all who were in the sports hall – but not by Coach Chris as he simply couldn’t watch!

So Bootham Girls’ Futsal Club – U16 Harriers progress to the next round later in the year and will proudly represent North Riding County FA.

Click here to see page one of the images from the day

Click here to see page two of the images from the day

Player Of The Tournament For Bootham Falcons as chosen by Coach Paul: Megan G – she is still so young yet she made so many amazing saves all morning, and at times we were scratching our heads as to how she had stopped the ball going in the net, simply amazing, fab performance Megan!

Player Of The Tournament For Bootham Falcons as chosen by Coach Aide: Freya D – she really was the playmaker for this team all day. Playing her way out of trouble and starting attack after attack with some superb passing. This is one young lady the ladies team need to keep an eye on! Brilliant Freya!

Player Of The Tournament For Bootham Harriers as chosen by Coach Chris: The Whole Squad – how can I single anyone out, it really was a superb team performance. I asked them to play a certain way and they did just that, every single player contributed to the success and I honestly can’t wait to see what they do in the next round, bring it on!

Final Thoughts Of A Coach – I have received so many fantastic comments from parents from all clubs on the standard of play on the day, and I have to agree, that was epic. The games were so close with chances for both sides to win, and at times it was end to end. The morning just flew by!

Huge thank you to Wigginton and Great Driffield for bring their U15 side, I’m sure next year you will both be sides to be reckoned with! Huge thank to York RI for coming back and trying to defend their crown, on another day you would have been crowned champions, again!

I am still smiling at the way both Bootham teams played. We asked them to play futsal, to try and play out from the goalkeeper, to be confident on the ball and pass and move to support – both teams did this brilliantly and it was oh so good to watch. I often talk about a 5 year plan to get this club into the highest tier of English women futsal, but on these performances, it may well be much sooner! As with the U14s, of the fifteen U16 girls, nine are still U15s, so they can go again next year, how scary is that…

I will leave the final word to the overall winners, Bootham Harriers, they summed it up in one word…Awesome! Roll on the next round, we honest can’t wait…