Wiltshire represented in the FA National Futsal Series / Summer Showdown
The FA National Futsal Series is a topflight futsal league, established in 2019, to take the game of Futsal to the next level.
The Summer Showdown has been a landmark event for English Futsal and this year the Grand Final will be live on BT Sport and live on You Tube. This coverage is a significant step in the growth of English Futsal across the country, allowing the sport to be showcased to a huge new audience.
BT Sport is part of the fabric of modern UK sports culture, it has broken new grounds with its brilliant production of the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, attracting millions of subscribers and worldwide acclaim.
This Sunday at 11.45am, the National Futsal Series Two final will see Wiltshire based, Wessex Futsal Club take on London Escolla.
Geoffrey Bonner, Futsal Coach at Wessex Futsal Club said “It’s great to be part of the Summer Showdown. We’ve done well to get to this stage, so we are looking forward to taking on London Escolla in the Series Two final.
“The fact that BT Sport are covering the event is fantastic, for our team, and for futsal. We are very excited to be live on BT Sport and hope that this coverage will have a positive effect for the game, raising awareness and increasing opportunities for participation.”
The County is also represented in the National Futsal Series One final on Sunday at 2.30pm, with Wiltshire referee Olly Rodriguez Ballinger being appointed to officiate.
Olly Rodriguez Ballinger said “I am delighted to be appointed as a referee for the Futsal Series One final. It will be a good match between Pro Futsal London and London Helvecia. After a long break due to Covid restrictions it is great to see futsal being played again.”
Lyndon Taylor, Football Development Officer at Wiltshire FA said, “Not only is it great to see Wiltshire represented at this significant futsal event but it is also brilliant to hear that BT Sport and You Tube will be broadcasting the finals. Futsal is a fast paced, exciting game, often with lots of goals so it will be a good watch.
“It is important for us to raise the profile of futsal; it is a great game in its own right but also a proven development tool. The nature of the game means it is fast, end to end, with lots of opportunities to get touches on the ball. This all helps to develop technically and tactically more skilful players.”
Paul Szumilewicz, National Futsal Series Ltd Managing Director, shared his thoughts on the new partnership with BT Sport. "This is a game-changing moment for The FA National Futsal Series and English futsal as a whole. Our objective is to grow participation and viewership of this great sport in England, and this new partnership offers an incredible opportunity to showcase the best of English Futsal to a huge new audience. The future is bright."
This marks another venture into futsal from BT Sport, who will also be showcasing the UEFA Futsal Champions League next season, in addition to their coverage of the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
To find out more about Futsal in Wiltshire contact us on info@wiltshirefa.com