The finals of the The FA Futsal Cup kick off tomorrow, with Teesside University travelling to Sheffield to take on Genesis and Tranmere Victoria.
After Chippenham and Torpoint dropped out, Tranmere were moved to Teesside’s group, reuniting the 2009 rivals.
Manager Damon Shaw, said: “It makes the group into a replay of the 2009 play-off group which will certainly add some spice to the matches.
“The players were disappointed at the manner of the play-off exit and will be wanting to make that right.
“We are confident of a win if we stick to our game plan, but Tranmere will be favourites.”
Teesside qualified for the competition by winning BUCS in March and Shaw made the decision for Middlesbrough to forgo the tournament, allowing him to field a full strength Teesside team instead.
Shaw believes winning BUCS against the odds has given his players a degree of confidence and experience which will benefit them in the tournament.
“We know what to do in a tournament of this format and that experience will certainly help us. He continued. “We have a chance, but there are some excellent teams, such as Spartans, Birmingham and Helvecia who will all have their eyes on the prize.
“If we play our game and get a bit of luck then who knows how far we can go.”
The FA Futsal Cup held at the English Institute Of Sport in Sheffield, is three days of fast and furious futsal, bringing the best men’s and women’s teams in the country together to battle it out for The Cup.
Helvecia have won The FA Futsal Cup for the last three years running, but will face stiff competition from the likes of Spartans, Sheffield FC and Team United Birmingham.
There are also some new teams, such as London outfit Team Unum, who will add a freshness to the tournament and could throw up a few surprises.
It has been an amazing year for Teesside, who lifted the BUCS trophy in March, and went on to represent Great Britain in the European Futsal Club in Zagreb this summer, finish 11th, their highest position in the competition to date. They will be looking to try to add to their trophy cabinet, ahead of the 2010-11 domestic season which begins in November.
Come November, Middlesbrough will be playing in The FA Futsal League North and Teesside will play in BUCS, with both teams playing in The Tees Valley Futsal League.
The FA Futsal Cup Finalists:
Men’s
Spartans, Team Unum, FC Grimsby, Team United Birmingham, Manchester Futsal Club, Team Bath, Free Lesson, Sheffield FC, Helvecia, Tranmere Victoria, Four Star, Teesside University, Genesis, Loughborough University Development Squad.
Women’s
Reading FC, Tranmere Victoria, MMU Cheshire University, Hastingsbury College, Team Bath Ladies, North London Ladies, Team United Birmingham, University of Worcester, Watford Ladies, Burntwood Phoneix Ladies, Brazil Ladies.
First published on http://borofutsal.com/ on 9-9-10
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