Club Partnership Also Renewed To Build On 2013 Success
In January 2013 Carlisle United FITC and Carlisle Futsal Club formed a year long partnership with the objective of creating a player pathway into elite level Futsal.
Following a hugely successful 2013 the partnership has been renewed with the focus now on encouraging more 14-18 year olds to take up the sport.
Al Tindall Carlisle Futsal Club Manager explained ‘The beauty of this partnership has been that both parties have really benefitted and you can see that from the growth of Futsal over the last 12 months. In 2012 participation numbers for people in Carlisle regularly training and competing in Futsal was zero. In 2013 we launched our academy programme which now includes over 60 kids ages 3-14 training regularly, we also developed senior squads and the Carlisle United FITC Futsal Scholars were created through the first intake in September. In addition our partners Northern Futsal, who run adult Futsal leagues, had over 300 registered players competing every week and the local youth league have been running Futsal leagues through the winter. The response to the work that has been done has been amazing and the proof that this is a sport that people love is in that the participation numbers have grown so rapidly. We cant wait to see what 2014 will bring which is why we have launched this partnership again.’
The Carlisle United Football In The Community programme launched their first ever Futsal Scholarship in September 2013. The scholarship is an educational course tailored to ensure those enrolled are fully prepared for the future. It combines a full-time education package with Futsal training, incorporating BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma, worth up to 3 A Levels, which allows access to university and further study and opens the door to a coaching and or a refereeing career in football or Futsal.
As a key element of the FA’s strategy to develop Futsal and produce 
players capable of representing England, the Carlisle United Football in the Community Project are now offering this exciting and innovative programme to 16-19 year olds in conjunction with Carlisle United FC. Learners will have the opportunity to train in Futsal for up to 8 hours a week with fully qualified coaching staff under the direction of the Football League Trust. Training is supplemented with fortnightly regular fixtures against other teams who represent professional clubs in the Football League Trust National Futsal League. Visit www.tvseducation.com for all the latest league news! For further information and an application pack, please visitwww.carlisleunited.co.uk or email fitc1@carlisleunited.co.uk.
And for those that complete the scholarship programme and want to progress to the compete in the top tier of English Futsal, in the FA National Futsal League, there is the opportunity to play for Carlisle Futsal Club.
Al Tindall of Carlisle Futsal Club commented ‘Those players coming off the scholarship are more likely to represent Carlisle Futsal Club in the FA national Futsal League, the regular Futsal training will provide them with an enhanced chance of selected. There are real opportunities to progress to professional standard and international level for those with the talent and dedication. Our Club Ambassador, England Coach Tony Elliott regularly attends our sessions looking for players that can make the grade. This partnering agreement is about working together to create a clear player pathway and improve the standard of play, coaching and officiating in Futsal locally. Its fantastic that Carlisle United have embraced Futsal not only as a development tool for its young footballers but also as a sport in its own right.’
