16 WILTSHIRE TEAMS SET TO TAKE ON POKÉMON FUTSAL YOUTH CUP

The Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup, in partnership with England Football returns for the 2023 season, with Wiltshire seeing 16 teams participating in this year’s competition. This year’s regional finals in Wiltshire begin in February.

The return of the Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup has seen an increase in team participation compared to previous years. This rise can be attributed to the inclusion of new County Football Associations, including:

• Bedfordshire FA
• Herefordshire FA
• Isle of Man FA
• Kent FA
• Northamptonshire FA
• Northumberland FA
• Nottinghamshire FA
• West Riding FA
• Westmorland FA
• Wiltshire FA

In Wiltshire, the following teams are participating in this year’s competition:

• Trowbridge Wanderers Youth FC– U16’s - Trowbridge, Wiltshire
• Melksham Town Youth FC – U16’s - Melksham, Wiltshire
• Highworth Town Juniors FC A – U16’s - Highworth, Wiltshire
• Highworth Town Juniors FC B – U16’s - Highworth, Wiltshire
• Kingsdown FC Lionesses – U14’s - Swindon, Wiltshire
• Devizes Town Girls - U14s - Devizes, Wiltshire
• Melksham Town Youth FC – U14’s - Melksham, Wiltshire
• Highworth Town Juniors FC - U14’s -Highworth, Wiltshire
• Marlborough Lionesses - U12s -Marlborough, Wiltshire
• FOF FC – U12’s - Swindon, Wiltshire
• Melksham Town Youth FC – U12’s - Melksham, Wiltshire
• FC Chippenham – U12’s - Chippenham, Wiltshire
• Melksham Town Youth FC – U10’s - Melksham, Wiltshire
• Longlevens Girls AFC - U10’s - Gloucester, Gloucestershire
• Royal Wootton Bassett FC – U10’s - Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire
• Trowbridge Wanderers Youth FC – Ravens – U10’s - Trowbridge, Wiltshire

The Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup, in partnership with England Football gives young players across the country the chance to get involved in this energy-packed game, compete against other teams and go all the way to the national finals.

Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at the Pokémon Company International, commented: “Following the success of last year, Pokémon is thrilled to see its national futsal competition go from strength to strength, with the 2022/23 season seeing a record number of participants. It’s great to see teams who enjoyed competing last year sign up again this year and continue to develop their futsal skills, alongside the many new clubs we are welcoming to the competition this year. With the regionals fast approaching, this year’s competition is set to be our best yet.”

Louise Gear, The FA’s Head of Development at the FA added: “We are delighted to see so many teams register once again to take part in this year’s competition and we’re excited to see what the 2022/23 season brings. Thousands of children from clubs up and down the country will be participating in what promises to be an exciting and fun competition for all involved, and we look forward to seeing who will be crowned winners come the finals.”

Ashley Cornick – Football Development Officer (Women and Girls) Wiltshire FA, said: “Futsal is high energy and the game moves a lot quicker so decision making on and off the ball is key. At Wiltshire FA we encourage our grassroots teams to introduce small-sided games including Futsal as a developmental tool to challenge players physical, technical and mental abilities. We are very excited to host this seasons Pokémon Futsal Wiltshire Cup and hope that this will inspire more opportunities and boost participation across the county. Best of luck to all players taking part!”

Pokémon is the title partner of the FA’s Youth Futsal Programme which aims to work with boys and girls aged eight–sixteen. Alongside the Pokémon Futsal initiative in schools, youth football clubs across the country will take part in this season’s Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup by England Football, with competition kicking off in November and culminating at the national finals in July 2023.

To find out more about this season’s Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup head to mastertheball.com