Beacon shines for Pumas Futsal Club

Foundation of Light is excited to announce Pumas Futsal Club as the charity's official Futsal partner for the 2018-19 season. The partnership will see Pumas move to the Beacon of Light this summer providing players, volunteers and supporters with world-class facilities for training and FA National Futsal League home games. The club will also host first North-East Futsal Cup alongside other showpiece events for youth and adult teams to promote the sport and the venue which will be the first of its kind in the UK. Wayne McCann, Pumas Futsal Club founder and Head Coach, said: "We are extremely proud to be working with Foundation of Light as the official Futsal partner club of the brand-new Beacon of Light."

This is a massive step forward for our club and will allow us to provide the best possible Futsal experience for players of all ages and reach our aim of providing Futsal for everyone to enjoy for years to come.

"We would like to thank Foundation of Light for giving Futsal the opportunity to grow by giving us the opportunity to help them develop it as a priority sport. "We cannot wait to start working together and we are already preparing for next season both on and off the court." Established in 2012, Pumas Futsal Club was introduced to youth football teams in Washington as a way of playing sport during the winter months. A men's team was introduced on 2016 with the plan of creating a progression pathway for younger players. Futsal has been chosen as a Beacon of Light 'priority sport' alongside Netball, Badminton, Table Tennis and Basketball with the Foundation creating Centres of Excellence to give youngsters the opportunity to take part in team sports. Jamie Wright, Foundation of Light Assistant Director, added: "We are delighted to welcome Pumas Futsal Club to the Beacon of Light as a partner club. "The Beacon will truly be a world-class venue hosting multiple sports with players enjoying the best training and playing facilities including pitches, courts and changing areas as well as seating and refreshment areas for supporters. "We are committed to providing exciting opportunities to get involved in a number of sports and will be announcing further details in the very near future." Pumas Futsal is currently looking to recruit players to join its First Teams (Men and Women), Development Teams (Men and Women) and Academy (under 8s to under 16s). To find out how to join Pumas Futsal as a player or volunteer please email pumasfutsalclub@gmail.com.  

What is Futsal?

Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced small sided football game normally played on a flat indoor pitch with hockey sized goals and a size four ball with a reduced bounce which creates an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing. Many of the top world class footballers played Futsal in their youth and credit it with supporting their footballing development including Pele, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Xavi, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The game is played to touchlines and all players are free to enter the penalty area and play the ball over head-height. Games are usually 20 minutes per half, played to a stopping clock (similar to basketball) with time-outs permitted.