The winter international break in Maidenhead United’s futsal calendar has been far from quiet for many of our Three Lions.
At the beginning of last week, MUF Women’s players Lucindha Lawson and Faye Williams travelled with the England squad to Tenerife to take part in a warm weather England Para training camp. The ladies were joined out there by Head of Futsal, Ryan Walsh who operates as Assistant Coach for both the Deaf Women’s and Partially Sighted Men’s sides.
Lucindha was recognised by the club for her bronze medal in the Summer Deaflympics towards the end of last year, but she'll be swapping the field for the court this time round.
Players from the men’s and women’s deaf, blind and cerebral palsy teams jetted off to the Canary Islands for a five-day trip focusing on fitness and technical sessions. An intense period in the scorching heat sets the squads up for the relentless tournament schedules which push the group, of what are mainly amateur athletes, to their maximum capacity. Time abroad with the squad was also seen as essential team bonding opportunities as players new and old can begin to gel off the court as well.
It is our Deaf Women’s players who get the Para schedule underway for 2026, they head to Poreč, Croatia for the European Championships in March. They will face up against Poland, Italy, France and Switzerland with all the updates on the action available via the tournament website.
After the camps, Ryan Walsh said: "The warm weather camps in Tenerife are always a great chance for not only the squads but the wider Para programme to get together and have a mid season boost after the Christmas break.
"For the deaf women’s squad in particular, it came at a great time as it allowed us the capacity to go after more detail our final preparations ahead of the tournament in March. With our final two training camps in February, we are excited to see what the squad is capable of achieving in Croatia."
To close out the international break, England Futsal Men’s squad are heading to Stuttgart to face Germany in a 10-Year Anniversary fixture. Maidenhead United Men’s first team players Harry Tozer and Jack Walsh will be boarding their flight heading to Porsche Arena ready for face off tonight (Friday 6th February).
Jack will take his usual spot between the sticks looking to keep out a dangerous German side, with plenty of international experience under his belt for both England Futsal and England Partially Sighted squad. While Harry, a product of the academy set up at Maidenhead United Futsal, will be trying to spark action at the other end eyeing further goals to his current England tally, using his hat-trick against Switzerland as a springboard for more.
The game will be live streamed this evening (Friday 6th February) from 17:45 GMT via the England Futsal Facebook page, ready for a six o’clock kick-off.
Ahead of the game, Jack Walsh said: “I’m super excited to be representing my country again. This is a special game for England given its the 10-year anniversary since last playing Germany, made extra special by being played in a sold-out Porsche Arena with around 6000 spectators.
“It’s a few months shy of 10 years since I committed solely to Futsal so for me it’s also quite a full circle moment.
“Looking ahead I think the game will serve as a launching pad for our preparations ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers in April, and regardless of the result a lot of lessons will be learned.”
The qualifiers in April will see the team return to home soil and Loughborough University where they will face Sweden, Switzerland and Northern Ireland in the Preliminary Qualifiers for the 2028 FIFA World Cup.
Both of our England Futsal Men’s players are also amateur athletes funding this trip, and all training camps and matches, out of their own pocket.
Sponsorship opportunities are open to alleviate some of the pressure on our Three Lions, if you or your business would like to get involved your help would be greatly received.
Please contact ryan.walsh@maidenheadunitedfc.org for further details.
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