The new season of the Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup, is underway, with Derbyshire crowning eight teams as the winners of their county finals competition, including Glossop North End Community Club.

The following teams were crowned champions and have earned the right to represent Derbyshire in the regional finals of the competition, later this spring:

The U16 Boys Winners – Chesterfield FC Academy, the U14 Boys Winners – Chesterfield Futsal Club, the U12 Boys Winners – Shirebrook Rangers, the U10 Boys Winners – Glossop North End Community Club, the U16 Girls Winners – Ilkeston Town Juniors, the U14 Girls Winners – Hasland Community FC, the U12 Girls Winners – Hasland Community FC and the U10 Girls Winners – Hasland Community FC.

In total Derbyshire saw 30 teams participate in this year’s competition from the following clubs:

Glossop North End Community Club, Heanor Town Juniors, Punjab United, Mickleover Sports, Hasland Community FC, Chesterfield FC, Sleetmoor United FC, Chesterfield Futsal Club, Bakewell Town Juniors, Ripley Town, Mickleover Royal British Legion, Somersall Rangers, Ilkeston Town Juniors, Duffield Dynamos, Shirebrook Rangers & Juniors, Wingerworth, and Eckington Boys.

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.

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.

Following the culmination of the county finals, successful teams will progress to the regional finals in May/June before competing for the chance to participate in the national finals this summer.

Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at the Pokémon Company International, commented: “Pokémon is thrilled to see such high engagement in the Derbyshire finals of the Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup, including so many first time participants. With the 2022/23 season seeing a record number of team entrants, this only bodes well for the later stages of the competition. It’s great to see a range of teams competing in this year’s competition as they continue to develop their futsal skills. We can’t wait to see how the winners perform in the regional finals of the competition.”

Louise Gear, Head of Development at The FA added: “What an exciting start to this year’s Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup. It has been fantastic to see so many young players from clubs up and down the country taking part and enjoying the competition, and we look forward to seeing who will be crowned winners come the finals.”

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 the competition kicking off in November and culminating at the national finals in July 2023.

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