We are the champions

It began as a sports project to steer young people away from crime and antisocial behaviour, but now a futsal soccer team from Hull are on top of the world.

Futsal players from Hull are presented to the KC Stadium crowd and footballer Ryan France after their tournament success.	We are the champions: proud moment with the cup

The City Knights players take to the pitch at the University of Barcelona sports hall before one of their games	Frank and Nicky McKenna

It was a day they’ll never forget.
When the Red Devils futsal team from Hull played a team from Gambia in the final of an international tournament in Barcelona, Spain, they did themselves and their city proud by winning the match 12-2.
Representing England in the under-14 age category, the Hull boys progressed to the final after beating teams from Scotland, Spain, Romania and Morocco, scoring 46 goals in total and conceding just three.
And if that wasn’t enough, another team from Hull – the City Knights – excelled themselves in the under-15 age category by beating teams from Equador, Morocco, Gambia and the Republic of New Guinea before narrowly losing 3-1 to hosts Spain in the final.
Both teams are from Hull’s Grass Roots sports project, set up five years ago by husband and wife Frank and Nicky McKenna to keep youngsters out of trouble by channelling their energies into sport.
“To win against teams from Europe and across the world was some achievement,” says Frank, who co-ordinates the project.
“I had never seen a group of players so in awe of an occasion and so excited to get out and play.”
The Grass Roots players were invited to take part in the international tournament after winning a futsal tournament in Scotland two years in succession.

About Futsol

Futsal is a five-a-side game played in one session of 25 minutes, with no change of ends. It has a faster pace and demands more skill than normal games of five-a-side football. It also uses a smaller and heavier ball so passes have to be along the ground and more accurate.

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For more information on the project, which is funded by the Football Foundation and Hull City Council, please visit www.grassrootssports.co.uk