The Byron Shire based 10 years Far North Coast representative Futsal (Indoor soccer) team are proud as punch, returning as silver medallists in the Queensland State Futsal summer league competition. For 3 months they toured southern Queensland and blasted, chipped or finessed a remarkable average of 5 goals into the back of the net in each of their 12 championship games. The 7 boys all happen to live in Byron Shire and are just normal, fun loving 10 year olds off the court. However when the boys play Futsal they have an amazing professionalism and determination uncommon even in much older representative squads. They have been playing together for a year or so now in Representative Football and Beach Soccer however most of them only started playing Futsal 6 months ago.

Their coach is men’s State and Australian youth representative Futsal player Tim Knight, a year 12 student at Mullumbimby High. He said, “It’s a really fast, exciting and technical game and these boys just seem to “click” together. They have really improved their ball skills, tactics and game awareness through the summer and are thrashing teams like Brisbane and the Gold Coast week after week. It also helps to have some very supportive parents on tour with them as well,” he said.

Marc Starrett has been brilliant in goals all season. Zac Sezer, Ethan Archer and Riley Buckland have been sensational on the flanks. Kurt Ruehe has totally controlled the defence while Jarrah Hall-Hart and Callum Wilson have found their mark as target strikers.

While the very slick Sunshine Coast team took the main title, the local boys were close behind them to take the silver medal. They are so proud of their latest achievement and it was a fitting reward for so much hard work, skill and dedication. The Queensland competition organisers were constantly amazed at their talent and determination in defeating the city based regional representative teams throughout the competition.

However the young champions aren’t resting on their laurels and over the next couple of weeks they will be in intense training for the Craig Foster Challenge Cup tournament on the Sunshine Coast. Everyone in Byron Shire wishes you good luck boys.