News

Monday 2^nd July saw the 1^st week of walking football take place at Paignton Community and Sports College.  The new and adapted version of the game reaches out to players of 60+ to keep provide both physical activity and the opportunity to continue playing the beautiful game.  The rules of walking football are identical that of regular 7 a side with the one exception, players are only able to walk.  The sessions run Monday evenings 5:30-6:30 on the artificial turf pitch, they welcome people male or female of all abilities and are free for one more week of trials.

John Bollard (68) from Paignton after his 1^st session of walking football stated “It was a wonderful experience very much appreciated from a generation of ex players.  It gave us a chance to resurrect our skills whilst being so enjoyable.  Walking football is a really good work out and didn’t realise I would be so exhausted”.

Rob Payne the football development officer at Paignton Community and Sports College stated “It was great to see people coming back into the game and playing amongst their peers from 30+ years ago.  As walking football is so unique in the area I feel it has the chance to grow and grow.  At PCSC we run football for veterans where players tail off at about 55 so this was the next logical step”.

To find out more information please contact Rob Payne on 01803 403634 or rob.payne@paigntoncommunitycollege.com

This morning the cup draw for the Herald Express Torbay Championships 2012 took place.  Matt Williams (Head of Youth at Torquay United FC) and Jim Parker (Editor of Herald Express) conducted the draw with 16 boys teams and 12 girls teams been given a country to represent on the day.

Please see below the footage of the draw which took place at Plainmoor (Torquay United FC):

Boys Draw – http://s994.photobucket.com/albums/af63/paigntoncsc/?action=view&current=M2U00021.mp4
 
Girls Draw – http://s994.photobucket.com/albums/af63/paigntoncsc/?action=view&current=M2U00022.mp4

Below is the list of teams and countries who are taking part:

Boys

Girls

Yesterday Paignton Community and Sports College hosted and ran the under 10s and 12s FA South West Futsal Finals.  The competition was hotly contested amongst the best teams from the 6 counties across the region with the 4 best progressing to the national finals in July.  Below are the winning teams celebrating their victories.

Swindon Spitfires (Wiltshire) Under 10′s Girls

Marine Academy Plymouth (Devon) Under 10′s Boys

Lavington School (Wiltshire) Under 12′s Girls

Heles School (Devon) Under 12′s Boys

26th May sees the under 14′s and 16′s compete for the final 4 places in the national competition, keep posted for the winning teams

On Tuesday 6^th March the best 27 school futsal teams in the county embarked on the inaugural Devon Futsal Finals at Paignton Community and Sports College.  Due to the huge growth in schools futsal across the county representatives were provided for the competition from the South, West and East Devon area heats. 

The under 12’s boys competition was dominated by Heles School from Plymouth who demonstrated a very quick paced passing brand of futsal winning all their 4 matches scoring 13 goals.  The girls competition was slighty closer with Churston Ferrers from South Devon being beaten in the deciding match by Paignton Community and Sports College (PCSC) 3-1.  Churston did however manage what no other school has in PCSC’s eight previous matches, beating the meanest defence in the whole competition.

The under 14’s boys saw local rivals PCSC and Torquay Community College compete closely for the Devon champions status.  With both teams picking up points against Plymstock A and B from Plymouth their head to head decided the champions.  Clinical finishing and good technical futsal meant Torquay Community College were convincing winners 4-0.  A draw was enough for Devenport High from Plymouth against Plymstock School to win their category after beating PCSC A and B in their previous matches.  Their entertaining brand of futsal will certainly provide firm competition in the next stage of the cup.

The under 16’s boys was by far the closest of the groups with all that separated Eggbuckland Community College from Plymouth and Queen Elizabeth Community College (QECC) from Crediton was goals scored.  After both winning 3 and drawing 1 of their five matches QECC scored an extra 2 goals meaning that despite their equal goal difference it was the East Devon school that progressed.  The girl’s competition saw another impressive win by a PCSC girl’s side.  The under 16’s PCSC team won all three matches scoring 9 goals and only conceding one and like their under 12’s counterparts they will be optimistic going into the next stage.

Jason Trevarthen Assistant Principal said “Paignton Community and Sports College will always aim to support community sport. We are delighted to host the county futsal finals in Torbay. As interest grows in this new version of the game so do the skill levels and performance standards.  Touch, technique and ball mastery are vital in futsal and make a huge difference to players confidence when they apply these skills to full sided football. “

Competition organiser Rob Payne commented on the event, “From a player development point of view it’s great to see over 200 players expressing themselves with a futsal.  The game in its nature provides lots of touches of the ball for players and promotes creativity and quick decisions.  This event and the area qualifiers will hopefully act a catalysts for the continued growth of the sport at all age groups”.

The next stage for these six qualified teams will be the regional finals at Paignton Community and Sports College in May.  The best teams from the 5 other neighbouring counties will compete to become the best in the South West and gain a place in the national finals of the FA Youth Futsal Cup.