All Star event set to showcase EFL Trust Futsal scholars and coaches
Following the success of last year’s EFL Trust Futsal All Star event, the best futsal scholars and coaches from the EFL Trust network will once again get the opportunity to showcase their talents at the iconic St Georges Park on Wednesday 3rd April.
The event combines the best players from the 26 EFL Community Trusts involved in futsal at EFL Clubs.
Each Club has the opportunity to nominate players and coaches to take part and represent their regional team (North, South West, Midlands and South East).
All the nominated players are aged 16-18 and are studying with an EFL Club whilst also playing futsal.
Whilst education remained their main aim, in the past, students such as Joe Kenny, Alex Turfrey and Nathan Davies went on to gain full international honours with futsal and travel the world.
Read Alex Turfrey’s story here
Mark Dick, National Futsal Development Manager at EFL Trust, said: “Last year’s event was a great success.
“To play at the home of England Futsal at St Georges Park is a fantastic reward for students for all of their work both in the classroom and on the court.”
At this year’s event, at least one coach from each of the regional teams will have been a former player on the EFL Trust Futsal programme that has now gone onto full-time employment with their Community Trust.
Callum Avent, is a prime example of one of these coaches. As a former EFL Trust Futsal player at Peterborough United, Callum went on to securing full-time employment at the Club’s Community Trust after completing the course and undertaking a Futsal Coach Education at Level 2 and obtaining a UEFA B Futsal Licence.
Talking about Callum’s story, Nick Shepherd, Community Manager at Peterborough United said:
“Callum originally did work experience with us as a shy 15 year old, during this time he came out of his shell and had a very good work ethic.
“He joined the EFL Trust Futsal games programme with Peterborough United at Year 12, despite not coming out of school with the best GCSE results.
“During his 2 years on the games programme, Callum volunteered as a coach on the soccer schools programme and it became clear he had a keen interest and good potential as a coach.
“He worked so hard at his education during the futsal course and ended 6th Form with very respectable results, and because of this we offered him a coaching apprenticeship.
“After two years, he has since become an integral part of our coaching staff and I am delighted to see him once again selected to represent the Midlands at this year’s EFL Trust All Star Event.”
The announced coaches who have been selected to represent their regions this year are:
North – Graeme Atkinson (PNE) and Declan Bacon (Scunthorpe United)
Midlands – Callum Avent (Peterborough United) and Duncan Gilchrist (Stoke City)
South East – Chris Day (Albion in the Community) and James Phillips and Ted Jones (Chelsea)
South West – Jordan Guard and Gary Bell (Bristol City) and Jack Richardson (Bristol Rovers)
Last year’s winners South West lifting the trophy
To watch highlights of last year’s EFL Trust Futsal All Star Event click here
