Futsal
Futsal (also known as fútsal or footsal) is a variant of association football played on a hard court, smaller than a football pitch, and mainly indoors. It features similarities to five-a-side football. Futsal is inclusive to all genders and levels of experience, and we welcome enquiries from those with a disability regarding the accessibility of Futsal.
Futsal makes up part of the Association Football Club. The club has 2 Futsal teams for men and women who compete in the BUCS leagues. Its one of the newest sports at Oxford and gives players the opportunity to play on the glass floor in the Acer Nethercott Hall at Iffley Sports Centre. With matches mainly happening on the weekend, its a perfect sport to get involved in that fits around the busy Oxford schedule.
Men’s Futsal 2024/25
The university futsal team lost many of its key players after the end of the 2022/23 season, but Fresher’s week proved the popularity of the sport and for the first game of the season against the University of Bedfordshire we had a full squad with a mix of experienced and new faces. After a long trip to the University of Nottingham, we were well-prepared for the Midlands league game against their 4th team. The opposition started with a high tempo and took us aback at the beginning of their game, particularly with their seemingly constant rotation of players, and at half-time we found ourselves 2-1 down.
Picture Above: Men’s 1s Futsal Team 2024/25
A stern team talk and a promise of a free dinner if we turned it around roused the team to a stunning comeback and the 4-3 victory didn’t spare us a few nervy moments at the end. Given the closure of the Acer Nethercott sports hall for most of the term, Hilary saw many away days, the first of which was a convincing 15-0 victory away at Anglia Ruskin. Next up, away at Lincoln the team, made up of only 5 players on this occasion, showed its mettle by pushing the home team close in an 8-7 loss.
The year was rounded off by two games played at the hall at Oxford Brookes, the first an enthralling 6-6 draw against our hosts, the second a satisfying one goal win against Northampton, to leave the club around the mid-table. We hope that the club will continue to build in the coming years, and with the possibility of hosting home games next year, we can push for promotion next year.
If you are interested in playing for us, please email us here.
Women’s Futsal 2024/25
Futsal is a sport for everyone.
Ask anyone who has played futsal, and you will hear the following, ‘It’s fast-paced, skilful, challenging, has lots of shots and opportunities to be creative.’
Oxford University women’s team plays in the Midlands Tier 2 BUCS futsal league and cup competitions, both of which are the biggest in the country. Whilst we want to be competitive, it is equally important that we offer a positive, friendly, and inclusive environment and culture.
What is futsal? It is 5-a-side with unlimited substitutions (there is a lot of running!). We are an indoor sport, so no rain or snow to stop us getting on court. The ball bounces lower encouraging more dribbling and passing plus we play on a court to lines not off the walls.
Goalkeepers are hugely important in futsal and arguably, the most important member of the team.
With the formation of a newly formed England women’s team preparing for a World Cup campaign, plus a thriving domestic league (with several alumni playing), there has never been a better time to get involved.
Luis Melville will be the coach for the women’s team this season, with 20 years of futsal experience and coached the last six seasons at St Mary’s University helping the to secure a BUCS Premier South Women’s league title.
Last season, Oxford’s women experienced great progress in the cup and a good end to the league programme and look forward to welcoming new players this season to help develop and improve the sport at the university.
Regardless of whether you have played futsal or not, it is worth coming down to try and see what the sport can offer you.
Women’s training is at the state-of-the-art Acer Nethercott Hall at Iffley Road Sports Centre on Thursday’s 5-7pm with two league match days, on Saturday’s, at the University of Nottingham in November and February 2025 with the Cup competition starting in the new year.
There is also a Cuppers Futsal competition in the final semester to get involved in with.
So, what are you waiting for. Get involved in futsal with Oxford University
If you are interested in playing for us, or have any queries please email Coach Luis Melville at lmelville@outlook.com
