England Represented by IW Beach Soccer in Madjer Cup 2019
FBSC : Hi Luke! You and your team made history last year being one of the 1st teams participating in the Madjer Youth Beach Soccer Cup. Tell us a bit about that experience.
Luke : 2018 was a life changing experience for our players, traveling to Portugal from England for both our u16 and u18 squads enabled them to embrace the global beach soccer way of life and be introduced to friends from around the world. Both our teams made the semi-finals, with the u16 narrowly losing by one goal and the u18’s losing on penalties for 3rd spot, we were so proud of how our team adapted to the heat and intensity of the games. Our biggest achievement was making new friends from the Americas and Europe, they now have experience the beach soccer community of friendship and sportsmanship that will stay with them like their new friends forever.
FBSC : What your expectations for the 2019 Madjer Youth Beach Soccer Cup 2nd edition?
Luke : Sadly I wont be traveling to the cup this year due to putting the national game first in England where we have a big task on our hands to grow the game across all levels, I would love to be traveling with both teams but sadly sporting growth over that weekend comes first here in England and I’ll be training the teams up over the next few months as both are side remain in the same age group as 2018 but a year older and wiser, we took away so much last year and in 2019 we will be back bigger, better and ready to compete and embrace new and existing friendships, our coaches and players are ready!
FBSC : Which message would you like to send to all those who will be joining you and your team next June in Figueira?
Luke : Beach Soccer is a sport like no other, beautiful to watch and play and Figueira is a beautiful city with beautiful people and there is no better setting like it to host such an important tournament for the next generation of elite and domestic players, I’m proud to be part of this event and look forward to supporting it for many more years to come, if you’ve not signed up yet what are you waiting for, do it today!